Katavich showing her worth

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 72

Katavich showing her worth

By KEVIN McMENAMIN

Ann Katavich may never get the last laugh on the people who denied •her a trip to the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games last year, but she is making sure that the mention of her name will not bring a smile to their faces.

Initially chosen by the selectors in her own sport for the Games, the Point Wells (Waitemata) member, along with two others, was replaced by the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games selectors on the grounds that they were not good enough. On the strength of some fine performances this summer Katavich cqjne to

the Bell Tea national bowls championships in Christchurch as one of the favourites for the singles, a role she was chosen to fill at Edinburgh. And yesterday she not only made, it through to the last 16, but in doing so overcame a draw tougher than any other survivor faced.

In the first round Katavich beat Jenny Simpson (Matamata), who went to Edinburgh, 27-8. She then knocked out the very experienced, and double pairs champion, Joan Porter (Central Petone), 18-12, before ending, 17-15, any hopes Verna Devlin (Carlton) had of repeating her 1982 singles triumph. In the final round of the

day Katavich was up against another consistent performer at this level, Mabel Coveny (Birkenhead).

Down 5-14, at one stage Coveny made a great recovery to tie the scores at 17-17 on the last end, but it was Katavich who won the extra end, with a three.

Judy Howart (Wellington Women’s), another of the Games discards, is also in the last 16. She played very tidily through her three games yesterday, with her best win being 22-9 over Betty Schwass (Matamata). Margaret Cole (Lepperton), the third player to be dropped, was. not so fortunate. She was beaten, by Keetha George

(Cromwell Park) in the first round. The next two days will be given over to the_pairs_championships and the 16 to resume in the singles on Friday are.— Howart, Margaret Hawkins (Lower Hutt), Mavis Woodman (Tawa), Verna Ferguson (Burwood), Joan Coulson (Central Petone), Jean Foreman (Spreydon), Thelma Harris (Lower Hutt), Katavich, Pat Browne (Palmerston North), Enid Kerr (Rocky Nook), Millie Khan (Matamata), Lenore Webber (Fairfield), Gwen Kelly (Riverside), Rhoda Ryan (Matamata), Margaret Lloyd (Linwood) and Altha Triggs (Riccarton Women’s). Results of the final round yesterday were.— J. Howart (Wellington Women’s) 22, K. Lindsay (Hikurangi) 5; M. Hawkins (Lower Hutt) 22, O. . Bate t’

(Kaiapdi) 15; M. Woodham (Tawa) 22, J. Blay (Mt Pleasant) 16; V. Ferguson (Burwood) 21, D. Drummond (Upper Hutt) 15; J. Coulson (Central Petone) 22, J. Nunns (Lower Hutt) 9; J. Foreman (Spreydon) 21, D. Winterburn (Otaki Railway) 19; T. Harris (Lower Hutt) 20, O. Borrell (Kia Toa) 13; A. Katavich (Point Wells) 20, M. Coveny (Birkenhead) 17. P. Browne (Palmerston North) 21, J. Rennie (Rangiora) 12; E. Kerr (Rocky Nook) 21, M. Fraser (Hastings) 12; M. Khan (Matamata) 19, O. Carter (Stoke) 14; L. Webber (Fairfield) 16, B. Kunicich (Bayswater) 13; G. Kelly (Riverside) 21, L. McLean (Northern) 14; R. Ryan (Matamata) 21, M. Watson (Linwood) 16; M. • Lloyd (Linwood) 22, D. Page (Linwood) 14; A. Triggs (Riccarton Women’s) 18, M. Buchanan (Gate Pa) 16.