Thanks to Burnside’s Ken Wilson-Pyne for the write up.
After three days of varied spring weather and 140 games, a very worthy winner took home the silver
ware in the 2023 Living House Burnside Under 26 Singles, lawn bowls tournament.
The field of 32 young bowlers was drawn into four sections of eight players who each then played the
other seven in their section. The top two in each section won their place in Division 1 where they
competed for overall first prize and the trophy. The third and fourth in each section then competed in
Division 2, and so on to Division 4.
The four section winners were; Australia’s two representatives Kira Bourke and Nick Cahill both with 6
wins from 7 games; Halswell’s Hamish Kelleher 6/7; and the winner in 2021, Tauranga’s Anthony
Ouellet 5/7. These four were joined in Division 1 by Tom Taiaroa (West End, Timaru) 6/7, Cook
Islands international Adoni Wichman-Rairoa, Aiden Takarua (Point Chevalier, Auckland), and Jonty
Horwell (Kaikorai, Dunedin) all with 5/7. In the Division 1 quarter finals Horwell, Ouellet, Taiaroa and
Takarua defeated Bourke, Wichman-Rairoa, Kelleher and Cahill respectively.
Sunday’s semi-finals and final held the interest of spectators throughout, with some great scoring and
saving draw bowls, and attacking run shots and drives.
In the semi-finals, Anthony Ouellet 21 d Jonty Horwell 9; and Aiden Takarua 21 d Tom Taiaroa 15.
The Final was an enthralling game with Takarua getting a great start leading 14-2 after 7 ends before
Ouellet recovered somewhat over the next 7 ends to 11-17. The game ended with a flourish when Anthony’s on-target drive hit the shot bowl on to the jack which then rebounded off a back bowl back up
the rink. Aiden confidently drew to the jack to score the two shots he needed to end the game. In the end Aiden Takarua fully deserved his victory in the 2023 Living House Burnside Under 26 Singles 21-12
Aiden Takarua, Tayla Bruce (marker), Anthony Ouellet
The Canterbury Centre players performed very well indeed. Hamish Kelleher (Halswell/Cobden) won
his section by winning 6 games/7 including victory against Aiden Takarua and reached the quarterfinals of Division 1.Seventeen-year-old Jacob Inch (Oxford) won 4/7 section games and reached the
final of Division 2 where he lost to Briar Atkinson, who was Bowls NZ’s 2023 Emerging Player of the
Year and who also defeated Takarua in section play. Braeden Casware (Riccarton Race Course) 3/7
was also in Division 2 where in his semi-final he also lost to Briar Atkinson.
Three Canterbury players won a place in Division 3. Rebecca Jelfs (Belfast), Dylan Campbell (Woolston Park) and Liam O’Connor (Allenton) each won 3/7 section games, but were eliminated in their respective quarter finals. The Burnside trio of Olivia Mancer, Callum Cox and Jayden Owens all played well with many
close games not going their way.
They all found themselves in Division 4 where Callum and Jayden lost their quarter-final and semi-final respectively to NZ Under 26 representative, club mate Olivia.
Olivia in turn lost the final narrowly to Cook Islands international Emily Jim.
A feature of this field is that age-wise all 32 players will be eligible to enter the 2024 event!
It is hoped that Australia and the Cook Islands continue to send their players to this tournament as
their presence adds much interest, class and an international flavour to the event.
Most of these players will play at the National Singles and Pairs Championships in Christchurch, in
early January, 2024.
Their progress will be followed with great interest.
Results
Division 1: 1. Aiden Takarua (Point Chevalier) 2. Anthony Ouellet (Bowls Tauranga South)
Division 2: 1. Briar Atkinson (Paritutu) 2. Jacob Inch (Oxford)
Division 3: 1. Ashleigh Jeffcoat (Carlton Cornwall) 2. David Motu (Mt Eden)
Division 4: 1. Emily Jim (Rakahanga Club) 2. Olivia Mancer (Burnside)
Full results including individual game results can be seen at www.burnsidebowlingclub.com