Champion of Champions wrap up
The Henselite Champion of Champions events were completed at Bassendean and Morley in what was a not only fine weekend weather wise but also on the greens with some great games played and some worth champions crowned.
In the Men’s Novices event it was Mundaring bowler David Gavin who took the title from a very gallant John Carrigan from Bassendean. Gavin found himself behind in the early stages of the match but fought back valiantly to take the match 21-19 in a high standard affair. The beaten semi-finalists were Lou Moretti (South Perth) and Matthew Bolton (Cambridge).
The Women’s Novice event saw a good field of 24 bowlers involved. Natalie Gunn from Victoria Park Carlisle ran out the champion after accounting for Tracey Newman from Bullsbrook 21-3 in the final. Gunn looks a bowler of the future and was very impressive in a great display of bowls in the final. The semi finalists were Jeannie Gulloti from Scarborough and Chelsea Broun from Mundaring.
Corrigin’s Noelene Abe proved she is the undisputed Champion of Champions in the Women’s event winning her seven title, a record that will take some beating as she accounted for Manning’s Kristina Krstic. The two players engaged in a rematch from the State Singles played earlier in the month with Abe able to exact revenge and turn the tables in a very impressive display of bowling to win 25-7. Krstic was never able to get going and her customary draw and drive both off target in a rare below par performance. Abe played a great game and Krstic even at her best would have struggled to match her great draw play in what was a very quick Bassendean surface.
Abe nearly didn’t make the final after overcoming a very gallant Chris Ace-Watson from Boulder 21-20 in the quarter finals before a more comfortable 25-13 win over Rossmoyne’s Eeva Liisa-Hynenan in the semi final. Krstic played very well in her semi final with a 25-8 win over Dudley Park’s Irene Grout.
The Men’s final proved a beauty and in contrast to the Women’s went for twice as long in a game where both players had great performances. Kardinya’s Dave Rankin set the tone early with two drives to score single shots and was pushed every step of the way by an equally determined Pieter Harris from Cambridge who was looking for his third victory in this event. Rankin was levelled five times in an epic encounter however he never let Harris take the lead and with the score 23-22 he played two more great draw shots before Harris missed with his last attempt and the win was sealed.
Rankin who had tasted defeat before in this event as well as the State Singles finally secured his first major singles title and was naturally delighted to have broken through after a few close attempts. He was nearly overcome with emotion in his acceptance speech when talking about how he had really set himself to win the title. In the semi-finals Rankin defeated a very gallant Chris Carruthers from Safety Bay 25-20 whilst Harris had a fairly comfortable win over a future star in Rossmoyne’s Jack East 25-11, East having beaten state singles finalist Doubleview’s Daniel Trewhella 21-4 in the previous match.
Replays of the finals can be found on the Bowls WA Facebook Page.
Both Rankin and Abe will now represent WA in the Australian Champion of Champions Singles at South Perth Bowling Club, WA from October 9-11 later this year.
