press releases

13.06.11

Singles - newest press releases/reviews first

35 year old dairy farmer Paul Midgley from the Otakeho Club, Taranaki won the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championship singles at the Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua on Saturday.

In the final he defeated Trevor Coleman from the Beerescourt Club in Waikato 13-12. In a dramatic final Midgley made the best start with a two on the first end and a one on the second end to lead 3-0. Coleman scored a three on the third end to level the scores at 3 all and Midgley replied with a two on the fourth end to lead 5-3. Coleman then replied with a two on the fifth end to level things up again before scoring a two and a one on the next two ends to lead 8-5. Coleman killed the eighth end before scoring a three on the ninth to lead 11-7. Midgley replied with a two on the tenth end before Coleman scored one on the eleventh end to take a three shot lead into the final end 12-9. On the final end both players traded shots before Midgley played a fantastic shot with his last bowl to remove Coleman’s bowl and moved the jack. This left him holding three shots and possibly four with an Umpire’s measure required to decide the outcome of the match. The measure went in Midgley’s favour for him to score the necessary four shots to win 13-12.

In the semifinals Coleman defeated Chris Matthews, Richmond Club, Canterbury 12-10 and
Midgley defeated Grant Harvey from the Waitara Town and Country Club 15-7.

In the match between Coleman and Matthews, Coleman made the best start to lead 6-0 after 4 ends. Matthews came back with consecutive twos to trail 4-6 after six ends. Coleman scored two on the seventh end while Matthews scored a three and a one to level the game 8-8 after nine ends. On the tenth end Coleman scored a single and on the eleventh end Matthews was holding one before he played his last bowl and gave the shot away to trail 8-10 after eleven ends. On the last end Coleman played a terrific bowl with his third bowl to trail the jack and hide it. Matthews ran to try and remove Coleman’s bowls and in the process killed the jack. On the killed end Matthews scored two Coleman winning the match 12-10.

In the other semifinal between Paul Midgley and Grant Harvey, Midgley led 5-0 after two ends, 6-0 after three, 7-0 after 4 ends and 9-0 after five ends. Harvey played two huge bowls on the next two ends to score one and three to trail 4-9. Midgley then took control and although Harvey scored three shots on the ninth end Midgley took control to win 15 -7 after ten ends when Harvey conceded the match.

On his road to the final Midgley defeated Danusia Leathem, Wairarapa 25-8, Greg Veale, Manawatu 10-8, John Zittersteijn, North Taranaki 10-8, Raymond Rea, North Taranaki 13-6, Sheree Holmes, Upper Hutt Valley 7-6 and Mark Ridley, North Taranaki 10-9.

The winner of the Truth Cup which is awarded to the woman who progresses the farthest in the singles went to Debbie Reed from the Gate Pa Club, Tauranga who lost to Grant Harvey in the quarterfinals 10-9.

Lindsay Willis from Club 2000, North Taranaki won the Kath and Sen Smith Trophy awarded to the senior player over the age of 65 who progresses the farthest in the singles while Teri Anderson from the Te Atatu Club, Auckland won the Cliff Thompson Trophy for the best junior player under the age of 18 in the singles for the fourth year in a row.

13.06.11

There will be a new champion in the singles at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua this afternoon.

The defending champion Keith Setter from Tauranga has been knocked out by Grant Harvey, North Taranaki.

The final eight players still in are Trevor Coleman, Waikato, David Archer, North Taranaki, Chris Matthews, Canterbury, Mark Keen, Canterbury, Debbie Reed, Tauranga, Grant Harvey, North Taranaki, Mark Ridley, North Taranaki, Paul Midgley, Taranaki.

Matthews won this title in 2008.

13.06.11

The semifinalists have been found in the singles at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua this afternoon.

Trevor Coleman from Beerescourt Club, Waikato will play Chris Matthews from the Richmond Club, Christchurch while Grant Harvey, Waitara Town and Country Club, North Taranaki plays Paul Midgley, Otakeho Club, Taranaki.

Matthews won the singles in 2008. Harvey has two titles the pairs 1998 and fours 2005. He was runner-up in the singles in 2008 to Matthews.

11.06.11
The defending champion in the singles, Keith Setter from Tauranga, has qualified to defend his singles title at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships being held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.

He did it the hard way with two wins and a draw. He won his first two matches against Charlie Moore, Waikato and Graeme Ward, Northland, but then lost a real cliffhanger against the vastly experienced Kevin Boothby from Thames Valley who holds four national titles including the singles way back in 1972. The score was seven all going into the final end with Boothby having the last bowl to play. He drew the shot to win 8-7. This meant that Setter had to at least draw his last game against local player David Banks who had not registered a win all day. Setter was 9-7 up going into the final end and Banks scored two shots to earn the draw.

253 players qualified for post section play on Monday out of the 580 that entered the singles.

Seven times national champion and the most successful player at national championships Paul Psaila, Auckland in among the qualifiers as is gold star holder, Grant l’Ami, Taranaki.

The former singles champions through are Boothby, Chris Matthews, Canterbury, Barry Kinnaird, Auckland, John Frelan, Waikato, Blair Spicer, Canterbury, Vern Littlejohn, Hawkes Bay, Sue Burnand, Ashburton and Gordon McIvor, Manawatu

Four times national champions who are fighting to earn a gold star safely through are Boothby, Spicer, Kinnaird, John Zittersteijn, North Taranaki, Mike Phipps, Taranaki and Hayden Warnes, Nelson.

New Zealand representatives to qualify are Gina Owen, Bay of Plenty, Fiona Wilson, Tauranga, Sandra Keith, Ashburton, Ashley Diamond, Canterbury, Zittersteijn, l’Ami, Spicer and Phipps.

Other notable players to make the cut are Jason Moore, Danny Moore, Robert Lochrie and Tim Veale Manawatu, Lois Randall, Hutt Valley, Dale Lang, North Wellington, Margurrite Gerrand, Bay of Plenty, Teri Anderson, Auckland and Grant Harvey North Taranaki, Sheree Holmes, Upper Hutt Valley,

Major upsets were the failure of New Zealand representative and gold star holder Grant Rayner, North Wellington and Joseph Zino, Hutt Valley who won the Henselite champion of champion singles in 2009.

Rayner lost his first game to John Zittersteijn, North Taranaki 7-8 then beat June Hardy, Auckland 14-3 , then came up against the wily old campaigner Arthur Bettridge, Waikato and went down to him 7-10 before winning his last game against Bryon Duffin, Counties 9-7. Zittersteijn was the only player to qualify out of that section.

Tomorrow (Sunday) is qualifying in the pairs with 340 teams taking part.

14.06.11

Ashley Diamond and Mark Keen from the Hornby Club, Canterbury won the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championship pairs at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Tuesday.
This was Diamond’s second national title having won the fours with Keen in 2007 and they were also in the runner-up team in the triples in 2005. It was Keen’s second title as he was in the champion fours team in 1998. Diamond is a New Zealand representative and performed outstandingly at the Trans Tasman Test match recently when he won Australasian titles in the men’s pairs and fours. He has come through the junior ranks. Amazingly they played each other in the final of the Henselite Champion of Champion Singles last year with Keen winning on that occasion.
In the final they defeated Peter Bowden and Lou Baskiville from St John Vianney Club, Roskill and Districts 11-3.
In the final over nine ends the Canterbury pair dominated from the start with Bowden shut out of the game through the consistent draw bowling by Keen and the superb finishing by Diamond. They led 11-1 after seven ends before Keen killed the eighth end with his first bowl to end the game.
The semifinals saw Diamond defeat Paul Wright and Roger Andrew from the Olympic Club in Auckland 9-4 while Bowden defeated last night’s singles champion Paul Midgley and Lorraine Phipps from Stratford/Avon Club, Taranaki 7-4.
The semifinal between Diamond and Wright saw Diamond lead throughout restricting Wright to just four singles throughout the game to record a comfortable 9-4 victory. In the semifinal between Bowden and Midgley, Midgley briefly held the lead after two ends to lead 2-1 before Bowden scored on five of the next six ends to lead 7-3 going into the last end. On this end Midgley scored one shot, Bowden winning 7-4.
In the quarterfinals Bowden put out Mike and Raewyn Dempsey from the Mangamahoe Club, North Taranaki 6-4 while Midgley defeated Grant l’Ami and Mike Phipps from Stratford/Avon Club 8-5, Wright defeated Ross Garner and Marilyn Holmes, Mornington Club, Otago 5-3 and Diamond defeated Keith Setter and Geoff Coughey, South City Club, Tauranga 8-5.
The defending champions Grant Rayner and Paul Psaila, North Wellington were
eliminated by the Manawatu son and father team of Jason and Danny Moore in the last 128 3-6.

12.06.11
The defending pairs champions Grant Rayner and Paul Psaila, North Wellington, have qualified to defend their title at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.

They went through section play unbeaten with three wins and a draw. Other notable combinations to qualify include seven four times national champions John Zittersteijn playing with Kerrin Fremlin out of Auckland, Rod Fleming with his wife Sue from Hawkes Bay, Mike Phipps with Grant l’Ami, Taranaki, Nigel Warnes with Fred Persico, Nelson, Barry Kinnaird playing with Jeff Stuart, North Wellington, Gary Lawson with Jacqui Whitburn, Auckland and Blair Spicer with Rob Osborne, Canterbury who won the pairs in 2009.

Lisa White, Upper Hutt Valley who was the standout player at the recent Trans Tasman Test Match qualified with Blake Signal as her skip along with Paul Smith and another New Zealand representative Fiona Wilson, Tauranga. Wilson and White were the successful New Zealand women’s combination. Another New Zealand representative Ashley Diamond from Canterbury with Mark Keen also qualified with three wins.

Last year’s runners-up in the pairs David Vesty and Glenis Cohen, Hawkes Bay are also safely through along with former champions Kevin Childs and Ray Wyatt, North Wellington who won in 1992. The 2004 champions and 2003 champions, Simon Poppleton and Darryn Bell, Waikato and Don and Lillian Christini, Northland respectively qualified.

The major upsets saw the 2008 champions Tim Veale and Teri Anderson, Manawatu knocked out along with North Wellington’s Dale Lang and Linda McCurdy, Hayden Warnes and Chris Moffitt, Nelson and Sandra Keith and Sue Burnand, Ashburton.

The defending singles champion Keith Setter, Tauranga who qualified to defend the singles yesterday had another successful day today when he combined with Geoff Coughey to make the cut.

132 teams qualified out of an entry of 340 pairs.

Triples - newest press releases/reviews first

17.06.11

The Southland family team of Gary, Graham and Jan Low won the triples at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Friday

Gary skipped his father and mother for their first success at the national championships after having been close on numerous occasions most recently third equal in the same event last year .
In the final they defeated Fred Persico, Hayden Warnes and Chris Moffitt, Nelson 10-9. Warnes was looking for his fifth title to earn his gold star and to be the youngest person to ever do so.

In the final over ten ends the Lows got away to the best start to lead 4-2 after four ends. Persico picked up a two on the fifth and sixth ends to take the lead 6-4, before the Lows replied with two on the seventh end to make it 6-6. On the eighth end Persico scored two before Low scored one on the ninth end to trail by one going into the final end 7-8. On the final end the Lows played superb draw bowls to surround the jack and Gary Low played a top bowl with his last bowl to remove the only Persico bowl on the head. Persico ran at the head with his last bowl and killed the jack to make the score 10-8 to the Lows. On the killed end the Lows again tied up the head and despite a couple of top bowls by Persico he could only score one with Gary Low’s last bowl not required for them to win 10-9.

The semifinals saw Persico defeat the defending champions Grant Rayner, Paul Psaila and Teri Anderson from the Hobsonville Club, Auckland 10-9 while Low defeated Mel Spicer, Jenny Sackfield and Carol Spicer from the Northern Feilding Club, Manawatu 10-7.

The semifinal between Persico and Rayner saw the Auckland side 3-1 after four ends and 6-3 after six ends. Persico came back with a three on seventh end to level the scores 6-6. Rayner scored one on the eighth end and on the ninth end Persico picked up four shots two of them by an umpire’s measure to go into the final end ahead 10-7. On the final end the Auckland team played superb draw bowls while the Nelson lead and two cut their green. This gave Rayner a chance to score four shots. However Persico ran at the head and removed one of the Rayner bowls, while Rayner drew round the back of the head. With his last bowl Persico ran at the head again and disturbed the head leaving Rayner with one shot and a measure.
He attempted to draw the shot and move the jack to score four for the win. Unfortunately he was too wide and just ran past. This left him with two shots and an Umpire was called to measure. The decision was in Persico’s favour to win 10-9.

In the other semifinal Spicer’s team made the best start to lead 4-1 after three ends. Low’s team then scored on four of the next five ends to lead 7-5 after eight ends. On the ninth end Low was holding one shot and Spicer tried to remove his shot bowl and in the process killed the jack to leave Low five shots up going into the final end. On this end the Manawatu team surrounded the jack leaving themselves holding four shots before Gary Low played his last bowl. With his last bowl Low played a superb draw shot to sit on one of Spicer’s shot bowls. Spicer drove with his last bowl but could not improve the head Low winning 10-7.

To get to the final Low defeated Fay Smail, South Canterbury 12-5, Simon Poppleton, Auckland 10-5, Kevin Childs, Auckland 12-3, David Vesty, Hawkes Bay 14-3 and Spicer 10-7.

87 teams qualified for post section out of a field of 200.

15.06.11

The defending triples champions Grant Rayner, Paul Psaila, Teri Anderson from the Hobsonville Club, Auckland have qualified to defend their title at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.

They did it the hard way by drawing their first game and then losing their second before winning the final two.

They were among the 87 teams that qualified out of a field of 200.

All of the four times national champions entered the triples qualified. They were Nigel Warnes playing with Michael Lawson and Stephen Preddy, Ashburton, Kevin Boothby along with Barry Hamilton and Gail Boothby, Thames Valley, Blair Spicer playing with Chris Matthews and Deanne Kamo, Canterbury, Barry Kinnaird with David Philpott and Jenny White, Canterbury, Mike Phipps playing for Grant l’Ami and Lorraine Phipps, Taranaki and Hayden Warnes with Fred Persico and Chris Moffitt, Nelson, the 2009 champions.

Last night’s pairs champions Ashley Diamond and Mark Keen combined with Bev Diamond, Canterbury to qualify.

Monday night’s singles champion Paul Midgley playing alongside Grant Harvey and Vern Littlejohn, North Taranaki missed out along with Sandra Keith, Sue Burnand and Maxine Chapman, Ashburton.
Last year’s runners-up Ken Mackenzie, Graeme Chapman and Mathew Bassett, Ashburton also missed out.

Fours - newest press releases/reviews first

18.06.11

Grant l’Ami, Paul Midgley, Mike Phipps and Lorraine Phipps from the Stratford/Avon Club, Taranaki have won the fours at the Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua on Saturday.

In the final over 10 ends they defeated Joseph Zino, Marcus Trlin, Denise Clarkson and John Zino from the X Pats Club, Hutt Valley 12-8. Joseph, Denise and John had previously won this title in 2009.

This gave Mike Phipps his gold star for five national titles all of which he has won in combination with l’Ami. They are fours 1998, 2002, 2011, triples 1999 and pairs 2002.

For l’Ami it was his sixth title and for Midgley his second of the championships having won his first ever title in the singles earlier in the week. His results over the duration of the week also won him the Robertson Cup for the player of the tournament. Lorraine Phipps won her first title.

The Taranaki team’s win also helped secure the Patron’s Cup for Taranaki which is awarded to the best district.

The final over 10 ends saw the score 4 all after 5 ends. L’Ami scored a three on the sixth end before Zino replied with two singles to make the score 7-6 to l’Ami after 8 ends. On the ninth end l’Ami played a top shot with his last bowl to score two shots to take a 9-6 lead into the final end. On the last end l’Ami’s team secured the head and Zino played a run shot with his first bowl and killed the jack. This made l’Ami six up playing the deciding end and Lorraine Phipps killed the jack with her first bowl to win the title 12-8.

In the semifinals l’Ami beat Steven Fisher, North Island representative Lance Jenner, Anthony McQuoid and four times national champion Barry Kinnaird, Owairaka Parish Club, Roskill and Districts 8-6 while Zino defeated Keith Setter and Paul Smith along with New Zealand representative Fiona Wilson and Geoff Coughey, South City Club, Tauranga 9-8.

In the semifinal between l’Ami and Fisher both teams got away to an even start. The score was two all after 4 ends. Fisher scored one shot on the next two ends before l’Ami replied with a two and a one. The score was 5-4 to l’Ami after eight ends. On the ninth end Fisher’s team played a top end of draw bowls to score a two to lead 6-5 going into the last end. On this end l’Ami’s side surrounded the jack. Fisher drove at the head with his first bowl and took out his closest shot bowl. Then with his second bowl he needed to draw the jack but ran past l’Ami picking up three to win the match 8-6.

In the other semifinal the score was level six all after six ends in a close encounter. Zino picked up two shots on the seventh end to lead 8-6. Setter’s team then dominated the next two ends to score two singles to level the score 8-8 going into the last end. On this end Setter’s team again surrounded the jack. Zino played a top drive to bring the jack out into the open with his first bowl. Setter tried to secure the head with his second bowl but dragged the jack to one of Zino’s bowls in the process, Zino winning 9-8.

18.06.11

The finalists have been found in the fours at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Saturday.

They are New Zealand representative Grant l’Ami, Monday night’s singles champion Paul Midgley, New Zealand representative and four times national champion Mike Phipps and North Island representative Lorraine Phipps, Stratford/Avon Club, Taranaki. Who will meet 2009 champions, Joseph Zino, North Island representative Denise Clarkson and John Zino who this time combine with Marcus Trlin, X Pats Club, Hutt Valley who is playing at three.

18.06.11

The semifinalists have been found in the fours at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Saturday.

They are Steven Fisher, North Island representative Lance Jenner, Anthony McQuoid and four times national champion Barry Kinnaird, Owairaka Parish Club, Roskill and Districts who will play New Zealand representative Grant l’Ami, Monday night’s singles champion Paul Midgley, New Zealand representative and four times national champion Mike Phipps and North Island representative Lorraine Phipps, Stratford/Avon Club, Taranaki. In the other semifinal North Island representatives, Keith Setter and Paul Smith along with New Zealand representative Fiona Wilson and Geoff Coughey, South City Club, Tauranga meet 2009 champions, Joseph Zino, North Island representative Denise Clarkson and John Zino who this time combine with Marcus Trlin, X Pats Club, Hutt Valley who is playing at three.

18.06.11

The defending champions in the fours Jason Moore, Robert Lochrie, Tony Griffin and Danny Moore from Manawatu have been knocked out in post section play at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Saturday.

64 teams started out in post section this morning.

In the first round they beat South Island representative Jean McKenzie, Nelson 12-6. They then lost to the 2008 champions Nigel Warnes, Fred Persico and Hayden Warnes, Nelson who on this occasion combine with Chris Moffitt 6-9.

Warnes then proceeded to lose to North Island representatives Keith Setter and Paul Smith, New Zealand representative Fiona Wilson and Geoff Coughey, Tauranga 8-9. The Warnes were seeking their fifth title for their gold stars.

Another four times champion Barry Kinnaird playing with Steven Fisher, North Island representative Lance Jenner and Anthony McQuoid, Roskill and Districts is still going after beating David Archer, North Taranaki 6-5 in the first round. They then defeated Milton Toft, Counties 9-2. In the last 16 they defeated Trevor Gould, Upper Hutt Valley 10-5. New Zealand representative Mike Phipps who is also a four times champion and playing with fellow New Zealand representative Grant l’Ami, Monday’s singles champion Paul Midgley and North Island representative Lorraine Phipps are also still going after wins against Simon Poppleton, Waikato 5-4, Dale Lang, Waikato 7-6 and Reece Wickenden, North Wellington 10-9.

Meanwhile the other two four times champions Blair Spicer, Canterbury and Rod Fleming, Hawkes Bay have been eliminated in the first round. Another big casualty in the first round was that of the North Island Team Captain Grant Harvey who lost to David Wadsworth, Golden Bay-Motueka 6-7.

Last night’s triples champions Gary, Graham and Jan Low combined with Clare Stronach, Southland to win their first match against Margaret Stuart, Manawatu 15-6 before defeating Rex McNae, Tauranga 11-7. In the last 16 they defeated Gavin Stringer, Waikato 8-6.

Another strong combination still in contention are the 2009 champions Joseph Zino, North Island representative Denise Clarkson and John Zino who this year have combined with Marcus Trlin, Hutt Valley. So far they have defeated Mark Ridley, North Taranaki 10-5, New Zealand representative Sandra Keith, Ashburton 15-5 and South Island representative Ken Mackenzie, Ashburton 8-7.

Tuesday night’s pairs champions Ashley Diamond and Mark Keen combined with David Philpott and Bev Diamond, Canterbury to win their first game against Jess Swainbank, North Harbour 7-3 before losing to Bruce Pedley, Duncan and Janine Ruthe and Brent Thoms, Horowhenua 4-9.

16.06.11

The defending fours champions Jason Moore, Robert Lochrie, Tony Griffin and Danny Moore, Manawatu have qualified to defend their title at the 62nd Lion Foundation National Indoor Bowls Championships at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.

They were among the 64 teams out of a field of 155.

All but one of the four times national champions who entered the fours qualified. They were both Nigel and Hayden Warnes playing with Fred Persico and Chris Moffat, Nelson, Blair Spicer playing with Rob Osborne, Neil Inglis and Deanne Kamo, Canterbury, Barry Kinnaird with Steve Fisher, Lance Jenner and Anthony McQuoid, Roskill and Districts and Mike Phipps playing with Grant l’Ami, Paul Midgley this year’s singles winner and Lorraine Phipps, Taranaki and Rod Fleming, with Chris Matthews, Sue Fleming and Jenny White, Hawkes Bay. Kevin Boothby, Thames Valley was the one to miss out.
Nigel Warnes has won all of his titles in fours.

In a very tough section that included l’Ami and Grant Harvey, Grant Rayner, Paul Psaila and Vern Littlejohn, North Taranaki as well Gary Low, Graham Low, Clare Stronach and Jan Low, Southland all three teams qualified.

This year’s pairs champions Ashley Diamond and Mark Keen combined with David Philpott and Bev Diamond, Canterbury to qualify.

Local teams to qualify include Trevor Gould, Robert Fuge, Lisa Gould and Stephen Sharpe, Upper Hutt Valley, Reece Wickenden, Graham Stronach, Chris McAdam and Teri Anderson, North Wellington and Joseph Zino, Marcus Trlin, Denise Clarkson and John Zino, Hutt Valley.
Notable upset was last year’s runners-up of Mathew Ellis, Jason Parker and Carl Te Wharau who this year combined with Delwyn Ellis, Counties,