Dunedin bowler emotional victor

Press, 5 January 1987, Page 34

Dunedin bowler emotional victor

PA Wellington Ken Walker (Fairfield) was a proud, emotional and deserved winner of the national men’s singles bowls title in Wellington yesterday. Walker, aged 40, beat his fours teammate Ross Brown (St Clair) 21-17 in the tight clash, fought over 25 ends. Neither player had trouble preparing mentally for the final, despite the fact that they are old mates and staying together in a house at Plimmerton, just north of Wellington. “It’s too easy to become complacent,” said Walker. “I knew I wouldn’t get a harder player to beat than Ross, specially because we know each other so well off the green. But being a final made no difference and we treated each other like any other players.”

“This, is marvellous and I can’t believe it. What else is there? I’m just sorry it had to be Ross that I beat,” he said.

Brown, aged 28, a bowler for only seven years, said •he had thoroughly enjoyed the contest.

Brown scored on each of the first three ends, then was kept scoreless by Walker for four ends. Brown opened up 10-8 and 11-9 leads but the jaunty, though composed, Walker never panicked and chipped away till ahead 12-11 and 14-13. After Brown levelled at 14-14, Walker got a vital break of three shots, then picked up one on each of the next two ends to look well placed at 19-14. Brown then picked up two shots and was unlucky not to get more, but Walker was right on target on the last end. He raced after his last bowl and was on his hands and knees willing it to the jack. He took two shots and immediately embraced his opponent. Results.— Pairs Round one: Don Foley (Northern) beat Mark de Lacy (Titahi Bay), 15-14; Terry Scott (North East Valley) beat Bernie Johns (Linwood), 21-8; Rangi Brown (Marlborough) beat Maurice Symes (Hawera Park), 16-15; George Fabling (Takapuna) beat Colin MacPhee (Marton) 23-6; John Mears (Springlands) beat John Mahupuku (Greytown), 20-16; Frank Donnelly (Dannevirke) beat John Murtagh (Paritutu), 17-

7; Bill Kane (North End, Invercargill) beat Kevin Wing (Palmerston North), 12-11; Ivan Kostanich (Hillsboro) beat Peter Beiliss (Aramoho), 18-10; Russell Hocking (Katikati) beat Jim Galloway (Khandallah), 16-15; Alan Park (Wanganui) beat Bruce Wills (Hawera), 19-8; Bruce McDermott (Hillsboro) beat John Telford (Seatoun), 1510; Robin Hall (Havelock North) beat Rex Cronin (Naenae), 24-10; Ken Walker (Fairfield) beat Murray George (Epsom), 17-16; Bill Broughton (Palmerston North) beat Harold Greenfield (Naenae), 16-12; George Allan (Westport RSA) beat Sam Reed (Palmerston North), 17-16; Peter Clark (Whakatane) beat Kevin Gallop (Blenheim), 20-10.

Round two: Scott beat Foley, 19-17; Fabling beat Brown, 19-13; Mears beat Donnelly, 22-10; Kane beat Kostanich, 18-17; Park beat Hooking, 17-J6; McDermott beat Hall, 16-8; Walker beat Broughton, 17-15; Clark beat Allan, 23-11. Round three: Mears beat Kane, 16-14; Fabling beat Scott, 21-12; Park beat McDermott, 20-15; Clark beat Walker, 21-20. Semi-finals: Clark beat Park, 20-11; Fabling beat Mears, 12-11. Final: Clark beat Fabling, 21-17. Singles Final: Ken Walker (Fairfield, Dunedin) beat Ross Brown (St Clair), 21-17.