Substitute gold?

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 48

Substitute gold?

Two former national representatives, Danny O’Connor and Wayne Nairn, might play in next year’s BNZ World Bowls championships, but not for New Zealand.

O’Connor (Auckland) and Nairn (Counties) have been named by the tournament director, Peter Davison, as the designated substitutes for the tournament at Henderson from January 30 to February 14, should they be required in case of illness or injury to any of the representatives from the 24 competing countries.

But while their chances of being called into the New Zealand team are

remote, according to the laws laid down by the International Bowling Board for a world championship event, they could very well be required for one of the other countries.

The laws for the event say that where an accredited player falls sick or is injured, the manager of that team becomes the substitute. Where that is not possible, the manager must call upon a player from his own national association who is at the tournament to substitute.

Should that draw a blank the organising committee will provide a substitute at the discretion of the jury of appeal.

And should the need for such a substitute arise, O’Connor and Nairn have been asked to make themselves available. Both players have the credentials: O’Connor, winner of six national titles, won a silver medal in the fours at' the 1982 Commonwealth Games, while Naim represented New Zealand in the pairs at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

While such a substitution is unusual, a member of the Scottish team for next year’s championship made history in Aberdeen four years ago when he was called into the American team.