Weather Update: The Devon Hotel Taranaki Women’s Open Fours
7.00am Weather Update: All greens are clear and are being prepared for play as scheduled. All players to report for Opening at 8.45am and Start play at 9.00am.
Ian Lewis
Monday, Jan 22 2024
Grant Hassall
The Paritutu quartet of Don Christensen, Rodger Hassall, Dean Elgar and skip Darren Goodin have been crowned the winners of the 119th Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours.
They defeated the Stokes Valley side of John Brien, Corey Brookes, Robbie Bird and skip Caleb Hope 22-16 in what was a tense final at Paritutu yesterday afternoon.
The tenseness was evident, sometimes in the play, and certainly through the score.
While Goodin did lead 6-2 after five ends, it was 7-all after 10 heads. Hope nosed in front 11-8.
Goodin took six points over the next five ends, although one point was a little fortunate as Hope, holding two shots, slid off a wide bowl and narrowly moved the jack.
The momentum was with Paritutu, leading 14-11, and with Christensen and Hassall putting more bowls around the head.
The 19th end was a beauty. Great play from the Stokes Valley side saw them holding three shots. Elgar superbly drove off all three bowls. Goodin held four. Bird drew third shot. But Goodin added in two more to increase the count to four.
However, Hope crucially drew the shot. He repeated the dose on the next end when three down. There was only one point in the match now.
The tension levels rose.
Goodin took a single on the 21st and then, when two down, played a good bowl to get shot on the 22nd. But Hope cleverly clipped it off to score a three and reclaim the lead 16-15.
However, the Stokes Valley side failed to get close on the next two ends, two threes to Paritutu giving them a five-shot lead at the commencement of the last end.
The last head, lacking in quality, had plenty of interest, with Hope holding two and a measure on the change-over.
Hope didn’t like his chances on the measure and elected to try and push off Christensen’s bowl. Goodin then sewed it up by drawing the shot. Yes, he got a slide in the process, but he would still have drawn the second shot if he had had a free run to the jack. That left Hope with the tough task of trying to kill the head, but Paritutu still had one shot and the championship.
The victory was Elgar’s first Open title in a glittering career, while it was a second win in the event for Christensen, Hassall and Goodin.
The Paritutu quartet of Don Christensen, Rodger Hassall, Dean Elgar and skip Darren Goodin have been crowned the winners of the 119th Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours.
They defeated the Stokes Valley side of John Brien, Corey Brookes, Robbie Bird and skip Caleb Hope 22-16 in what was a tense final at Paritutu yesterday afternoon.
The tenseness was evident, sometimes in the play, and certainly through the score.
While Goodin did lead 6-2 after five ends, it was 7-all after 10 heads. Hope nosed in front 11-8.
Goodin took six points over the next five ends, although one point was a little fortunate as Hope, holding two shots, slid off a wide bowl and narrowly moved the jack.
The momentum was with Paritutu, leading 14-11, and with Christensen and Hassall putting more bowls around the head.
The 19th end was a beauty. Great play from the Stokes Valley side saw them holding three shots. Elgar superbly drove off all three bowls. Goodin held four. Bird drew third shot. But Goodin added in two more to increase the count to four.
However, Hope crucially drew the shot. He repeated the dose on the next end when three down. There was only one point in the match now.
The tension levels rose.
Goodin took a single on the 21st and then, when two down, played a good bowl to get shot on the 22nd. But Hope cleverly clipped it off to score a three and reclaim the lead 16-15.
However, the Stokes Valley side failed to get close on the next two ends, two threes to Paritutu giving them a five-shot lead at the commencement of the last end.
The last head, lacking in quality, had plenty of interest, with Hope holding two and a measure on the change-over.
Hope didn’t like his chances on the measure and elected to try and push off Christensen’s bowl. Goodin then sewed it up by drawing the shot. Yes, he got a slide in the process, but he would still have drawn the second shot if he had had a free run to the jack. That left Hope with the tough task of trying to kill the head, but Paritutu still had one shot and the championship.
The victory was Elgar’s first Open title in a glittering career, while it was a second win in the event for Christensen, Hassall and Goodin.
PAIRS WIN TO AUCKLANDERS: Brendon Walton, left, and Adam Blucher, representing the Te Atatu Peninsular club, held off a stern late challenge from Bannockburn’s Alan Rickard and Hugh Andrews to take out the New Plymouth Club-sponsored pairs event 19-17 at Paritutu yesterday.
Blucher and Walton led 16-6 after 14 ends and appeared in control.
But Andrews, the skip, and Rickard pulled back a five and a three to tighten the game up. The deficit was only one playing the last end. Rickard held the shot but Blucher trailed the jack to sew up the game.
In the semifinals, Blucher and Walton again withstood a late comeback to beat Garth Lyne and Cary Pinker (Wanganui East) 15-13. Rickard and Andrews beat the Darfield pair of Bob Shorter and Ash Paul 22-8 in the other semi.
Sunday, Jan 21 2024
Grant Hassall
Stokes Valley’s Caleb Hope and his side emerged from a spectacular quarterfinal with a one-point victory in the 119th Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours at Paritutu yesterday.
In a game many observers rated as worthy of a final, Hope skipped his side of John Brien, Corey Brookes and Robbie Bird to a nerveracking 25-24 win against West End’s Craig De Faria.
The win secured Hope a semifinal berth this morning against Birkenhead’s Chad Nathan. The other semi is an all-Taranaki affair between Tower’s Scott Roberts and Paritutu’s Darren Goodin.
The Hope-De Faria match finished at 7.55pm, which was not altogether unreasonable, given an hour’s play had been lost because of rain mid-morning and the clash itself did not start until after 3pm.
De Faria’s side of Jordan Linn, Dave Wilson and Steve Walker led 10-5 after six ends. But then the trend of one team dominating scoring for a period kicked in.
Hope went ahead 16-10 through 12 ends; De Faria hit back to get in front 20-17 after 18 heads; then it became 20-all. Hope took a three-shot buffer into the last end. Brien and Linn, who had an intriguing battle, both got close.
West End held two, before Bird drew the jack. Walker, with an excellent hit, killed the end.
On the replay, Linn drew two good ‘uns. Bird was in the vicinity twice, his second bowl just falling short of one of Linn’s counters.
Both Wilson and Walker had handy bowls. At the change-over it was uncertain whether De Faria held two, three or four. Neither skip altered the head.
The measures came out and Bird and Walker, both having had turns, agreed that the count was only two.
And so it was Stokes Valley’s match.
The bowling achievements of both Hope and Bird have been documented previously during the week. Brien, a past Wellington Open fours winner, appeals as a traditional specialist lead. No 2 Brookes is Brien’s cousin. They have played together in the tournament multiple times.
Brookes, an eighth-year player at West End, is a Taranaki under-eights rep. Nathan’s Birkenhead side of his father Peter at lead, David Payne at second — both have previously won the North Harbour singles — and wily Evan Thomas at No 3, have the potential to keep Hope honest this morning.
Their 26-8 quarterfinal win ended the dream run of the Mt Albert side of Leon George, Jim Gray and Nathan Haturini and skip Steve Ramsay.
It was all pretty much one-way traffic. Nathan led 12-3 after seven ends, then 20-4 after 12.
Roberts, playing with Mark Kuklinski, John Roberts and Kelly Hill, eliminated Neville Hill (Onehunga & Districts) 22-17.
Remarkably, a five on the first end proved the difference according to the card. No more than a three was scored on any other head.
But the more accurate story was two-fold. Hill’s side of Davey Motu, Mike Bradshaw and Liam Hill — how many 14-year-olds have ever played No 3 in a Taranaki Open quarterfinal? — recovered from 10-6 down to 15-12 in front after 16 ends.
On a long head, which saw Motu draw the jack, Neville Hill, with his last delivery, rolled out the closest Tower bowl to hold four. Roberts, though, is a pressure player. He drew a pearler for one.
Thereafter, the Tower side drew closer and while Neville Hill often reduced the count, Roberts cribbed home with singles on each of the last six ends.
In the remaining quarterfinal, Goodin and his side of Don Christensen, Rodger Hassall and Dean Elgar somehow found a way to win 23- 21 over the Bulls team of Warren Hausman, Mark Smith, Scotty McGavin and skip Trevor Belk.
Goodin led 13-8 after 11 ends and held a reasonable three until Belk rolled in one of his own bowls for shot.
The momentum swung with it. Belk surged in front 21-17 after 22 ends. Goodin pulled back two singles but was in deep trouble when McGavin drew the jack for shot on the last end.
Goodin, however, found a path to the bowl, clipping it off to hold two shots. Belk hit another Paritutu bowl in.
Goodin drew another. Reaching through the head, Belk narrowly slipped under the jack, touching nothing for a frustrating loss.
In the third-round games that finished earlier in the afternoon, De Faria’s match with Garry Muriwai (Martinborough) was the closest and longest.
De Faria sneaked through 21-20, having led by three shots playing the last end. Muriwai twice held five-shot buffers midgame, but four ends in a row to De Faria had his side 18-14 in front after 20 ends.
Muriwai levelled with three to go, but a two and a single gave De Faria just enough space. Thomas had a tense clash with Darren Scott (West End), leading just 16-14 after 16, before pulling away.
Hope got a flyer against Mark Anderson (Tower), leading 12-1. That break was decisive in Hope’s 24-14 win. Roberts got past Dan Delany (Royal Oak) 24- 18.
Delany had led 13-8 after 12 ends and the scores were 18-all after 21 heads. Belk overturned a 10-7 deficit in beating Nigel Drew (Birkenhead) 24-18.
The other round three matches were all decided by relatively comfortable margins. Goodin beat Peter Nixon (Sunshine Coast) 25-12, Hill ousted Phil Morgan (Te Puke) 25-12, and Ramsay a 31-17 victor over Colin Boyle (Carlton-Cornwall).
*Four visiting teams will dispute the New Plymouth Club-sponsored Taranaki Open fours-pairs event following three post section rounds at Vogeltown yesterday.
Allan Rickard and Hugh Andrews (Bannockburn), who were runners-up in the pairs two years ago, meet Bob Shorter and Ash Paul (Darfield) in one semifinal today.
The other semi is between Brendon Walton, who was runner-up in the fours last year, and Adam Blucher (Te Atatu Peninsular) against Wanganui East’s Garth Lyne and Cary Pinker. Pinker won the pairs in 2014.
The pairs will be played at Paritutu today, too.
We would like to welcome you all to come and join us for Finals Day for the Midlands Funds Management Taranaki Men’s Open Fours. Come and join us as we celebrate the end of the Men’s Open and look forward to The Devon Hotel’s Women’s Open Fours.
Semi-finals start at 9am and the Final is due to start at 2pm. The New Plymouth Club sponsored Pairs will also be completed throughout the day at the Paritutu Greens. Food and Drink available all day. So come on down and take in the action.
Friday, Jan 19 2024
Grant Hassall
Bowls can be a great game and a cruel game. Just ask Tauranga’s Dan Dickison.
The accomplished player experienced the best of the Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours when he won the event in 2021.
But yesterday his more than useful team felt the despair of defeat when they missed qualification by the narrowest of margins. They entered the day with four wins and a one -point loss. In their first attempt to gain win No 5, Dickison led fellow four-winner Gerry O’Sullivan (Inglewood) 23-20 playing the last end.
But the Inglewood boys plonked them around the jack to snatch a four and a one point win.
In the afternoon, playing another four-winner, Colin Boyle (Carlton Cornwall), Dickison’s side went to an extra end.
There Boyle rolled up one of his own team’s bowls to take the match 19-18. There was plenty of heartbreak elsewhere, too, with just 52 team qualifying.
Rewa’s Dave McNeal needed his last match to also qualify. Playing Barrie Johnstone (Katikati), who had lost the lot until then, McNeal’s team toiled valiantly.
But Johnstone had one of those games where whatever he did, he got a result, denying McNeal 19-17.
Pt Chevalier’s John Petelo, needing his last game, surged ahead 23-17 after 20 ends against Takapuna’s Simon Poppleton.
But Poppleton, despite losing his qualifying chances in the morning, battled on, forcing and then winning the extra end to eliminate Petelo.
The 2005 champion, Ray Park (Wanganui), won twice to advance. He looked safe leading Gavin Crow (Vogeltown) 23-9 after 17 ends.
Crow then produced eight unanswered points, before a four sealed Park’s 27-17 victory. Dan Delany (Royal Oak) needed the full quota of rounds to qualify, after his side was belted 22-6 by Phill Chisholm (Mairangi Bay) in the morning.
That forced Delany into a must-win seventh round against six-winner Peter Nixon (Sunshine Coast).
Delany appeared to be cruising after 16 ends, with a 19-7 lead. But then Nixon commenced his run, levelling the scores and forcing an extra end.
But Delany took a two to qualify 22-20. After only one win from the first two days, Mike Oldfield (Tauranga South) completed the transformation, winning the next four to qualify.
The last effort was a good one, 21-14 over Graeme Fulford (Havelock North).
Maurice Symes (Fitzroy) had a similar story, winning five in succession after he lost the opening two games.
The 77-year-old former New Zealand rep remains a determined competitor. Section three became the group of death, with just two teams surviving — Mike Reddy (Kaitaia) and Anton Ferrari (Naenae).
In the morning’s feature game, Reddy took the safest path by beating Ferrari 26-21.
Heading into the last round, five teams sat on four wins.
Only Ferrari managed to win, beating fellow four-winner Bob Shorter (Darfield) 25-20.
Eric Foreman (Fitzroy) and David Ball (Carlton Cornwall) both fell one point short and Steve Cottam (Paritutu) was just four shots adrift of Reddy at the end.
Even though the qualification criteria this year was reduced by one game, due to Monday’s rain, the elation and frustration remain just as pronounced.
Draws for Friday Play in the Midlands Funds Management Taranaki Men’s Open Fours
Men’s Open Fours Post Section Draw All teams start at 9.00am
Men’s Open Fours Pairs Draw All pairs start at 8.45am
Good luck to everyone involved.
Wednesday, Jan 17 2024 – Grant Hassall
Grant Hassall
While there was uniform delight at the clear skies the appeared so impressively on the second’s play in the 119th Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours yesterday, by early afternoon there were many wishing the overcast conditions from Monday would return.
The heat certainly took its toll and those not keeping up with the liquid intake found concentration much more difficult.
As expected, there was a wide cross section of results, with many guns surging ahead and others faltering.
Overnight the analysis is that of the 166 teams taking part, 29 have won the lot so far, 52 sides sit on two wins and 58 quartets have had just one victory. That means that 27 teams are dreaming about the pairs or next season.
Two of the more prominent skips in the latter category are Peter Dorreen (Far North RSA) and Garry Petersen (Wanganui East). Both are successful gold star recipients in their home centres and have featured in past Opens. But such is the nature of the game and the event.
Among the visitors to enjoy the heat and the well-running Paritutu front green yesterday afternoon was Mt Albert’s Steve Ramsay.
Ramsay’s team, after a win on Monday, was not in the hunt in the morning’s round, being thumped 30-8 by Birkenhead’s Nigel Drew.
The Aucklanders were therefore looking down the barrel in the afternoon with a clash against Stokes Valley’s Caleb Hope. But Ramsay and co righted the ship to score an impressive and important 22-16 victory. Drew, following Monday’s narrower victory over Hawera Park’s Mark Dudley, made it two impressive wins for the day by later beating two-winner Robin Pierce (Katikati) 29-10.
Drew presents a well-balanced side with specialist front men Mark Rumble and Brian Wilson joined by rising prospect Daymon Pierson.
Hope’s side includes Robbie Bird, who in his relatively short time in the game has already tasted success in the 2021 NZ champion-of-champions singles and twice in the NZ intercentre.
They finished the day on two wins.
After a near perfect performance on Monday, win No 2 came 25-22 over Dudley in the morning, after the boys from the capital had led by one shot at the commencement of the 25th end.
Courtesy of the Taranaki Daily News by Glenn Mclean- https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350148388/former-taranaki-rugby-rep-rolling-taranaki-open-fours
Former Taranaki rugby rep Darryl Fale, who now lives in Papamoa, is making his debut at the Taranaki Open Fours bowls tournament.
VANESSA LAURIE / VANESSA LAURIE
It might be more than two decades since he donned the amber and black rugby jersey, but former Taranaki and Hurricanes loose forward Darryl Fale still cuts a recognisable figure on the sports field.
Fale has found his way back to his old province for this week’s Taranaki Open Fours bowls tournament where he’s making his maiden appearance.
Now living in Papamoa, where he works as b usiness development manager for Fidelity Life Assurance, Fale is representing the Mt Maunganui club in a team skipped by Bruce Currie.
Fale, who played the last of his 48 matches for Taranaki in 2000, is in just his second season of playing bowls.
“I’ve played in three or four tournaments for the club, but not a lot, really,” he said.
His attraction to bowls was simple.
“I hate golf,” he said. “So I had to play bowls, because the wife wanted me out of the house.”
Fale does not have to look too far for advice about the week, with his father, Glen, also playing in the tournament.
Things started well for Fale junior’s team on the opening day with a comfortable 34-11 win over John Kearns’ side from Omarunui.
However, things got tougher under the blazing sun at the Vogeltown club on Tuesday morning, with Fale’s team going down narrowly, 23-22, to Laurie Guy’s Victoria side.
By the end of play on Tuesday, three of the now-scheduled seven section play matches were due to be completed.
Shade was at a premium on the second day of the Taranaki Open Fours bowls tournament.
VANESSA LAURIE / VANESSA LAURIE
After two rounds, a number of sides had made the perfect start.
These included big names like Gary Lawson (Elmwood Park) and Blake Signal (Stokes Valley).
Signal only just won through in the morning, edging Maurice Symes (Fitzroy) 22-21.
Peter Belliss (Aramoho) was also unbeaten. His side narrowly sneaked past Paul Darbyshire (West End) 21-18.
Another cliffhanger, between two of the favoured local teams, saw Craig De Faria (West End) get the nod 27-25 over Scott Roberts (Tower).
Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News – https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350148388/former-taranaki-rugby-rep-rolling-taranaki-open-fours
Grant Hassall
On Monday the 119th Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours competition rolls underway.
Based in New Plymouth, but using the surrounding towns of Oakura, Waitara, Lepperton and Inglewood, the event is the most popular on the New Zealand bowling calendar.
All teams are guaranteed four days of bowls in the Midlands Funds Management-sponsored event. That incorporates eight games, with those winning six or more qualifying for the post section rounds, which start on Friday. The final is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
A number of leading bowlers from around New Zealand, plus eight teams from Australia, are included in the field.
Attaining six wins from the eight qualifying games is tough going, especially if teams are tripped up early in the piece. There will be plenty of anxious moments over the coming days, mixed in with plenty of social thrills and sectional delights — such as when a leading side is challenged, or perhaps even beaten. Here’s a taste of just some of the talent that lines up.
Section 1: A number of teams should feel confident, or at least hopeful, of advancing through the section. The sides appear evenly matched, with Evan Thomas (Birkenhead) and Ross Thorn (Naenae), the most likely. Bob Sanders, who made his name in South Otago but now plays for Dunedin’s Wakari, skips a useful team, while Darren Scott (West End), with Taranaki rep Bruce Colgan in tow, should both give a good account of themselves.
Section 2: Nigel Drew (Birkenhead), a semifinalist in 2019, skips a strong Harbour side, which has the ability to feature in the later rounds. So, too, does Caleb Hope (Stokes Valley), who was part of Gary Lawson’s 2020 Dominion fours winning team. Whangamata’s Mark Pene skips a side which contains Wayne Head and Adrian McGaughey, last season’s Thames Valley pairs winners. Steve Ramsay (Mt Albert) and Colin Christie (Fitzroy), qualifiers 12 months ago, again rate a chance of gaining the necessary six wins.
Section 3: Regular visitors Kevin Coombe (Aramoho) and Anton Ferrari (Naenae), who gave eventual champion Hamish Kape a torrid time in the last 16 last year before bowing, head the group. Mike Reddy (Kaitaia), ousted only on an extra end last season in post section, also returns, with his No 3 Sam Allison in good form, following an excellent run at the Dominion. Also keep an eye on Nelson rep Graeme Crawford (Pohara) and Gavin McLeod (Tawa).
Section 4: Peter Belliss (Aramoho) will be endeavouring to erase memories of a very frustrating semifinal loss in in 2023. His side includes this time Lance Tasker, a winner in 2021. 2002 Dominion pairs champion Brendon Gibson QSM (Johnsonville), who competed for a first time last year, presents a strong side, which includes Phil Todd, twice a runner-up. The Deegan brothers, Kevin, an impressive performer in Tropical Far North Queensland, and Paddy, of Opunake, are in the section. While Danny Goodall’ Coromanandel side contains Tony Jensen. It will be interesting to see if the thunderous drive that Jensen used to assist him in attaining a Manawatu gold star is still in his armoury.
Section 5: Two members of last year’s winning side, Aidan Zittersteijn and Daryl Read, are back for another crack. But Hamish Kape and Kaylin Huwyler, having spent the past fortnight in Christchurch, are not taking part this time. Zittersteijn will skip the team, with two capable players coming in – National Para squad member Kurt Smith and 2022 national club fours winner Adam Collins. Zittersteijn will clash in the fourth round with four-time champion Dan Delany (Royal Oak). His team, once again contains Teo Turua, who gave an excellent account at the 2023 world championships for the Cook Islands, a side that of course also included Zittersteijn. Gerard Slattery (Tui Park), with north of 30 Thames Valley titles and a few in Waikato, remains competitive, while Barney Bowden (Parklands, Christchurch) knows how to navigate section play.
Section 6: Gary Lawson (Elmwood Park), the 2011 winner, will be the early favourite. He presents a strong side. But as Lawson discovered during his last visit to the Open in 2022, it is a long week and the tide will undoubtedly turn in some pressure-cooker games. Kevin Smith (Hinuera), now with over 40 years experience in the game, is likely to provide Lawson’s sternest test in section play. That match is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at West End. Northern visitors Garry Banks (Takapuna) and Andy Ellis (Pringle Park) are in the group, as is Grant Pease (Fitzroy), who was part of the 2003 winning side. His team contains former All Black Bryce Robins.
Section 7: A host of evenly-matched visiting teams will dispute qualification. Simon Poppleton (Takapuna) is better known for his indoor bowls exploits but is in good touch having won the North Harbour pairs earlier in the season. The 2005 champion Ray Park (Wanganui), after an absence last year, returns to the fold. And so it continues – John Petelo (Pt Chevalier), Waikato open singles winner Stephen Liddington (Hillcrest) Phil Morgan (Te Puke) and regular qualifier Terry Osment, playing under the Johnsonville banner. Expect plenty of topsy-turvy results.
Section 8: Taranaki selector John Garrud (West End) will face an interesting opening clash this morning on his home green. The match will be played on approximately the same spot that his opponent, Graeme Fulford (Havelock North), tasted victory as a member of John Granger’s quartet in the 2002 final. Garrud will also tangle with Naki Nehemia (Johnsonville) during the week while Fulford faces a further tough assignment on day one – against Cary Pinker (Wanganui East).
Section 9: A number of competitive sides will clash with each other during the week, meaning teams that are usual qualifiers may not advance through. Early wins will be imperative. Dan Dickson (Tauranga) – who can forget that dominating finals performance in 2021? – commences with a game against an excellent draw player, Garry Petersen (Wanganui East), and then tangles with Trevor Harris (Hillcrest). Wednesday will be another tough day for Dickison with matches against Garry Muriwai (Martinborough) and Gerry O’Sullivan (Inglewood). And that is without mentioning Peter Dorreen (Far North RSA).
Section 10: The big game on the opening morning will be on the front green at headquarters where Auckland gold start holder Mike Bradshaw (Onehunga & Districts) meets the 2015 winner Darren Goodin (Paritutu). On Thursday both teams will meet dual winner Mark Anderson (Tower). The Hawken family team has a late change with Bruce Phillips coming in for Geoff Hawken, who has not made the trip over from Australia this time.
Section 11: Raymond Martin (Victoria), who represented NZ in 2023, brings with him an imposing side that includes 2016 world fours winner Blake Signal. They appear the strongest team in the group. But they are certain to get a good work out in some of their games. They meet the competitive Phil Taylor (Bridge Park) and the 1989 winner Maurice Symes (Fitzroy) on day one and during the week will also encounter Scotty McGavin (Bulls) and Paul Howell, whose Paritutu team contains two members that contested last year’s final.
Section 12: Craig De Faria (West End) has been a dominant force in recent Opens – the winner in 2019 and 2022, runner-up in 2020 and third-equal in 2023. It would be a major surprise if he doesn’t qualify, as the case was in 2021. But he does strike plenty of talent in section play: Warwick Frederikson (Blockhouse Bay) and Scott Roberts (Tower) – both on day one – as well as Putaruru’s famed Sutton family, Gary Johnstone (Arrowtown) and the 2021 Dominion mixed pairs winner, Laurie Guy (Victoria).
Jacks to be rethrown: Organisers have reminded all participants that should a jack be improperly delivered then the opposing team must re-deliver the jack. If the jack has been improperly delivered by each side, then it will be placed on the 2m mark. The only exception to this rule will be during section play in the pairs on Friday. Because those games will be played under a time-limit, the jack will be placed by the opposing side if the original throw is improper.
New Plymouth Club meals: Sponsors of the pairs event, the New Plymouth Club in Gill Street, have corrected details in the tournament handbook. Meals are available every night during the tournament, except for tonight (Monday). As an alternative, the Marbles buffet at the Devon Hotel, comes highly recommended.
Shirts available for purchase: In response to demand over the years, a specific Taranaki Open fours shirt has been designed. It is available for purchase at: