In a thrilling one-point victory, the Pirongia quartet of Denise Te Momo, Katrina Ensor, Lynda Bennett and Judy Marr have been crowned the 2023 Taranaki Open Women Fours’ champions, rounding out an action-packed two weeks at the West End HQ.
Now in its 71st year, the women’s format emulates that of the long-standing men’s event, with more than 80 teams travelling from all corners of the country to contest the Erceg Rose Bowl silverware.
After eight games of qualifying (25 end fixtures), 33 teams were left standing, with straight knockout play throwing up some exciting clashes heading into the latter rounds. Held on Sunday afternoon, the final saw Te Momo hold off a determined Royal Oak four, with Rima Strickland, Robyn Fisher, Lee Singer and Nicole Singer unable to capture the spoils, losing by the narrowest of margins on an umpire’s measure, 22-21.
For those watching rinkside, and hundreds that tuned in via livestreaming, the final proved to be a dramatic and tense conclusion to an event that had been hampered by inclement weather throughout the final three days.
Beaten semi-finalists were Otaki’s Jane Selby-Paterson, Hilary Moore, Carol Parsons and Judy Howell, and local hopes Ann Spurdle, Berys Norgate, Cheryll Sharrock and Margaret Farmer, of the Paritutu club.
In other results, Havelock North duo Lynda Francis and Shirley Passey took out the pairs event (held for the non-qualifiers), defeating West End’s Denise Cottam and Susan Cottam, 15-13.
Beaten semi-finalists for this event included Taupo duo Caro McLeod and Janice Colllier and Tower representatives Irene Taunt and Alethea Rowlands.
The results wrapped up two-weeks of high quality bowls in the Taranaki region, with the men’s and women’s champions emerging for another year in the Naki.
-Sam Morton
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