Australian Triples Champions
The 2018 Australian Championships got off to a flying start here at Club Sapphire on the Sapphire Coast with our powerhouse states Queensland and New South Wales claiming gold in the first event of the four day long program.
The Queensland triples combination, covering all corners of the sunshine state from Brisbane to Mackay, Alan Howard, Peter Balderson and Mitchell Mears completed their fairy tale year winning a maiden Australian title in a classy performance on day one.
The trio went through these championships undefeated, keeping their record in-tact, whilst also claiming the honours of best post match celebration after their emphatic victory over the Victorians in the final courtesy of the enthusiasm shown by Peter Balderson, a man we are told is renowned for his energy on the green.
An unfortunate incident occurred in the match with a rebounding jack hitting a players leg; the end had to be replayed however the drive which was delivered by Queensland skip Mitchell Mears ended up being a turning point for the Queenslanders, saving six shots at a crucial point in the match and consequently spurring the maroons to deliver in the closing ends.
The Victorian side of Jonny Sanders, Troy Stafford and Josh Sanders were thrilled with their silver medal performance, still wearing their medals proudly the next day.
In the women’s final it was the New South Wales Blues, Louise Cronin, Kate Walker and Katrina Wright from the Taren Point Bowling Club in Sydney who held their nerves in a spectacular final against a strong Western Australian team skipped by BCiB Australian Jackaroo Kristina Krstic and fellow state representatives Laura Merz and Robyn O’Brien, claiming gold on an extra end.
The match lived up to expectations by going right down to the wire; an umpires measure was needed to decide the teams fate on the 15th end with the ladies from the west looking confident of snatching victory with Krstic’s final bowl, but that wasn’t the case and an extra end was required to spilt these two competitive sides.
The final bowl of the match was delivered by the winning skip, a former Australian representative Katrina Wright, who opting to play with weight through short bowls with the intention of making contact with a NSW bowl; that is exactly what she did, hitting her team mates bowl up for shot.
The spectators from Taren Point, made up of family and friends of the winning side, jumped for joy as they watched their daughters and club mates claim a memorable victory.
Women’s Gold Medal Match-
Louise Cronin, Kate Walker and Katrina Wright (Taren Point, NSW) defeated Robyn O’Brien, Laura Merz and Kristina Krstic (Manning Memorial, WA) 14-13
Men’s Gold Medal Match-
Alan Howard, Peter Balderson and Mitchell Mears (Composite, QLD) defeated Jonny Sanders, Troy Stafford and Josh Sanders (Lilydale, VIC) 20-11
Women’s Bronze Medal Match-
Shelley Allen, Brooke Edwards and Gayle Edwards (Altona, VIC) defeated Jessica Srisamruaybai, Claire Turley and Chloe Stewart (Tweed Heads, QLD) 15-12
Men’s Bronze Medal Match-
Dan Carter, Gary Thompson and Gary Meekcoms (Modbury, SA) defeated Garry Chalker, Hemi Palmer and James Reynolds (Weston Creek, ACT) 24-6
To watch the triples finals from the Australian Championships click here
