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Bowls New Zealand Summerset National Championships 2022

19 January 2022

Don Stephens

 

Keerin in action releasing ball, wearing Otago Blue
Kerrin in action, releasing a bowl, wearing the Otago Blue and yellow team colours on the green

Southern lawn bowlers completed a clean sweep of the titles in the Blind Low Vision events at the National Championships held in Canterbury in the first week of the New Year. It was a fine achievement for the players given the high quality of competition throughout the round-robin sections and into the semi-finals and finals.

Tom Champion Singles: very proud husband and wife team Tom and Gaye Boyd, with medals and silver trophy, wearing Burnside green colours Team shirts
Tom Champion Singles: very proud husband and wife team Tom and Gaye Boyd, with medals and silver trophy, wearing Burnside green colours Team shirts

Tom Boyd had a good run throughout the round-robin games in the B1/2 Singles with his only loss coming at the hands of club mate Deane Robertson, who ended up with a clean-sweep for his efforts. Tom would again face Deane in the final, Deane cruising through his semi-final against Brown Bay’s Joseph Kim, with Tom having more of a battle in his semi against Henderson’s Gerald Brouwers. The final was a long affair, lasting some three and a half hours, with Tom eventually gaining the upper hand with a 21-14 win over Deane.

Tom Boyd had a good run throughout the round-robin games in the B1/2 Singles with his only loss coming at the hands of club mate Deane Robertson, who ended up with a clean-sweep for his efforts. Tom would again face Deane in the final, Deane cruising through his semi-final against Brown Bay’s Joseph Kim, with Tom having more of a battle in his semi against Henderson’s Gerald Brouwers. The final was a long affair, lasting some three and a half hours, with Tom eventually gaining the upper hand with a 21-14 win over Deane.

Pairs Champs Bowls Left to right, Deane Robertson holding trophy, with team mate Don Stephens and Director Kevin Smith, wearing medals and red Canterbury team shirts
Pairs Champs Bowls Left to right, Deane Robertson holding trophy, with team mate Don Stephens and Director Kevin Smith, wearing medals and red Canterbury team shirts

The last game in the tournament for then N.Z.B.L.B.A. bowlers was the Pairs final with Christchurch Stephens and Robertson (dir. Kevin Smith) up against the Nelson pairing of Steve Delaney, skip and Gordon Oldfield. It was a close tussle with the decisive blow coming with two superb shots from Deane to turn the game. From then Deane and Don chipped away to run out the winners, 15-11.

Bowls Nelson Team: Sliver pairs medalists, Steve and Gordon Oldfield with Director Bev, wearing Nelson Blue Team shirts
Bowls Nelson Team: Sliver pairs medalists, Steve and Gordon Oldfield with Director Bev, wearing Nelson Blue Team shirts

In addition, the prestigious award, Para Athlete of the Year 2020/2021, was officially awarded to Steve Delaney, in recognition of his achievements over that period as a new player.

Played under the umbrella of Bowls New Zealand for the third time, the southerner’s demonstrated a high level of skill and competitive drive to achieve their successes at the Nationals. Notably, the integrated competition raises profile of the game, and showing for all the B.L.V. sportspeople whom participated, that the spirit of the game and having fun is equally important.