Teys and Krizanic crowned Champion of Champions
Aaron Teys and Carla Krizanic have been crowned Australian Champion of Champions, in sensational circumstances. Warilla’s Aaron Teys has secured the Australian Champion of Champions men’s singles title in sensational circumstances, while fellow Australian Jackaroo Carla Krizanic has enjoyed a fairytale finish in the women’s field at Keilor Bowls Club.
Teys came from left field to secure the coveted title, which rewards the nation’s most consistent singles players through club, district and state levels, having been a match behind Broadbeach’s Ryan Bester going into this afternoon’s seventh round.
Canadian international Bester appeared to have the silverware wrapped up with a one game buffer, but came unstuck to Canberra’s Mark Dulihanty in the last battle.
Dulihanty was in sublime form in the dying stages of the tournament, pencilling in his first win 21-13 against the competition’s biggest scalp, and in the process opened up the opportunity for Teys or Cambridge’s Pieter Harris to poach the trophy.
Between the pair, Teys had the ascendancy going into the last rubber, by 10 shots, but Harris gave himself every chance of pinching the title with a 21-10 win to cap off his tournament.
As a result, Teys needed to prevail by 2 shots or more to claim the honours, and while South Australia’s Ashley Halls was relentless in the late stages, Teys’ class shown through by 6 shots.
The victory is the 22 year-old Australian Jackaroos player’s second national singles title in the sport, having also secured the revered Australian Open singles crown in 2015.
He was joined on the dais by Sunbury’s Carla Krizanic, who enjoyed a fairytale finish to her campaign, as a former member of Keilor Bowls Club, where the event was staged.
Krizanic capped off her performance with a fifth successive victory to claim the title with a game clear of the ledger and an unblemished record.
The win was also the second national singles milestone for Australian Jackaroo Krizanic, after she claimed the Australian Indoor Championships women’s honours in 2015.
Teys and Krizanic will be afforded the chance to continue their singles success next year, with both players earning a spot at the World Champion of Champions event, to be staged at St Johns Park in NSW, by virtue of their wins.
“I’m stoked to get the opportunity to play for a world title,” Teys said after prevailing.
“It’s been one of more goals since I was a young fella, and it’s only about an hour away from Warilla so hopefully I’ll get a bit of support.
“I always knew it was going to be hard, up against the best from each state but in only seven games anything can happen.”
“I’m very happy, I went in this week just focusing on playing my best and it’s great to get another chance to play for Australian again,” Krizanic said after triumphing.
“It’s been a 12-month process to get to this point, we start out club singles this time last year, and I’m really happy to still be undefeated.
“It’s great to be able to win a title in the lead up to the World Bowls Championships later this year, it certainly adds a bit of confidence and a boost knowing that you’re performing well and winning these big events.”
Bowls Australia congratulates 2016 Australian Champion of Champions Carla Krizanic and Aaron Teys on their victories, and thank Keilor Bowls Club’s board, members and volunteers for their contribution to the staging of this event.
