The Bowls Auckland Champ of Champ Triples wrapped up last weekend at Royal Oak Bowls, drawing a large crowd eager to witness the high-level competition. The atmosphere was buzzing, the competition was fierce, and the level of play was nothing short of spectacular!
Men’s Event
Underdogs shone throughout the tournament, delivering notable upsets and standout performances in various rounds.
The all 1-5 Pakuranga trio of Garratt, Ward and Lucas narrowly defeated Mt Albert’s team of Grantham, Watkins, and Thompson in the round of 32. Howick’s team, featuring Hurren, Vermeulen, and Hand, put up a strong fight against the seasoned team of Reed, Williams, and Davis from Pt Chevalier in the round of 16.
On Sunday, the underdogs continued to shine! Epsom’s Gore, Amadia, and Catchpole demonstrated exceptional skill to triumph over Royal Oak’s Galloway, Dixon, and Brown, while Howick continued their impressive run by defeating Auckland BC’s powerhouse of Haywood, Gordon, and Rothbottom. However, Howick’s journey ended in the semi-finals against the in-form Pringle Park team of Sean Hird, Kolani Maota, and Bruce Walters.
Despite making the most noise on the green, the defending champions, Te Atatu, had a quieter path to the final, overcoming Blockhouse Bay in a close match and securing comfortable wins against Balmoral, Mangere, and Epsom.
In the final, Te Atatu quickly took the lead, reaching 8-3 by the halfway point. Despite a valiant effort from Pringle Park, they couldn’t close the gap. Te Atatu’s Adam Blucher, Brendon Kelly, and Peter Blucher emerged as back-to-back champions after Hird’s final bowl pushed wide.
Women’s Event
The Women’s competition was equally thrilling. The feature match of day one was undoubtedly Auckland BC vs. Bridge Park in the round of 16, featuring Pairs champions Aggie Motu and Lesley McLinden. Auckland BC emerged victorious in this fierce battle. The quarterfinals saw dominant performances from Howick, Mt Albert, and St Heliers, who advanced to the semi-finals with ease. Auckland BC edged out Epsom’s trio by a single shot to secure their semi-final spot.
Sunday’s semi-finals lived up to expectations. Mt Albert’s all 1-5 trio of Marisa Posa, Eva Bell, and Jhanna Savov continued to impress, defeating Linda Fenton’s Howick-skipped trio 17-15 to advance to the Final. Meanwhile, Auckland BC faced the defending champions from St Heliers, comprising Catherin Bien, Sue Curran, and Paula Kempthorne. In a competitive match, Auckland BC secured their final spot with a 19-14 win.
The Finals featured four 1-5s (including two first-year players) alongside the experienced and talented Motu and Prideaux. Mt Albert’s Savov more often outdrew first-year bowler Kim Lapslie, but the mother-daughter combo of Bell and Posa faced tougher competition from the seasoned Lisa Prideaux and Aggie Motu. Despite being down 7-1 after six ends, Mt Albert fought back, capitalising on a loose end from Auckland BC, scoring four points. Every time ABC extended the scoreboard, Mt Albert closed the gap. With three ends remaining, Mt Albert found themselves six behind. After scoring the first two, Savov and Bell outplayed ABC, holding two shots. Posa, attempting an over-weighted shot to remove ABC’s closest bowl, accidentally pushed their own out, allowing Motu to build the head and score three points, sealing the victory, an end to spare.
Both the Men’s and Women’s competitions were filled with memorable moments, highlighting some of Auckland’s best players. Both finalists will now progress to the national finals, which will be held here in Auckland, at Royal Oak later this year.
Overall, the Bowls Auckland Champ of Champ Triples was a spectacular showcase of skill and competitive spirit, leaving spectators eagerly anticipating next year’s event.
Congratulations to the 2024 champions and thank you everyone for participating.
