2020 Champion of Champions preview
The 2020 Australian Champion of Champions is poised to finally commence this week at Dandenong Club, following a delayed start due to COVID-19.
Of the plethora of bowls events affected by the insidious pandemic, this one was originally scheduled for October last year but pushed back due to differing border restrictions for each region.
The winner of each state’s Champion of Champions event, with the exception of Western Australia, will ply their trade for national glory in a star-studded round robin event, across two days on Wednesday and Thursday, to join an illustrious group of former champions.
The women’s competition boasts four BCiB Australian Jackaroos including Chloe Stewart (QLD), 2016 winner Carla Krizanic (VIC), defending champion Dawn Hayman (NSW) and Rebecca Van Asch (TAS), making for a fierce contest.
Joining the quartet are the Northern Territory’s Bronwyn Hagger, South Australia’s Jackie Fields and ACT’s Chloe Morrison, who will be aiming to etch their names into the tournament’s history books.
Hayman has enjoyed stellar recent form, claiming the New South Wales State Championships singles title at Club Malua in February, and will have a target on her back as this event’s reigning champion.
Hayman and Krizanic are both looking to become the first two-time winners of the Australian Champion of Champions.
Queensland’s Stewart was phenomenal at BPL12 in Moama last month, assisting her Tweed Heads Ospreys to a second title in three events, with pivotal deliveries in key moments to set up her team’s victory in numerous encounters.
Stewart’s Ospreys teammate Corey Wedlock headlines the men’s field, being the sole Jackaroo in the seven man line up.
The 24-year-old also contributed solidly for the Ospreys, improving throughout the tournament and settling in brilliantly as he claimed a third BPL crown.
His competition consists of Jamie Reynolds (ACT), Rhys Jeffs (VIC), Trystan Smallacombe (NT), Ben Walsh (QLD), Adrian Green (SA) and Tasmanian Taelyn Male.
None of the men’s combatants have claimed national Champion of Champions honours, and would be looking to join the likes of Scott Thulborn, Lee Schraner, Ray Pearse and Aaron Teys in the event’s record books.
Whatever happens in Dandenong the ladder will remain tight in both events as the best of the best fight it out for their piece of bowls history.
The Australian Champion of Champions for 2020 will be staged at Dandenong Club on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tune into the Australian Champion of Champions on the BA Facebook Page for Rinkside Live from Wednesday at 8:30am AEDT.
