National Tournament in Taranaki.

   Even though a very small HB contingent contested the recent National Tournament held in Taranaki, most players showed quality performances.

Lloyd Fitness qualified in all three events, including the Fours where the composite team of Dean Drummond (s), Richard Hocking and Seamus Curtin did them and us proud when they won through to the semi-finals - only to lose to the eventual winning side skipped by Peter Belliss. Lloyd and Dean got to the final 32 of the Pairs before being defeated.

Grant Hall qualified in the singles – a mighty achievement for one so young in bowling experience. He and Paul Viggers were very close to qualifying in the Pairs, but it was not to be. A fine effort by these two promising juniors.

John Young lost two games against very strong opposition in the singles - and crowned off his exceptional tournament with a bronze medal in the Fours, playing Lead for Ali Forsyth.

Taradale's Louise Fitness struggled in a very tough section of the singles, and played with a friend from Hamilton in the Pairs. They found the competition too strong, but would have learned heaps ready for next time.

Napier’s Paul Sorensen and Fred Ellison also qualified for Pairs post-section play, only to lose narrowly 13-15, to the Deegans – who went on to finish in the quarter-finals. Paul was the last HB man on the scene for the men’s Singles losing in the quarterfinals to Dean Elgar 12/22.

It has been an extremely frustrating process to find any results on Bowls NZ website/facebook page – even several hours after the event has been played! Those interested are totally reliant on various players/spectators viewing the event, and other centres (Nelson and Taranaki in particular) texting/facebooking results – so sad!

cdf

An exciting day for Bowls Hawke’s Bay bowlers with three players contesting post section play of the Singles – Grant Hall, Lloyd Fitness who both lost their first round games, and Paul Sorensen who won through the final eight participants, and will be playing in the ‘nitty gritty’ tomorrow against Dean Elgar for a much coveted place in the semi-finals.

Semi finalists in the men’s Fours needed to wait until the Singles scheduled for the day had completed before taking to the greens at about 5.30pm.

*Later… from two chances of HB players winning the National Fours title it was all for nought after Peter Belliss’s side (Peter Belliss, Richard Girvan, Blake Signal, Lance Tasker (Composite) defeated Dean Drummond’s team (Richard Hocking, Lloyd Fitness and Seamus Curtain) after an extremely close game in the Semis. Dean Elgar’s team defeated Ali Forsyth’s team which included Hastings’ John Young.Elgar's score was 19-17, while Belliss' official score was 21-18. Both men's and women's fours finals are on at 9am on Saturday.

So near - and yet so far!  Congratulations to all.  Keep plugging on you guys – it will happen one day!

cdf

   How often are two Bowls Hastings players (playing for two different teams) in the final eight of the national Tournament Fours?

Never - to the best of my knowledge!

John Young is lead for Ali Forsyth's team (see photo further below) and they will play Gary Lawson, Nev Rodda, Chris LeLievre and Roger Stevens (Composite).

When play for this event recommences, I'm not too sure.... Bowls NZ website is not very clear! Perhaps someone can inform me please?

Dean Drummond also Bowls Hastings, with Lloyd Fitness (Taradale), Richard Hocking (formerly Taradale, now Burnside, and Seamus Curtin after defeating Brian Baldwin's Paritutu foursome, will play Russell Hardy, Scott Robert, Ian Lowry, Mark Kuklinski (Nolantown).

We wish them the very best of luck, and will follow their progress with much interest.

Latest News via text - Dean's team into semi-finals!  

cdf

Day Seven at the National Tournament Pairs saw Napier’s Paul Sorensen and Fred Ellison playing Opunake’s Kevin and Paddy Deegan in post-section play only to lose narrowly 13-15.   Deegans have now progressed into final eight….

After defeating Jeremy Brosnan’s duo 19/7, Dean Drummond and Lloyd Fitness then playing in the final 32 post-section qualifiers lost 8/23 to Laurie Guy/Jeremy Kydd (Victoria, Wellington) – who after another win have also won through to the final eight.

Congratulations to both HB Pairs for being part of this awesome bowling experience, and playing so well as to qualify for post-section play!

Women’s Singles: sadly, popular former HB player Angela Boyd (Burnside), lost her first round game to promising newcomer Ashleigh Jeffcoat 9/21. Prior to this year, Angela has had an enviable record in recent Nationals Tournaments.  However, Fours coming up Ange – You Go Girl!

Fighting for a quarterfinal position was talented (and ex HB) Papakura’s Natarsha Grimshaw. Tarsh won her first game v Sue Winter 21-5, but lost to Selina Goddard 18/21 – who then def Dale Rayner to finish the day in the Semi-finals.

See results here…. Click here …

Steady rain prevented play in the men’s singles at the National Tournament today on Day Six – however, the women’s Pairs competition moved indoors (5 rinks) at Paritutu.

 Surprises in the first round were the ousting of four ‘Black Jacks’.    Reen Stratford and Linda Ralph defeated Jo Edwards and Val Smith by the smallest of margins - 15/14.

Debbie White/Katelyn Inch defeated Tayla Bruce and former HB player Angela Boyd 24/8.

Another former HB player Natarsha Grimshaw (with Leanne Poulson) def prominent Taranaki bowler Cathy Andrews and her partner 14/12 in round one – and will play Lisa White/Nicole Toomey in the second round. 

It appears that play is continuing after 6pm today at Paritutu’s indoor stadium - with Bowls NZ trying to reduce the women’s Pairs field to the last 8 (quarterfinals).

Tomorrow’s programme will see a return to Women’s Singles – and Men’s Pairs.

Two HB teams contest the Pairs: Paul Sorensen/Fred Ellison will play Opunake’s Kevin Deagan, and Dean Drummond/Lloyd Fitness will play Jeremy Brosnan’s duo at Fitzroy.

As a matter of interest, two former HB players will contest the post-section of the women’s Singles, Natarsha Grimshaw, and Angela Boyd.   Both at Paritutu, and on the same side of the draw – and may meet in later rounds.

HB players at Nationals in New Plymouth – Day Five.

  Fours (final qualifying day:• John Young (Hastings) – Lead for Ali Forsyth’s composite team, has qualified with 5 straight wins – DNP last round.• Composite team - Dean Drummond (Hastings), Lloyd Fitness (Taradale)- with Richard Hocking and Seamus Curtain defeated Ray Park’s team 17/12, but lost to Paul McKinnel 12/21. Awaiting result of final game v Lou Newman’s team - and last chance to qualify …*Dean's team def Lou Newman's team 17/5 - and qualify for post-section play.  Well done Lads!

Men’s Singles (and women’s Pairs) resume tomorrow with post-section play.Singles Round One:• Grant Hall (Havelock North) will play Lance Tasker at Fitzroy.• Lloyd Fitness will play Bradley Down at West End.• Paul Sorensen will play Ray Park at West End.

Should Fitness and Sorensen win their first round games – they will play each other in the following round.

cdf

Of particular interest to HB bowlers…

Day Four- and Day One of Men’s & Women’s Fours - qualifying rounds:

Ali Forsyth’s composite team of Tony Wood, Paul Titcombe and John Young (Hastings) look certain to qualify after three comfortable wins today, and need only one win from three rounds to find themselves in the ‘big league’ of post-section qualifiers.

Dean Drummond’s composite combination of Richard Hocking (3), Lloyd Fitness and Seamus Curtain will need to win 2 games from three tomorrow, to be there among the qualifiers for post-section play . Today’s results, wins against Graham Skellern’s foursome 24/15, Frank Pollock’s side 18/8, and a loss against Stephen Brophy’s team 4/17

cdf

National Tournament - Day Three 31/12/2016:

Women’s Singles – Louise Fitness lost her first game against Gayle Melrose by the narrowest of margins 20/21, and her next versus Leeanne Stewart 16/21. Her next two opponents will be Tayla Bruce and Reen Stratford – i.e. if it is necessary that they play. An extremely tough draw for Louise - an excellent effort.

Men’s Pairs – second qualifying day – congratulations to the Dean Drummond and Lloyd Fitness combination which won 4 games – lost 1, and were not required to play the final round.

The junior pairing of Grant Hall and Paul Viggers had three losses and 2 wins (not counting the final game) - including the game against Ali & Neville Forsyth – last year’s winners. Reliable sources tell me that these promising young bowlers loved the experience of playing against a top ‘Black Jack’ and that Ali’s class was obvious.

Going to press – and without knowing the result (it’s New Year’s Eve!) of the final round of Paul Sorensen/Fred Ellison’s game – it is hoped that these two will prevail against Clayton Simpson and Bevin Bert (Composite), to add to their 3 wins and 2 losses to be the second HB duo to qualify in this season’s National Tournament Pairs.

Day Two:

Women’s Pairs: Louise Fitness/Frances Bryant lost to Rene Stratford/Linda Ralph 8/20, and Dianne Patterson/Robyn Rintoul 12/18, and so did not have the required numbers of wins to qualify for post-section play. Women’s Singles will be played tomorrow.

Men’s Pairs – All HB combination in with a chance!

After three rounds – four wins from six games required to qualify for post-section play.

Sorensen/Ellison – two wins , one loss - (lost to Jamie Hill).Drummond/Fitness – two wins, one loss.

Viggers/Hall – one win, two losses.

Richard Hocking/Seamus Curtain – two wins, one loss.

Last year’s Champs – Ali Forsyth and his father Neville – 3 wins.

Women’s Pairs:  HB’s only representative Louise Fitness (Taradale) , playing in a composite team with Frances Bryant, won two games from three today, and needs two more wins to qualify for post-section play.   This will not be an easy task with two wins required against the challenging opposition of Dianne Patterson. Leanne Stewart and Reen Stratford - all well performed players.  Four wins from six games are required.

Men’s Singles – 3 wins (or more) from four games required:

All HB singles players were in with a chance after three of the four rounds of qualifying matches.

Lloyd Fitness, Paul (Bart) Sorensen and Grant (Grunter) Hall (only lost to former World Champion Peter Bellis 16/21) -  all qualified with three wins from 4, and will progress to post-section play.

Two winners: John Young (lost his final game v Laurie Guy), Dean Drummond, Paul Viggers and Fred Ellison all won 50% - with Ellison defeating Viggers in the last round 21/10 to prevent Piglet from qualifying.

Former HB player Richard Hocking won his first three matches to qualify easily.   Blake Signal, Ali Forsyth, Mark Noble, Lance Tasker, Ian Fisher, Richard Girvan and Gary Lawson are among the listed qualifierscdf

Preview:

The Heartland Bank National Open Championships is the most prestigious event on the Bowls New Zealand national calendar. As the flagship event for bowls in New Zealand it has a long history of bringing bowlers together to enjoy the game. This open event gives every bowler the chance to compete for top honours and a national title – from Bowls NZ website.

This year’s event will be held on the true and fast Taranaki Greens between 29th December and 8th January 2017.

Several competitors from Hawke’s Bay have entered the Singles; Lloyd Fitness, Paul Sorensen, Fred Ellison, Paul Viggers, Grant Hall, Dean Drummond – and our only woman entrant, Louise Fitness.

Pairs combinations are: Viggers/Hall, Sorensen/Ellison, Drummond/Fitness and Louise will play with a friend from Hamilton.

Our only representatives in the Fours are a composite combination skipped by Dean Drummond, with Lloyd Fitness, Seamus Curtin, and Richard Hocking.

 We wish everyone the very best of luck, and will follow their progress with much interest.