Top of the South and Weekend Results 

Top bowlers coming to town

PETER JONES

Last updated 13:22, August 8 2016

A Top of the South indoor bowls representative side will play the touring North Island team at Simcox Stadium on Wednesday evening, commencing at 7 pm. 

The Top of the South combination, which includes six Marlborough players in the starting line up, will be up against stiff opposition. The tourists have already defeated a strong Otago team, accounted for Southland and soundly beat a combined side at Cromwell last week.

In the ladies singles Denise Clarkson from the Upper Hutt Valley has easily won all her matches on the tour, however she will be up against Marlborough's Janet Fenemor who drew her match with the North's singles player Terri Anderson two years ago when Marlborough faced the North.

Other Marlborough players in the ladies are Nicola Clemett and Natasha McLauchlan who join Nelson's Jean McKenzie and Mary Jordan in the fours.

In the men's clash Nelson's Michael Johnston plays the singles against North's Avon Le Compte while the evergreen Lloyd Bellis pairs with Pete Hodson. Both players are from Nelson.

Marlborough's Steve Grant will skip the triples with the experienced Ron Inglis from Golden Bay and Marlborough's Julian Adams at lead. Tony Fenemor is the other Marlborough player in the team, playing in the four skipped by Nigel Warnes. 

The visiting team boasts some New Zealand test players so  spectators can expect some top class bowls.

Top of the South team

Ladies: Janet Fenemor (singles); Rhonda Bellis, Dianne Grooby (pairs); Rae Inglis, Fiona Prosser, Carolyn Le Compte (triples); Jean McKenzie, Mary Jordan,
Natasha McLauchlan, Nicola Clemett (fours). Men: Michael Johnston (singles); Lloyd Bellis, Pete Hodson (pairs); Steve Grant, Ron Inglis, Julian Adams (triples); Nigel Warnes, Hayden Warnes, Tony Fenemor, Dominic Palumbo (fours).

Kevin Wills, Valda Henderson and Betty Schofield caused the upset of the season when they won the Closed Triples Championship at Simcox Stadium on Saturday. In a tense final Wills' trio toppled the favoured Hitchcock threesome, including Simon at skip, his father Shane at two and brother Damin at lead. However victory was only sealed after an extra end, with the result hanging on the last bowl of the match.

Excellent play by Henderson and Schofield saw them take a 5-0 lead after 10 ends. The Hitchcocks fought back, to trail 7-6, before Wills' team slipped ahead again 9-6. Down 10-8 with an end to play, the Hitchcocks replied to level at 10-10 and force an extra end. With the Hitchcocks holding shot it came down to the two skips. With his first bowl Wills expertly removed the shot bowl. Simon Hitchcock then appeared to get in the winning shot with his final bowl until Kevin Wills produced the shot of the day, placing his bowl close to the jack for victory.

The Plate final was won 10-3 by Brian Booker over John Symington. Booker's triples team consisted of Debbie Wearing and Melva Smith, while Symington's team comprised Judy Symington and Andre Martin.
 
On Sunday the Marlborough Champion of Champions Pairs title was decided. Simon Hitchcock gained some consolation for his loss the previous day with a resounding victory in the final. Partnered by Kevin Wratt at lead, they were always in control to win by 8-2 over Jonathan Martin at skip and his lead Melva Smith. Hitchcock added the Pairs title to his Champion of Champion singles he won earlier in the season.

A 2x4x2 pairs event was held in conjunction with the main event and won by Brian Booker and Debbie Wearing, from Shane and Damin Hitchcock.

 - Stuff

INDOOR BOWLS  Draws 6 & 7 August 2016

Saturday, August 6  Closed Triples Championships, Simcox Stadium commencing 10 am: Simon Hitchcock (s), Shane Hitchcock, D.Hitchcock; E.Fairhurst (s), K.Rowe, N.Clemett; J.Crawford (s), J.Johnston, A.Martin; B.Booker (s), D.Wearing, M.Smith; P.Brown (s), A.Lambley, B.Harragan; O.Couper (s), L.Couper, M.Leslie; I.Henson (s), L.Henson, D.Henson; T.Fenemor (s), J.Fenemor, C.Parkes; E.Percy (s), J.Kidd, M.Bennett; L.Hoole (s), G.Parlane, S.Paul; K.Wills (s), B.Schofield, V.Henderson; A.Macfarlane (s), T.Moore, A.Moore; C.Wooster (s), T.Wooster, K.Jones; G.Hurcomb (s), J.Whyte, J.Hurcomb' D.Catchpole (s), R.Howard, V.Richards; John Symington (s), Judy Symington, A.Martin. Marshlands A, Marshlands B.

Sunday, August 7 Champion of Champion Pairs (Modernite Trophy), Simcox Stadium commencing 10 am: A.Sangster (s), O.Couper; J.Fenemor (s), R.Boddy; J.Martin (s), M.Smith; Simon Hitchcock (s), K.Wratt; John Symington (s), Judy Symington; T.Williams (s), C.Blake; S.Grant (s), M.Dick.  G.Parlane (s), S.Paul; P.Hanley (s), D.Ansley.

Sunday, August 7, 2 X 4 X2 Tournament, Simcox Stadium commencing 10 am: L.Couper (s), A.Taylor; V.Sangster (s), D.Payton; Shane Hitchcock (s), D.Hitchcock; K.Rowe (s), N.Clemett; J.Crawford (s) G.Rush; B.Booker (s), D.Wearing; A.Lambley (s), B.Harragan; R.Sturm (s), I.Brown; J.Adams (s), A.Boddy; K.Newport (s), B.Mcdonald; H.Mortimer (s), F.Hunter; E.Percy (s), M.Bennett; K.Wills (s), K.Jones; T.Moore (s), A.Moore; B.Schofield (s), V.Richards; D.Hamilton (s), plus lead.