Kristina Krstic medal haul highlights WA’s effort at the Nationals 2024
It took perhaps to the final stages of the Nationals 2024 for WA’s stars to shine brightest as Kristina Krstic backed up a record breaking home season, in which she claimed four of the five major State titles, by claiming a host of medals during the Australian Championships week.
Here we take a look back at all the events during a wonderful Nationals 2024, from a WA perspective of course…
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION OF CHAMPION SINGLES
With Shane Knott unable to make the trip to the Nationals, Kristina Krstic was WA’s only competitor in the Australian Champion of Champions event. Trying conditions greeted the field with strong winds and plenty of rain even seeing the event transferred to the Club Tweed Indoor Green at times.
Krstic’s campaign started a little slowly, although against very strong opposition – Dawn Hayman (NSW) took the win in their first match 21-13 before Krstic lost a nail-biter against South Australia’s Karen Gatto. From there however, Krstic reeled off 4 wins from her next 5, keeping three of those opponents to single figure tallies. The result was a well earned BRONZE medal in an event that is always tough to win.
Final Standings: QLD 7 wins (+74), NSW 6 (+36), WA 4 (+30), VIC 4 (-14), ACT 2 (-6), TAS 2 (-31), SA 2 (-51).
AUSTRALIAN UNDER-18’s CHAMPIONSHIPS
WA’s biggest under 18 team for many years did battle at Club Tweed, with our five boys and four girls joined by an ACT representative to form a full girls team.
Our boys team of Callum Alberti, Harper Wass, Edan Manifis, Dante Burnham and Jarrod Steele did us proud, as did Drew Gunson, Sophie Hays, Sylvia Burgess and Eleana Manifis joined by Telara Edwards (ACT).
While medals proved out of reach this year, there was certainly some outstanding performances nevertheless and experiences that will prove useful for these young players as they carve out their bowls careers. The conditions were tough (the same as the Champion of Champions) making consistent play hard to find – again, great experience for young players to deal with.
Check out all the Under-18s results here:
Boys: Singles | Pairs | Triples | Fours
Girls: Singles | Pairs | Triples | Fours
AUSTRALIAN PARA-NATIONALS
A wonderful medal haul for our Para-Nationals team headlined by the SILVER medal for Diana Nixon in the Women’s B5/6 Singles. Nixon claimed two of her three matches, only falling short against eventual gold medalist Carolyn Nelson of NSW.
Jodie Nikolic took the BRONZE in the Women’s B7/8 Singles going down in a tight encounter against Australian Para-Jackaroo Serena Bonnell from Queensland 15-11. Bonnell claimed the gold in a close final.
And it was Eddie Gollan and Adam Eksanow taking BRONZE in the Men’s 14 point pairs event. Progressing through a tough section which included the strong Queensland duo Damien Delgado and Cooper Whitestyles, the pair found the going too tough in the semi-final, but were all smiles coming home with a bronze medal around their necks.
Check out all the Para-Nationals results here:
Men’s Events: Singles B5/6 | Singles B7/8 | 14pt Pairs | Open Pairs
Women’s Events: Singles B5/6 | Singles B7/8 | Pairs
AUSTRALIAN SENIOR (Over 60’s) SIDES CHAMPIONSHIPS
Three losses straight out of the blocks, with a close one against Tasmania, left the WA Women’s Team with plenty to do to climb the ladder in the closing rounds. Wins in three of their last four matches, over SA, ACT and NT saw them climb to fifth on the table. In the end the team will rue the close matches against Tasmania and New South Wales where wins could’ve seen them challenging nearer the top of the table.
Pam Chalmers was named Women’s Player of the Series skippering her rink to 5 wins and 20 shots up.
The Mens competition was similar to the women’s where the team unfortunately just didn’t get going early. A win over Tasmania on the afternoon of day one presented an opportunity, but losses in the next three left the WA team chasing and eventually finishing fifth.
Steve Cerff was crowned Men’s Player of the Series in what was a very even performance across the boards.
AUSTRALIAN SIDES CHAMPIONSHIPS (Open)
Both the Men’s and Women’s Open State Teams finished fourth in their respective competitions, both experiencing some highlights and perhaps some disappointments throughout the week.
No doubt the highlight for women was a big win over the very talented Queensland outfit, with two rinks home by double figures in that one, whereas for the Men it was the win over Victoria (the third in row) again with two rinks home by healthy margins. With both teams losing to Tasmania in close matches in the first round, it was that result that prevented a higher placed finish on the table for both teams.
A pleasing result in the annual Ford/Wishart trophy battle against South Australia with WA taking the trophy with 2 wins against 1.
Players of the series were named with Scott Walker and Shari Solly very deserved winners.
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (All Disciplines)
A wonderful week of Australian Championships success for WA was highlighted by our GOLD MEDAL winning Women’s Fours team of Kristina Krstic, Hailey Packer, Robyn O’Brien and Helen Heal who defeated the Queensland crew of Lynsey Clarke, Chloe Stewart, Kelsey Cottrell and Kira Bourke in a brilliant final.
Our WA crew grabbed a big five early in the match courtesy of a Hailey Packer trail shot, and despite a charge from their high credentialed opposition it was WA that held on for gold.
The good news didn’t end there however with SILVER medals going WA’s way in the Women’s Singles (Kristina Krstic), Men’s Singles (Cody Packer representing Manning, WA), Men’s Pairs (Russell Bates and Brad Ball) and the Women’s Triples (Kristina Krstic, Hailey Packer, Therese Hastings).
Add to that the BRONZE medal collect for Lisa Featherby and Bill Brandsma in the Mixed Pairs and it was a very successful Australian Championships campaign for WA.
Check out all the Australian Championships results here:
Mens Events: Singles | Pairs | Triples | Fours
Womens Events: Singles | Pairs | Triples | Fours
Mixed Events: Pairs