Smith and Preston Novice Champions
Men’s and Women’s Novice Champion of Champions Wrap Jenny Smith (Warwick) and Brad Preston (Wonthella) are 2017’s Novice Champions of Champions.
Smith survived a late fightback from Scarborough’s Kiera Redden to hold on for 21-19 in a 30 end thriller. Preston defeated Smith’s Warwick club mate Andrew Howitt 21-10 courtesy of a dominant second half.
After a tight start to the ladies final Smith threatened to break away when she scored seven consecutive shots to lead 10-5. That was the end of her run though and Redden brought the score back to 11-9 to put the game well and truly in the balance. That works was undone by Smith in a single end as she picked up three before picking up three more shots across the next two ends for a game high lead of eight. Again Redden was able to halt here momentum but scored mainly to ones to make it slow going to get back in the match. She halved the deficit with the score at 19-15 but Smith picked up a shot to take her within one shot of victory. Another five shots to Redden made the score very interesting at 20-19 but a trail of the jack that went slightly wrong left Redden in strife. Smith held on to the shot she had to finally get over the line after a tense final couple of ends.
The Men’s final was also very tight to start the match.
Howitt won more ends in the early stages but two threes from Preston kept him not only in the game but in front 7-6. For the first time in the match he strung multiple ends together as he picked up four singles to take an 11-6 lead. He would concede just four more shots for the match rattled off an unanswered nine shot run over six ends to go within a shot of victory. Howitt picked up two more shots in the final stages but was only delaying the inevitable as Preston scored the game’s final shot.
Congratulations to all the Novice Champions who represented their club and well done to the finalists.
Women’s Novice Champion of Champions Singles Knockout Results
Men’s Novice Champion of Champion Singles Knockout Results