JANKE CROWNED QUEENSLAND'S FIRST STATE CHAMP OF '08
Algester’s Estelle Janke lifted the state triples crown this afternoon (Monday, April 16), dispatching the competitions hot favourites on her way to the final.
Janke, with teammates Michelle Marshall and Pam Botterill, defeated Maree Gibbs, Margaret O’Rourke and Mary Geary in a tight finale that went down to the wire.
After taking the opening set by just one shot, Janke edged out to an early lead in the second.
Geary fought back valiantly, levelling the scores at 4 apiece, but Janke pulled ahead again and with just one end to go was up by two.
Geary tried her best to force the tiebreaker and, with two bowls to go, looked like she might just pull it off.
But in the end she fell just short, levelling the scores to give the Gateway side the win, 7-6, 7-7.
Janke pulled off an even bigger win in the semifinals, defeating defending champs Kelsey Cottrell, Julie Keegan and Lynsey Armitage.
The trio’s international renown did little to shake the Algester star as she stormed to a straight sets victory over the Aussie reps, 9-7, 8-4.
In the men’s triples final Pine Rivers young gun Arron Hewson took a comfortable win over Anthony Gillman’s Greenslopes side of Brad Grudgfield and Andrew McDonald.
Hewson, who teamed up with Greenslopes father-son duo, Jeff and Ben Twist, struck out to an early lead in the opening set.
However, despite being 7-1 down by the fourth end Gillman made a steady comeback before dropping the set by just one shot, 9-8.
Hewson pulled away again in the second, but this time Gillman couldn’t keep up.
At 6-1 down after six ends a clearly frustrated Gillman knew the end was near.
He managed to pick up one on the seventh, but it was little consolation as Hewson took out the next two ends to wrap up his first state title, 9-8, 8-2.
The finals of the men’s single and women’s fours will be played at Chermside Bowls Club on Monday, April 19..
COUNTRY BOWLERS GET A SHOT AT THE BIG TIME
Bowls Queensland is giving country bowlers a unique opportunity to qualify for one of Australia’s biggest bowling events, the 2008 Queensland Open.
Regional qualifiers will be held at Cairns, North Mackay and Dalby on June 28-29, giving the winners a shot at the massive $30,000 prize pool.
Qualifiers will be held in the singles and triples, with the winners of each event getting direct entry into the main draw of the Queensland Open.
There they will face competition from some of Australia’s top bowlers.
In total 64 players will battle it out in the singles, while 32 teams will go head-to-head for the triples at the event at Cleveland Bowls Club on July 29.
For further information contact Bowls Queensland on admin@bowlsqld.org or telephone (07) 3355 9988.
To download an entry form for the Queensland Open regional qualifiers click here.
For more information on the 2008 Queensland Open click here.
JUNIOR TEST SERIES — QLD vs NSW
Selectors have named a top-class junior side to take on New South Wales at the annual interstate test series in July.
Mingled among the familiar faces are a number of rising young talents, all of whom are eager to get their first taste of state level competition when they take on the Blues at McKenzie Park.
Captaining the boy's team is local hero Paul Petersen.
The 17-year-old star, who recently won his first junior state singles title, will be hoping to guide his team to glory on his home turf at the Gold Coast club.
Petersen will step out for Queensland in the singles, before skipping returning junior rep, Aspley's Jay Cross, in the pairs.
Musgrave Hill's Sam White makes his return to the squad after missing out on the National Junior Championships in '07.
There will also be two new faces in the boy's side with 2007 Champion of Club Champions pairs winner, Dean McWhinney, making his debut.
The Tamborine Mt bowler will be joined in the line-up by Bribie Island young gun Brad Piper, who comes in to skip the fours.
Queensland’s Junior Female Player of the Year, Zoe Jones, will once again captain the girl's side, where she will be joined by her Bribie Island clubmates Shahn and Carly Griffith.
Aspley's Elizabeth McKillop is also back in the side, while Tugun's Natasha Clarke will get her first outing with the state squad.
Queensland will take on NSW in a three-test series at McKenzie Park-Nerang Bowls Club from July 7-9.
To view the teams for the 2008 junior test series against NSW click here.
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