West End

West End’s Jordan Linn rose up the history ranks in Taranaki bowls when he claimed his 10th centre title at Manaia on Saturday.

Linn and his regular team mates Dave Wilson, Steve Walker and Craig De Faria carried off the Metcalfe Real Estate centre fours for a fourth time and with it the additional accolade for Linn.

De Faria’s side emerged 17-10 victors over Inglewood’s Peter van Dyk, Chris Gyde, Steve Sabine and Paul Howell in the final, with the last of the scheduled 15 ends left unplayed.

After a relatively even opening, three consecutive ends to West End took the score from 6-4 to 12-4, with De Faria’s attacking game converting the head on each occasion.

But aided by a four on end 12, when Howell pushed through the closest West End bowl, Inglewood were back in the hunt trailing by just two shots.

However, a single and a four, when Howell narrowly missed the jack on both ends, ensured West End’s win.

Windy conditions again may play difficult. Walker was the most consistent of the performers in the decider, improving many heads for West End. Sabine, his opponent, gave a reasonable account of himself as well.

In addition to the centre fours wins, Linn, in his 15th season, has previously won the open fours twice, as well as the Christmas pairs, open triples, champion-of-champion pairs and champion-of-champions fours.

In the semifinals, De Faria’s side trounced Paritutu’s Eddie Betts, Kevin Gledhill, John Zittersteijn and Trevor Johns 24-4, while Howell beat Tower’s Mike Werder, Paul Werder, Chris Solomons and Ian Busby 19-10.

Meanwhile, Paritutu with an unblemished six-from-six, won the Vospers-sponsored women’s division one interclub title at West End on Saturday.

Paritutu held a three-point lead over New Plymouth heading into the final round and confirmed its dominance by posting three comfortable wins from Tina Atkinson-Watt (singles), Bridget Fletcher and Hether Johns (pairs), Gaye Holub, Marlene Barrowman, Gale Fache and Cathy Andrews (fours).

Paritutu finished on 25 points, ahead of Fitzroy (19) and New Plymouth (16).

Paritutu’s cleansweep on Saturday was achieved without Briar Atkinson. Atkinson was in Hong Kong, competing in the International Classic, where she was placed third-equal in both the singles and pairs.

In the Summerset-sponsored men’s interclub on Sunday, four city clubs emerged as the qualifiers to dispute the issue at Paritutu on December 1 – Paritutu, West End, New Plymouth and Fitzroy.

Congratulations to West End Women, winners of the Roamers Competition for 2023-24!

The bringing back to life of the West End 10,000 Classic over Easter has been hailed as a resounding success by all of those involved in the Shifty’s Sports Bar-sponsored event.

The tournament has been absent from the Taranaki programme for some 15 years and its return was well received. While the majority of sides were from within Taranaki, there was a sprinkling of players from outside the province, who lapped up the ideal weather and greens running at high speed.

While the original classic format was not used – just fours and pairs – that suited the participants as they were able to devour the delights from the West End kitchen in between times.

Paritutu’s highly consistent and competent competitor, Darren Goodin, took out the top prize of $1,000 per player. His side had only just sneaked into the top flight after a mixed opening day.

But when the money was on show, there was no denying Goodin and his side of Nathan Goodin (no relation), Allan Batley and Adam Collins.

Heading into the last round, Goodin’s side was one of three unbeaten teams – along with Inglewood’s Gerry O’Sullivan and Ross Henderson from the host club.

Henderson, a former top basketball coach reinvented himself as a top lead during the weekend, but his side, after dropping an eight on the second end of the last round, crashed and burned to finish third.

O’Sullivan, who’s side included Bruce Candy the proprietor of Shifty’s, despite also falling in the final round, held on for second, with Paritutu’s Don Christensen claiming fourth.

West End’s Dean Elgar skipped his side to the second division title.

The smooth running of the event was greatly aided by the experienced trio in charge: Graham Johnson, Garry Murfitt and Brien Bennett QSM.

The positive atmosphere and comments left Candy in no doubt about the future prospects of the event. “In fact, I’ll throw in another couple of thousand next year to make it even more interesting,” he said.

* The original West End Classic was held in 1982, some 40 years ago, and was Taranaki’s first-ever professional event.

It drew a maximum field of 42 teams – including recent Commonwealth Games representatives Jim Scott, Peter Belliss, Danny O’Connor and Rowan Brassey. Also competing was Maurice Symes, who took part again in 2022 ahead of his return to his native Taranaki in June. Symes has accepted the greenkeeping position with the Fitzroy Club.

The 1982 winners were skipped by Fitzroy gold star holder John Howie, who teamed with Alan Crow – less than a month later he skipped Bruce John to the Dominion pairs title – Rodger Hassall and the delightful Hungarian, Johnny Nagy.

Bruce Ballinger (Paritutu) was second from Kevin Wing (Palmerston North) and Belliss.

Bowls New Zealand
https://bowlsnewzealand.co.nz/club-news/west-end-10000-classic-a-success/