Three bowlers seek singles double

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 38

Three bowlers seek singles double

There has never been a repeat victory in the singles at the national indoor bowls championships, but three former champions today have the chance to make history.

The three former winners remaining last evening after 10 rounds of post-section play were Arthur Thomas (Hutt Valley), Brian Ste Wart (Auckland) and Kevin Darling, who was living in Dunedin when he won the title in 1971, but has since transferred to Canterbury.

The trio will resume this morning, together with the other 125 who were still in contention after play ended yesterday. They were the survivors from the 687 who qualified last week-end. Of the 128 players still in the draw 24 are women.

There were many “shock” results yesterday afternoon, as well-known players dropped out in droves. But in many cases the people who beat them were unable to sustain their effort and they, too, soon became spectators. Doug Higham, the Canterbury singles champion, and Wallace Horn, a former Canterbury representative, featured in the two most glaring examples of the sport’s unpredictability. Higham got the large crowd at the Cowles Stadium headquarters buzzing when he beat the defending champion, Rod Fleming (Auckland), in the first postsection round.

Fleming led, 6-2, after five ends and, 9-6, after ten ends, but Fleming conceded two points when he killed the last end and this left the score level at 10-10. Higham fared better on the extra end, although a measure was required before he was sure of victory, at 12-10. But Higham lasted only one more round. He was no match for Barry Kinniard (Auckland), who last week won the North Island pairs title, and was beaten by him, 17-10. Horn had the distinction of beating Julie O’Connell (Otago), who in her previous game had eliminated last year's runner-up, Wynston McLachlan (South Otago). The Mrs O’Connell-McLach-lan game was notable also for the fact that all the scoring was in singles — eight to Mrs O’Connell and three to McLachlan. But Mrs O’Connell, too, was a spent force in the next round and she was well beaten, 3-11, by Hom. One of Canterbury’s strongest hopes, Leon McLennan, also stumbled at the first hurdle. He led George Persico (Nelson), 6-1, after five ends, but he then dropped a four and Persico scored a three on the last end to win, 9-7. Lloyd Bellis, Ray Watkin, and Alf Williamson were'

other local hopes who failed to survive the day. Bellis was beaten, 9-10; Watkin fell 13-7 to another Canterbury entrant, John Mills. Williamson dropped a three on the last end to lose, 9-8, to A. W. Everts (Hawke’s Bay), the winning shot being found on a measure. However, with 35 entrants remaining Canterbury still holds a strong hand and Darling, in particular, was playing well enough yesterday to be a definite winning prospect.

In another very exciting finish the highly-regarded Auckland player, Kathy Smith, was beaten, 11-10, by David Bullock (Ashburton) on a deciding end. Mrs Smith scored a four on the last end to tie the scores at 10-10.

The 128 to resume this morning in search of places in the final, which is expected to be reached about 5 p.m. today, are:—

P. Carson, L. Harrow, A. Quirke, R. Reiher, K. Clayton, Mrs O. Bate (Canterbury), Mrs R. J. Young (South Canterbury), P. Walker (Auckland), C. A. Head, W. A. Kane, Mrs J. Voice, J. Hayes (Southland), Mrs M. Henderson. Mrs P. Crawshay, P. Greene (Waikato), D. Melton (Otago), N. Leighton (Wairarapa), D. Reynolds, F. Martyn (Bay of Plenty), R. Robb (Golden Bay). L. Dunston, K. R. Darling, B. Matthews, Mrs J. Boone (Canterbury). Mrs L. Smith (South Otago), R. Inglis, Mrs J. Preston (Golden Bay), L. J. R. Prattley (South Canterbury), Mrs O. Sullivan, L. Morris (Waikato), Mrs M. Maitland, M. Halsey (Otago), G. McKenzie. C. Ricketts (Nelson), B. Rickard (Bay of Plenty), Mrs

M. Mclntosh (Southland). T. J. O’Connor, I. K. Wheeler, A. J. Thomas (Auckland), Mrs D. Martyn (Northland). W. Chaney, E. Chaney, Mrs B. Immers (Canterbury), Mrs R. J. Mason (Wellington), B. Craig (Otago), A. Hogg (South Canterbury), N. Hamilton (Central Otago), B. Bruce. J. Bennington, B. W. Beams, W. George (Nelson), A. Roberts, B. MeNae (Waikato). C. McAdam (Upper Hutt Valley), C. W. Eddy (Wellington), P. Porter (Greymouth), Mrs M. Harvey (Golden Bay), Mrs M. Hodges (North Otago), T. Jeffares (Hawke’s Bay), K. O’Neill (Northland). S. F. Lewis, D. J. Stewart, V. Gribbin, N. Morris, D. Marshall, K. Becker. W. Johns, R. Johnson (Canterbury), V. Arundel, R. Radford (Golden Bay), D. R. Boyd (Hawke’s Bay), B. Murray (Southland). Mrs P. Poole (Marlborough), Mrs D. Mackey, G. R. Svkes, D. Cook (Otago), D. Mace, S. Law (Waikato), K. Piner (South Canterbury), B. J. Williaths (Upper Hutt Valley). R. Green, Mrs M. Watson, T. Thompson, G. Mitchell, W. Horn, M. Berkeley. D. Earl, M. Taylor (Canterbury), M. Ryder (Southland), J. Barrow, W. Paape (Otago). B. Jones (Wanganui), I. Barr (Upper Hutt VaUey), B. Kinnaird, A. Rasmussen, S. Tilton (Auckland). Mrs L. Neill (Buller), B. Melville (Hawke’s Bay), Mrs N. McKenzie (Nelson), W. Legeyt (Hawke’s Bay).

L. Stewart, P. Shearer, A. Roberts, Mrs A. Crawford (Canterbury), S. E. N. Smith, B. O. Stewart, D. Parlane (Auckland), D. Halcrow (King Country), R. J. W'right (Hawke’s Bay), Mrs I. Mortimer (South Canterbury), D. C. Scott (Nelson). Mrs P. Robertson, A. H. Thomas (Hutt Valley), B. F. Duffy (Wanganui), J. Mackay (Manawatu), D. Crause. S. Gilchrist (Otago), 1. Maxwell (Waikato), R. Dockarv (North Wellington), B. Hotton (Southland).

W. Trembath, N. Tomlinson (Canterbury), S. Johnstone (Southland). D. Fevre (North Taranaki), T. Rasmussen (Northland). T. Clarke (Waikato). E. Melton (South Otago), I. Hight (South Canterbury).