New Zealand Blind Bowls Nationals – Singles Champions Found

Lorraine McLeodNews

The singles competition has now been completed and the 2018 Champions found.

Glenn Hanneman with his Director Bernard Yeo made every post a winner convincingly winning all six matches to claim the B1 title. Hanneman played consistently well throughout the championship to keep his opposition to single figures in every match. Louise Henry (with Director Norm Parkes) was the runner up in this event.

The B2 event was a very close encounter with last years winner and local favourite Deane Robertson (with Director Kevin Smith) attempting to defend his title against Gerald Brouwers (with Director Bill Easton). In front  of a good crowd of spectators, who were appreciating the high standard of play on offer, Brouwers got out to a 5-0 and then 7-2 lead before Robertson fought back to tie the match at 10 all. The close battle continued right to the end of the two hour match with Robertson winning the last three ends to regain his title with a 14-10 win.

The B3 event was also a very close and hard fought match. David Stallard (with Director Helen Stallard) took on Danny Simon (with Director David Conroy). In the morning qualifying round Simon had completely dominated to win 21-4. Stallard however was not laying down and with both players playing excellent bowls the final became a very close affair. The lead was swapped several times before the consistency of Stallard finally won through winning 17-16 to claim the title.

The B4 competition was a seven game round robin event. This was also a highly competitive field with quality play and close matches to the fore. James Dunn was the supreme performer in this field remaining unbeaten over all matches. The runner up in the event was last years winner Spencer Stacy (with Director Sue Ashton) who won six of his seven games with his only loss being to Dunn. Special mention must also be made re the performance of Steve Delaney (with Director Colin Delaney). Prior to the nationals the only bowls he had played was casual corporate bowls. This was his first foray into any serious competition and he acquitted himself very well winning five of his seven games losing only closely to Dunn and Stacey.

The championship now moves onto the pairs event starting at 9am on Wednesday and will be completed on Thursday.

All results can be found on the following link which is updated live as results come in -

http://www.burnsidebowlingclub.com/2018NationalBlindChampionship.html?fbclid=IwAR3tKCMxFK17ar4XUselHf-wqDjfdCutAee9SJPA7aL2my1ek9OyNbsDHbw

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