2021 Aus Champs: pairs/mixed pairs recap
It was yet another successful day for Queensland at the 2021 Australian Championships, claiming both the men’s and women’s pairs events at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.
The state would also post a bronze medal in the mixed pairs, with Victoria claiming the honours in the discipline.
Following a title in the triples yesterday, Aron Sherriff would back up and hoist yet another trophy this week, pairing with Sean Ingham as the Queenslanders went undefeated through the day’s play.
They began with a 24-6 win over Western Australians Greg Taylor and Jack East, before sealing their place in the final with another dominant win over South Australia.
The pair would face Victorians Cooper Wescombe and Jarryd Davies in what was a final for the ages, with neither state willing to budge as they jostled for momentum, in fact consecutive ends were only won on a solitary occasion in the first 12 ends of the match.
Trailing 9-10 after the 12th end, Sherriff would ensure that Queensland would score a four and draw ahead as they claimed an epic 14-12 victory and gold for their state.
Tasmanian pair Mark Nitz and Taelyn Male took out the bronze, continuing a positive week for the state.
A jubilant Sherriff said he was looking forward to re-watching the final, and labels his move to Broadbeach over the past few months as a rejuvenation to his bowling career.
“It was probably a final that you have to watch back, it was a bit of a dog fight I suppose, we were on the better side of the draw shot but Jarryd hit well,” he said.
“We just had to ride it out and stay positive, our time had come and he finally missed on the 13th end and we got a four, that was the turning point in the game.
“Coming to Broadbeach has been the breath of fresh air I needed for my career and to win two national titles on my home ground with great mates is awesome.”
In the women’s pairs it was the Queensland duo of Cassandra Millerick and Kelsey Cottrell who brought home another gold for the Sunshine State after an undefeated run in their four games.
Finishing in second was the Tasmanian pairing of Alison Venn and Rebecca Van Asch, with the latter taking her third medal in as many events since Saturday.
In the bronze medal position were Western Australia’s Linda Warburton and Lisa Featherby.
The mixed pairs was dominated by Victoria’s power couple in Kelly McKerihen and Ali Forsyth who claimed the title over Tasmanian brother-sister pairing of Jorja and Isaac Maughan.
In bronze it was Queensland’s Lynsey Clarke and Brett Wilkie.
