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Surge in entries delightful to see Open News – Taranaki Open Fours
A huge lift in numbers competing in the 71st Taranaki women’s Open fours, which starts in North Taranaki this morning, is certainly going to create more atmosphere, more interest and more uncertainty. There are 82 teams involved in the 2023 edition, the highest number since 2006, and an increase of 26 on 12 months ago. “It is delightful to see,” Bowls Taranaki Executive Officer Ian Lewis said. Unfortunately, there have been five withdrawals since the original draw was done. That had provided for six sections of 12 teams and one group of 14. Instead, there will be six sections of 12 and one of 10 now. “While, with the benefit of hindsight, we could have reduced the field to six sections now, we had already sent the book to the printer, and while the final version was able to accommodate some of the changes, section seven
has had to be redrawn.”
The redraw is on the Bowls Taranaki website.
Of the 82 teams in the field, 32 are from Taranaki and 50 are visitors. And a lot of those visitors appear very competitive sides, something that is sure to make qualifying over the next three days a difficult proposition. In section one, that plays at Paritutu A, New Plymouth and Inglewood, is Leanne Poulson (Papakura), who was last week named in the Black Jacks side for the Four Nations event. Poulson was in the winning Australian Open fours side in 2018, an achievement she shared with Diane Strawbridge, who takes part in Sue Wightman’s side in section five this week. Poulson’s line-up comprises Robynne Walker, who was runner-up in the Dominion pairs earlier in the month, Hetty Bolscher, a past Dominion fours and Taranaki Open fours winner, and Joy Hall, who knows how to win centre titles. Debbie Wildermoth (Laird Park) has performed well in recent Opens, Elaine Hodge presents a balanced New Plymouth team, while Ruth Lynch, successful twice as a lead in the Open, skips an Omokoroa team this time.
Section two, which has drawn Paritutu B, Fitzroy and Urenui, includes two current Taranaki reps, Kristin Stampa (Hawera Park) and Rhonda Adams (Fitzroy). And Bowls Taranaki Patron, Patty Symes (Tower), deserves a mention, especially considering she was a semifinalist in 2022.
But the visitors look strong. Marilyn Constantine (Tauranga), Hawke’s Bay open singles winner, Ruth Spittle (Taradale) — who ended the domination of Natarsha Grimshaw — and Jane Selby-Paterson (Otaki) will all be tough. Selby-Paterson impressed while playing representative singles for Kapiti last season. In their first excursion north, Jane McIntyre’s team of Judy Hopgood, LaRita Franklin and Dot Arnesen sweep aside the field to claim the title 12 months ago. The Renwick (Blenheim) side beat Grimshaw 24-11 in the final. Grimshaw, though, has not returned this year.
McIntyre, part of section three, will play at West End 1, Inglewood and New Plymouth. In the same group is Elaine McClintock
(Orewa), who has compiled an impressive CV in North Harbour which includes a Dominion singles finals appearance in 2015, respected
Aucklander Estelle Hickey (Carlton Cornwall) and Kaye Bunn (Thames Coast). The most decorated player in section four is Anne Lomas (Hunua). Lomas, the world champion triples and fours skip from 2000, is long retired from the top-stuff. But it is a credit to her that she can step back and enjoy just the playing and comradeship of the sport. The other sides in the group, that will play at West End 2, Urenui and Fitzroy, most c e r t a i n l y should not take Lomas lightly, even though she missed qualification 12 months ago. Heather Johns (Paritutu) has the same side that won the Dominion fours in 2013, while Lesley Findlay (Palmerston North) gave McIntyre a real fright in the quarterfinals last season before bowing out. Opunake’s Pauline Davy is also in the section. Section five, playing at New Plymouth, Oakura and West End 1, features 2009 Dominion singles winner, Wightman, Robyn Fisher (Royal Oak) and former Black Jack Cathy Andrews (Paritutu) Section six plays at Fitzroy, Paritutu A and Oakura. An interesting opening game this morning will be between Taranaki gold star holder Cindy Nicoll (Inglewood) and Wendy Green (Ngongotaha), who has been such a dominant force in Bay bowls for many years. 2012 Dominion fours winner Gayle Melrose (Papakura) and Adrienne Tilyard (Pukekohe) are among the sides that will also be tough to beat in the group. Section seven plays at Inglewood, Paritutu B and West End 2. The most imposing side could be Denise Te Momo (Pirongia), while Gale Fache’s side recently claimed the Paritutu club fours title. With 82 sides in the field this year, the expectation is that the number of qualifiers will exceed 32. That being so, six rounds will be required in post section to find a winner, meaning that the final will be held on Sunday afternoon, not Sunday morning as the case has been these past few years. “We know that the players want the 25 ends and we have no intention of changing that,”
said Bowls Taranaki Chairman, Robert Wolfe. “I’m sure that the two finalists on Sunday afternoon will be quite happy to be out on the
green competing.”
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