A strong combination from the Marlborough Centre of Max Brydon (Renwick club) and Taran Moanaroa (Blenheim club) were outstanding in winning the South Island Development Pairs played the Kia Toa Bowling Club over Labour Weekend. They deserved the title as they were the only team unbeaten in a strong field of 62 teams from all over the South Island.

The competition was held at the Kia Toa and Temuka greens.  The greenkeepers had the greens running beautifully which lead to some outstanding bowls played by the Development players which gave them confidence to play prefect shots. The tournament, for players 8 years or less, is in its third year.

In the final the Marlborough boys played the Oxford team of Jacob Inch and Paul Morris. The Oxford team had been outstanding leading up to the final with great wins over local men from Kia Toa, Mike Crook and Aaron Taylor, but found the Blenheim men too classy on the day.

In the next game they played the Cook Bothers.  This was the game of the tournament with Brydon winning on an extra end . Skip Brydon was able to play magnificent bowls in the final as his lead set up the front with some beautiful draw shots and they raced away to a 17 to 9 victory.

In division 2 one of the favourites of the Tournament Marshall Stoddart and Nigel Mobberley, missed out on qualifying for the top 16 but made amends being unbeaten over 5 games to win the division.

Division 3 was won by Joe Trenkner and Sue Dobson from the Stoke club and Division 4 was won by local men Richard Hall and Barry Black from West End who also remained unbeaten in this Division.

Top 16

Max Brydon & Taran Moanaroa 18, Matt Smith & Gary Stubbs 10, Mitch and Cam Cook 15, Paul Veith & Linton Churches 13, Reuben Silva & Donna Thomas 15, Peter and Trish Hannan 13, Bernie Blackmun & Paul Avis 19, Gus Hurrell & Russ Ward 3, Grahan Marshall & Carol Flower 16, Jonathan Truesdale & Rod Hooper 14, Nick Murrell & Kerry McNulty 14, Galen Bonner & Jono Radka 8, Neville Landcaster & Jock O Conner 12, Andy Ellis & Phillip Hobbs 10, Jacob Inch & Paul Morris 17, Mick Crook & Aaron Taylor 14

Last 8

Brydon 14 Cook 13, extra end Silva 14 Blackmun 11, Murrell 16 Marshall 10, Inch 14 Lancaster 10

Semi Final

Brydon 19 Silva 10, Inch 14 Murrell 11

Final

Brydon 17, Inch 9

Plate Event Final

Truesdale 15, Hannah 2

Special Plate

Cook 13, Marshall 12 Extra End

Division 2

1st - Marshal Stoddart & Nigel Mobberley 4.5 wins

2nd - Ethan Flynn & Thomas Crockrill 4 wins

Article added: Tuesday 31 October 2023