West End’s Craig De Faria warmed up for the New Zealand bowls championships in the best possible way when he won the World Series Auckland mixed pairs on Tuesday.
The pairs event has been on the Auckland calendar for 25 years, but this year carried extra meaning after its inclusion on the World Series.
This saw a number of visitors travel to the event, including Australian Barrie Lester, a former international.
De Faria and Trish Croot, who divides her time between Auckland and Kapiti, won the final 15-6 over Thames Valley-based Auckland players Adam Haywood and Jessie Macaw.
For their efforts, De Faria and Croot shared in the $3,000 first prize.
After winning five-straight in section play, the duo edged Peter and Reen Belliss 13-12 on an extra end, Lester and Ashleigh Jeffcoat 12-11 and Aiden Takarua and Rebecca Jelfs 14-11 in the preceding post section games.
De Faria drove back to New Plymouth on Wednesday and is scheduled to fly to Christchurch on Thursday for the Dominion.
His impressive form should mean he rates a good chance of going deep in the singles and pairs events.
The men start with singles on Friday, where De Faria is one of nine Taranaki players taking part, many of whom should qualify.
That group includes Bart Robertson (New Plymouth), Hamish Kape (Okato) and Camron Horo (Rahotu).
A surprise entry in the singles is from Stefan McCartain, playing under the banner of Hawera Park.
McCartain has virtually played no competitive bowls since he did the champion-of-champions singles and pairs double in October 2020. But there is no denying his talent as a bowler.
De Faria again teams up in the pairs with John Roberts, after they made the semifinals in Auckland 12 months ago. Kape links again with Kaylin Huwyler, who like Aidan Zittersteijn, has made the trip over the Tasman.
Zittersteijn plays with Oakura’s Kurt Smith in the pairs. Prior to that, Smith will endeavour to defend his Para pairs title with Teri Blackbourn.
Rahotu’s Shae Fleming and Opunake’s Ross Sinclair combine in the pairs, too, and both have enough ability to advance through the qualifying rounds in both disciplines.
Oakura’s Jimmy Quay also competes, pairing with talented Aucklander Logan Clark.
Only two Taranaki players will take part in the women’s singles – Paritutu’s Amanda Crehan and Oakura’s Alesha Quay. Crehan will lead in the pairs for Gayle Melrose, a former fours winner.
The finals of the men’s singles and women’s pairs is set for January 5, with the women’s singles and men’s pairs being concluded on January 9.
Grant Hassall
Sports News Taranaki