Club News
Wed 23 Dec 2009:Aucklanders Out For Nationals Glory
Christmas and the New Year is traditionally a time for family, the beach and BBQ's with the New Zealand summer in full swing. But for many, the Hyundai National Open championships held over the holiday period is as much a ritual, this being the 95th men's version and the 60th women's.
32 men and 32 women from Auckland will make the trip to Wellington for the Nationals, with Headquarters being the Hutt Bowling Club, Lower Hutt.
Last year's women s fours runner-up Karen Hema and Tania Wrigley of Pakuranga will attempt to go one better. They have St Heliers Catherine Bien and Sue Curran as additions to their four.
The mother-daughter combo of former world champion Marlene Castle and New Zealand 242 Mixed Pairs winner Raelene Castle will have a crack in the women's pairs. They paired the last time the Nationals were held in Wellington, Raelene as a first year bowler.
In fact, the first four favourites at the TAB for the women s pairs are family affairs. Sisters Jan and Marina Khan, Onehunga's Castle and Castle, another mother-daughter duo in Leigh Griffin and New Zealand under 18 rep Kirsten Griffin, and Hawkes Bay sisters Mandy and Angela Boyd.
Pakuranga's Linda Ralph fits nicely into a strong four skipped by Leigh Griffin. The remaining two are Wellington rep Lui Hare and Hilda Abraham.
Singles champion Sue Wightman of Hakaru will return to defend her title, as will men's champion Richard Collett, now of Stoke in Nelson.
Rob Ashton and Ray Boffa will have a crack at doing what no men's pair has ever done before, win the discipline back to back. Former Black Jack Kevin Darling managed to win back to back pairs in 1973 and '74, albeit with different leads.
Onehunga's Danny Delany will attempt to fill the remaining hole on his CV by winning a title at the Nationals. A semi finalist three times, Delany this year joins three players with 11 titles between them. He will lead for Gary Lawson in the pairs, Lawson hunting for his 10th triumph at the Nationals to equal the late great Nick Unkovich.
Former world champion Ryan Bester of Canada and former New Zealand singles winner Kelvin Scott make up the formidable four.
Other teams likely to feature and challenge the Lawson led four include Sydney based Aucklander Richard Girvan's four comprising Ali Forsyth, Sean O'Neill and Andrew Todd, all Black Jack's this year.
Don't bet against last years fours winners going back to back though. New Zealand legend Peter Belliss is back to defend his title won at Pakuranga and has an unchanged lineup. Sydney-bound Kevin Robinson has been in top form lately. Former Black Jack's Steve Posa and Auckland based Justin Goodwin round out Belliss' four.
Former Trusts New Zealand Open singles winner and last year's pairs runner-up Matt Gallop of Belliss' Cabramatta club will again line up in the singles and pairs, although partner Chris Le Lievre is unavailable. Older brother Steven Gallop will be his pairs partner.
Young players will be out in force this year. Andrew Kelly, Lance Pascoe, Nick Buttar and Dave Good form a very capable four. It is most pleasing to see a large contingent of young Aucklanders making the trip to Wellington. The men and women all 19 years or under include Jacqui Whitburn, Scott Cottrell, Scott Evans, Ciaran MacElvanna, Sione Manuolevao, and New Zealand 25 and under rep Greg Ruaporo.
While the Auckland Bowls office is closed for the holidays, please see the Bowls New Zealand website for news, results and updates. We will be back online on Monday the 11th of January. Best of luck to all the Auckland players competing in the Hyundai National Open Championships
Hyundai National Open Championships
Headquarters: Hutt Bowling Club, 6 Myrtle St, Lower Hutt, Wellington
December 28th 2009 to January 9th 2010
Singles and Pairs finals Monday January 4th
Fours finals Saturday 9th January
