First-time skip Briar Atkinson has made her way into the semifinals of the Taranaki women’s open triples.
Atkinson, aged 17 years, was successful in skipping her side, which includes Jackie Moeahu and her mother Tina Atkinson-Watt, into the last four of the Abraham’s Funeral Home-sponsored event at Fitzroy on Sunday.
The Paritutu trio also did it with a bit of class. In the quarterfinals, the team ended the hopes of the champion side of two years ago, Lorraine Crofskey, Loris Ropitini and Cindy Nicoll (Inglewood), 25-11. In the morning round, Atkinson’s side ousted West End’s Susan Cottam 21-15.
Atkinson has emerged on the local scene in the past two years with victories in the junior champion-of-champions singles and the mixed pairs, but this is her first time in charge of a side.
In the semifinals, that will be played on March 5 at Fitzroy, Atkinson’s side will square off against another Paritutu team – Amanda Crehan, Berys Norgate and skip Barbara Harvey.
Harvey’s side, which took out the Paritutu club triples earlier in the season, sneaked home 19-17 over clubmates Sandra Feek, Cheryll Sharrock and Gloria Shaw in the last eight.
The other two semifinalists are teams skipped by Heather Thomas (New Plymouth) and Pauline Davy (Opunake).
Thomas is combining with Jopie Half and the 2008 winner, Val Fleming. They secured their spot with a 24-16 win over Karen Wallace, Angela Debique and Julie Hemahema (Opunake).
Davy presents a likely-looking line-up, with Rita Davey and Chris Commane. They were emphatic 24-8 victors in the last eight over Hawera Park’s Ella Smailes, Pauline Kennedy and Kristin Stampa.
Meanwhile, two West End sides will meet in one of the semifinals in the Andersons Pies-sponsored Taranaki men’s open triples at Stratford-Avon on March 5.
Those teams are headed by Garry Murfitt and Paul Darbyshire. Both upstaged more illustrious clubmates during the post section rounds on Sunday.
Murfitt’s side of Bruce Colgan and Darren Scott won its quarterfinal 19-6 over New Plymouth’s Peter Robertson. That followed a 21-16 win over Dean Elgar’s champion 2021 West End side in the previous round.
Darbyshire and his side of Steve Temperton and Bruce Hall turned on an impressive showing in beating West End’s Craig De Faria 26-13 in the last eight.
The other semifinal will be between Paritutu’s Don Christensen, Hamish Kape and Darren Goodin against the Anderson brothers from Tower – Brendan, Grant and Mark.
Goodin’s side won 18-12 over Paddy Deegan (Opunake) in the quarterfinals, while the Andersons prevailed 24-16 against Pat Walklin (Oakura).