Bates conquers Everest
The $100,000 Everest of Bowls has been played at Dudley Park this week with the locals seeing off the eastern invasion.
In fact it was Russell Bates, a Dudley Park player, who came out victorious in a star studded field to win the $50,000 first prize.
Bates was super impressive in the final, defeating Kardinya’s Daniel Brown 31-18.
What made the difference was Bates’ ability to draw shot in less than ideal conditions.
Sunday’s weather meant that the wind was blowing hard down in Mandurah with a few gusts playing havoc. This forced Brown into playing runners and unusually for him he wasn’t quite getting them.
Bates controlled the match from start to finish, only allowing a couple of small scoring runs from Brown.
He led 18-3 and then later 26-8 and had the game well in hand.
Brown did make a late run as Bates struggled the final few shots but having set himself up early he had plenty of time to get to the magical 31.
The all WA final would have come as a surprise to many with the calibre of players coming across from other states including Australian representatives Aron Sherriff, Corey Wedlock, Nathan Rice and Brett Wilkie along with New Zealand international Shannon McIlroy.
Last year the competition was largely dominated by the interstaters but this year saw five WA players in the quarter-finals.
It was a week of shocks with many big names failing to get out of their initial sections including last year’s finalists and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Aaron Wilson and Ben Twist as well as current Australian Indoor champion Aaron Teys.
The surprises continued throughout the weekend for a comparatively unheralded group earning their places on the final day.
With their now being a local and an interstate winner surely next year’s competition will have no problem drawing competitors from anywhere in the nation.
Results, photos and video replays can be found on the 2018 $100,000 Everest of Bowls Facebook.
