115 qualify in N.Z. women’s bowls

Press, 8 February 1979, Page 30

115 qualify in N.Z. women’s bowls

Many women bowlers had Stales to tell after the last of •the six section rounds had [been played in the fours at [their national tournament in (Christchurch last evening. When the dust settled and the count was taken there were 115 qualifiers from an original entry of 276. The 37 who had reached the required four wins on Tuesday had a worry-free day yesterday. After the fifth round yesterday morning just on 50 more teams were able to relax. There were some tense moments before the remaining qualifiers registered their fourth wins in the final round. Two good examples were Mary Macartney (Kirwee), whose fourth win was by the paper-thin margin of 18-17 over Molly Earl (Hawarden), whose chance had long gone, [and Lorraine Carson (Woolston). who earned the right to continue todav with a 3219 win over E. Shallish (Cav-

jersham), Mrs Shallish having (already qualified. However, no seam faced a more forbidding challenge than the Morrison Avenue entry of Edna George. Mrs George had to win her last game to survive and her opponent was the defending champion, Cis Winstanley (Marewa), who had five wins behind her. The Morrison Avenue combination was not intimidated by the assignment and with two ends to play the scores were level at 16-16. Mrs George then played a great running shot to carry the kitty back and score a two, giving her an advantage she was able to retain to the finish.

There were the hard luck stories as well. Lex Kimber (Linwood) had one to relate. She needed to win her last game but lost it, 21-20, and to an opponent. M. Campbell (Phoenix), who was out of the running.

I Mrs Kimber was the most 'notable local skip to miss out, ‘although Thelma Kelly (Burnside) was another with a local record to fail. A rung above them both were the Auckland Women’s teams skipped by Betty Potter and Nel Baker, both previous fours champions. Mrs Potter finished with three wins and [Mrs Baker two.

Rhoda Ryan (Matamata). a prominent skip in some danger with just two wins overnight, accomplished her objective of two more yesterday. She got the first easily enough, 28-14, but had to work harder for the second, 17-12, over Alice Sinclair (Woolston W.M.C.), who also wanted this game to qualify. The stamina and abilities of the qualifiers will be tested today when three rounds will be played, leaving 16 tonight to battle on for a place in Saturday afternoon's final. The qualifiers, with their number of wins, are:

SIX WINS I G. Child (Tainui), J. Herdman • Wairerei. Z. Smith (Huntley), M. I Evans 'Marewa), E. Gilmore [(Park. Timarui, M. Richards (Linwood). M. Collins (PalmersItom, I. Jeyes (Blockhouse Bay), [J. Ryan (Onehungai, S. Fauchelle (Coronation), A. McDonald (Burwood), B. Fitzell (Matamata). FIVE WINS M. McGettigan (Spreydon), J. Osborne (Manawatu). V. Shaw (Barrington). P. Smith (Auckland Women’s), E. Moffitt (Miramar). P. Reach (Port Ahuriri), E. Brown (Spreydon), R. Falqk (Cashmere), N. Campi (Kamo), W. Robertson (Lower Hutt), D. Rossiter (Burwood), M. Walker (Lower Hutt), J. Walker (Shirley). J. Raine (Taita), J. Revie (Woodlands). K. George (Wellington Women's). H. Harper (Buckland), V. Flood (St Albans). B. Kuninich (Bayswater), C. Winstanley (Marewa), I. Harris (Riverside). W. Stevenson (Palmerston), T. Bainbridge (Rocky Nook), F. Taylor (Kurow), E. Wilkie (Matamata), E. Parsons • Invercargill R.S.A.). R. Hight (Geraldine), D. Manks (Barrington). P. Dymond (Stratford), M. Hughes (Leith), R. McKnight (Ashbury). R. Dyer (North End, Invercargill), A. Whiting (Woolston W.M.C.), J Lovett (Awamoa), M Coveny (Lower Hutt). P. Needham (Linwood), V. Kemp

(Okahu Bay), S. Vsmar (Central Petone), N. Dale (South Brighton).

FOUR WINS M. Taylor (Christchurch). D. Smith (Kia Toa), R. Blair (Burwood), D. Lindley 'Burnside). J. Porter (Central Petone), J. Wilson (Oamaru R.S.A.), M. White (Woolston), E. White (St Martins). E. Foy (Matamata). L. Storey (Papanui), J. Millard (Shirley), O. Stringer (Riccarton Women’s), E. Russell (New Brighton), R. Brewin (Mission Bay), S. Fleet (Central Petone), L. Carson (Woolston), M. Brady (Fendalton), E. Shallish (Caversham), R. Hedges (Oamaru R.S.A.), J. Steele (Burwood). I Sara (Kawatiri), T. Moffatt (Fendalton), L. Wederell (Spreydon). E. Cassidy (Mornington), J. Moore (Hornby), E. Lange (Fendalton). N. Thompson (Oxford), M. Jordan (St Kildai, A. Geeves (Shaw Avenue), E. Burridge (United. Nelson). M. Healey (Edendalei. R. Ryan (Matamata). I. Austin (Winton). M. Macartney (Kirwee). P. Haywood (Thames), L. Last-Harris tTahunanui), E. Steele (Linwood), E. George (Morrison Avenue), E. Coup (Kaiapci). L. Dunn (United), N. Fairlie (Opawa). V. Truscott (St Albans), A. Smith (Burwood), A. Beazley (Linwood). J. Fleming (Hokitika', N. Fulford (Otaki), H. Divers (Mona Vale), D. McCrea-

nor (Riccarton Women's), B. Lawless iKaikorai). B. Walker iPapakurai, M. Nicol (Marewa). M. Leech ißangiorai. M. Smyth (Seatoun), M. Dailey (Tahunanui). A. Manson (Shirley), J. Simpson (Matamata), J. Hamilton (Linwood), E. Gran ich (Mairangi Bay). D. Stacey (Westport Women's). M. Brown (Cashmere), J. Bolton (Caledonian), M. Symes (Hastings), G. Wilson (Wilton). M Chisholm (Leith).

Today's Draw is on Page 22