2024 Nationals: Day 2 wrap
The Nationals hit full swing for day two of the 2024 event with three of the events well and truly underway and some of the first gold medals awarded across a torrential day at Club Tweed and Broadbeach.
Australian Champion of Champions
In women’s singles action, two Right at Home Jackaroos have made their claim for the coveted title as Chloe Stewart and Dawn Hayman remained undefeated after navigating through the tricky weather conditions.
Stewart tops the table following wins over Jess McMullen, Chloe Morrison and Kristina Krstic respectively, recording a shot difference of 44.
Hayman’s differential is 35, enjoying a brilliant day in her own right with victories against Anita Rhook, Karen Gatto and Brooke Edwards.
The unblemished duo will meet in the opening session of the day on Thursday morning.
Edwards sits in third place with two wins from her quartet of matches, ahead of Gatto on shots up.
Morrison, Krstic, McMullen and Rhook make up the rest of the ladder on one win apiece.
In the men’s singles, Queensland’s Jacob Nelson remains the only unbeaten combatant following two victories against Jason Fowler and Hayden Ward before an afternoon bye.
Mason Lewis fronted up for his first contest of the event following his bye on Wednesday and overcame 2020 champion Trystan Smallacombe 21-9 before suffering a 21-19 defeat at the hands of South Australia’s Jono Voigt in his second matchup.
The New South Welshman accounted for Brad Marron in his final matchup to sit second, ahead of Smallacombe on shot difference after the Northern Territory product recorded a 21-6 over Ward in his other clash.
Marron sits in fourth at an even ledger of two wins and losses each, while Voigt, Fowler and Ward make up the rest of the table.
Australian Under-18 Championships
It was a case of deja vu for Victoria’s Akasha Fortune, who made it the Australian Open and Under-18 Championships girls’ singles double thanks to an exquisite 21-14 victory over Queensland’s Lilly Vardy.
Fortune was on from the outset, drawing to perfection on the indoor greens of Club Tweed to pull out to a 16-7 lead before holding on for the impressive win.
New South Wales’ Jasmine Smith continued her strong form by claiming the bronze medal with a 21-5 win over the NSW/QLD composite team’s Madison Hazell.
The girls’ fours was taken out by New South Wales’ Zoe Davies, Ella Cameron, Reese Finn-Young and Chanel Chakouch, who defeated the NSW/QLD composite’s Makayla Gainsford, Logan Hughes, Shakiya Murray and Mia Haylock 22-8.
Bronze was taken by Victoria’s Ayla Romanin, Maya Rees, Marlie Malcolm and Addy Ryan.
The boys’ pairs was won by Victoria’s Charlie Boswood and Koby Cromie, who overcame South Australia’s Kobe Jarman and Charlie Hicks 17-13, with the bronze taken by Queensland’s Rhys Gillman and Riley Gerick.
In the triples it was New South Wales’ Cooper Dart, Xander Webber and Timothy Thorning who beat Queensland’s Brody Carter, Todd Brain and Trent Brehmer 18-11 in the gold medal playoff.
The bronze was earned by South Australia’s Ashton Mahoney, Jayden Green and Liam Coe.
Para Nationals
Para Nationals action kicked off at Broadbeach with many of the sessions cancelled due to the heavy downpours in the region that caused greens to pool.
The women’s open pairs saw three teams register wins in each respective section with the partnerships of Queensland’s Annette Goldsworthy and Cheryl Lindfield, Vanessa Wildy and Catherine Vluggen of South Australia and New South Wales’ Gail Schultz and Carolyn Nelson taking victories.
In the men’s B5/6 singles, Right at Home Para Jackaroos Tony Bonnell and Brett Sellars enjoyed salutations, while Emerging Para Jackaroo Michael Vassallo claimed a win in his only match.
B7/8 men’s singles action saw the likes of James Reynolds, Damien Delgado, David Minns, Josh Barry, Chris Flavel, Josh Thornton and Cooper Whitestyles all earn wins themselves.
The 2024 Nationals will run from October 8-25, 2024, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel.
