N.Z. should shine

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 44

N.Z. should shine

The New Zealand singles representative, Millie Khan (Matamata), has been placed in the same section as the defending champion, Merle Richardson (Australia), for the sixth women’s world bowls championship at Henderson next month. The draw for the world championships was released by tournament organisers this week. A record 24 countries have entered the championships, which run from November 20 to December 2, but the draw has been complicated by the fact that two of the participants — Swaziland and Jersey — are not fielding full teams. Jersey has entered only the singles and pairs, while Swaziland has opted to enter the triples and fours, and not the singles and pairs. The Khan-Richardson

clash is set down for round eight of section A, to be played on the morning of November 29. It is expected to determine the winner of that section. According to the New Zealand team manageress, Joyce Osborne, the advantage of playing at home should be a decisive factor in the New Zealand team’s performance at the tournament. And she is confident that the Kiwi representative will prevail. "Millie is playing very well at the moment, in fact they all are,” she said. “Not many of the other countries play on weed (cotuia) like us. That could take some getting used to. I really think we have a royal chance of getting to the finals in every event.” On most days two rounds will be played. However, on two days

each week three rounds are scheduled, but Mrs Osborne believes that will not present a problem to the players or the tournament organisers. Mrs Osborne said that following on from the excellent results at the Australian Bicentennial tournament at Tweed Heads where New Zealand picked up two silver medals and one bronze, the host country should be a real force in the world championships. That view is echoed by the skip of the New Zealand four — Jean Ryan (Auckland) — one of New Zealand’s most experienced and capable women bowlers. “The tournament in Tweed Heads was the first time we had ever played together as a four,” she says. “And we only lost the final on the last head.” 4