Pearse wins maiden Australian title
Cabramatta’s Ray Pearse has capped off an amazing 12 months winning his first Australian title at last week’s Australian Championships on the Sapphire Coast, Merimbula NSW.
Pearse created history in New South Wales by winning his fourth State Singles title and claiming the unprecedented state singles double in 2018, also reigning supreme in the State Champion of Champion Singles.
However, despite all of Ray’s success in New South Wales, having already represented Australia and won medals on the international stage, that elusive National Title had been a bucket list item for some time.
“Other than my marriage this win ranks the highest; I’ve been searching for a national title for over ten years,” an ecstatic Pearse said.
“I’ve won 10 state titles but this has been my first opportunity to play at an Australian Championships so I’m really happy to have won here this year.”
The beginning of his quest wasn’t going to plan when he found himself 0-11 behind in the opening round against Queensland’s Jay Dawe and also falling behind in his second round match against young gun Joshua Studham from South Australia; however Pearse quickly turned things around and after three sectional matches he progressed to the final undefeated.
“I had a rough start in my first two sectional matches against Jay Dawe and Joshua Studham but I was able to scrape away two wins, then I had a good win in the third round leading into the final against Leeroy.”
It would be a monumental task to win the final against arguably the country’s most in form singles player; Tasmania’s Lee Shcraner is the current back-to-back Australian Champion of Champion Singles winner and a bronze medallist at the recent World Champion of Champions, so it would take something special to defeat the man on a hot streak.
“It was nice to get out of the blocks a bit earlier against Lee, but as Leeroy does, he always fights back so I just needed to hang in there and persevere; the conditions were a little easier in the second half of the final so I’m just over the moon with the win,” Pearse said.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed; I’ve actually done this for my father in law who is not well at the moment.”
In the women’s coveted singles final, Carla Krizanic showed why she is one of the world’s best with a solid victory over Tasmania’s Lynn Triffet to claim another trophy to her ever-growing trophy cabinet.
Krizanic had made her intentions clear from round one, accounting for Northern Territories Shenayde Heldt 25-9.
The showdown between two BCiB Australian Jackaroos Krizanic and Kristina Krstic (WA) was a talking point prior to the event kicking off and the game did not disappoint.
The pair were going shot for shot until a lose end from Krstic opened the door for Krizanic to pick up four shots and move within striking distance of the 25 shots required to win the match.
Krizanic got out of the blocks early in the final; Lynn Triffett was fighting back in the middle stages of the match, however it was Krizanic who ran away with a 10 shot victory.
To watch the men’s and women’s singles finals click here.
Women’s Gold Medal Match:
Carla Krizanic (Sunbury, VIC) defeated Lynn Triffett (New Norfolk, TAS) 25-15
Men’s Gold Medal Match:
Ray Pearse (Cabramatta, NSW) defeated Leeroy Schraner (Rosny Park, TAS) 25-19
Women’s Bronze Medal Match:
Kristina Krstic (Manning Memorial, WA) defeated Judy Monks (Sawtell, NSW) 25-10
Men’s Bronze Medal Match:
Joshua Studham (Holdfast Bay, SA) defeated Robert Craven (Queanbeyan RSL, ACT) 25-22
Caption: Pearse and Krizanic win the blue ribbon singles at the recent Australian Championships
