42nd NEW ZEALAND INDOOR BOWLS JUNIOR SINGLES NATIONAL FINAL
JOHNSTON DEFENDS JUNIOR SINGLES TITLE
Kaleb Johnston aged 18 from the Stoke Club, Nelson won the national final of the 42nd New Zealand Indoor Bowls Junior Singles held on Saturday, at North Wellington Indoor Bowls Association Hall, Onepoto Domain, Titahi Bay, Wellington for the second year in a row.
Kaleb made history last year when he followed in his father Mike’s footsteps to win the title. Mike won the title 40 years ago in 1978. Kaleb is the third player to have won the title two years in a row. Wayne Eichler, Manawatu won in 1981 and 1982 and Willie Comer, North Otago won in 1992 and 1993.
Kaleb Johnston has stamped his record as the best junior singles player in the country currently as he also won the Cliff Thompson Trophy that is awarded to the junior player that goes the farthest in the Open Singles at the National Championships.
In the final over 12 ends he defeated Nikita Blair, Canterbury 9-8 in a close final.
In the semifinals Johnston defeated Dylan Greyvenstein, Bay of Plenty 14-10 while Blair beat Anthony Ouellet, Tauranga 12-9.
The Morrison Plate for non-qualifiers was won by Jordan Keene, Hutt Valley who defeated Lilly Paterson, South Otago 19-6 in the plate final.
20 districts entered the championship and 7 players qualified for post section play.
Results Main Event post section:
Round 1: Dylan Greyvenstein, Bay of Plenty drew the bye.
Kaleb Johnston, Nelson bt Niall Vincer, Auckland 17-7; Nikita Blair, Canterbury bt Brayden Riggs, Counties 11-10; Anthony Ouellet, Tauranga bt Nathan Trowell, Poverty Bay bt 11-8.
