In his final year as an eligible under-26 player, Cambridge Central’s Taylor Horn gave a departing reminder of his talents as one to watch for the future, stamping his mark as one of the country’s best young charges.
Initially announcing himself as a player with great all-round ability in winning the 2019 national men’s singles, Horn went on to lift the silverware at this very event in 2020, knocking on the door of national selection. However, by his own high standards, Horn saw out a relatively quiet season last year and the 25-year-old has since been searching for the next big tick on his impressive career resume.
That is, until now.
Putting on a classy performance in the final opposite New Zealand international and Stokes Valley hopeful Seamus Curtin, Horn cut a calm and composed figure on the Burnside green, executing a good range of shots as he romped to the silverware, 21-14.
The tournament, held every year over three days, sees some of the country’s best age-grade talent converge in Christchurch to battle it out for the sought-after accolade. Adding to this year’s prestige, representatives from the Cook Islands and a Club Merrylands campaigner from New South Wales, took part, showcasing the beginning of what could become an event of international appeal.
With many top names and former champions outgrowing the tournament through age criteria in recent years, there was a great opportunity for new names to blaze their own trail and make their talents known to the national selectors – particularly to Bowls New Zealand lead coach Mike Kernaghan, watching on from the sidelines.
Following seven rounds of qualifying, the top two from each of the four sections advanced to the last eight, while those who placed third and fourth in each section comprised Division Two.
Joining Horn and Curtin in the quarter-finals was last year’s winner Anthony Ouellet, recent national champion of champion fours victor Nathan Goodin, Auckland representative Aiden Takarua, former national secondary school’s pairs champion Kasey Garforth and two Auckland young guns in Liam Hill and David Motu – rounding out a strong showing in section play.
On their way to the final, Horn defeated Ouellet and Hill, while Curtin dispatched Garforth and Goodin. Notable mention must go to Motu, who remained the only player unbeaten in section play before falling at the hands of Hill in their quarter-final showdown, 21-4.
Held in near perfect conditions, Horn and Curtin (both…
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