Sixteen pairs began play on Saturday 10 September in the Men’s Balloted 2 x 4 x 2 Pairs Championship – the first championship event of the summer season. With the cotula green still too soft for play the Women’s event would follow on Sunday. By the end of a beautifully sunny, mild spring day seven pairs had collected the two wins they required to qualify for post-section play on Sunday. Ken Hayward & Jim Pailthorpe drew the bye and in the first round Brian Cooper & Joe Wnek beat Murray Griffin & Alan Glynn; Bill Clelland & Graeme Bocock eliminated Rob Cotter & Omeka Feaunati; and John Adams and Les Galloway ended the hopes of Shoota Ballinger & Brian Thompson.
The semi finals followed and while Cooper & Wnek easily disposed on Hayward & Pailthorpe, Adams & Galloway beat Clelland & Bocock 8 – 7 by picking up three points on the final end. The final was also very close with the Cooper and Wnek combination coming out on top 10 – 9. Once again the weather played its part turning on another lovely day.
The Women played their qualifying games on the Sunday with five teams qualifying. Dianne Short & Hazel Rose; Barbara Selley & Jessie Jonhston; and Lana Mahupuku & Linda Moy drew the byes, with Alice Spicer & Ralda Adams and Margaret Griffin & Liz Galloway to play decide the last four.
Men’s Champs Brian Cooper and Joe Wnek
Photo by Jenny Watt