The showdown begins
The national winner of the AER Mixed Pairs Challenge will be decided this week
One of the big showdowns in lawn bowls starts in Melbourne next week. Eight pairs step on the mat at the Darebin International Sports on Thursday and Friday to decide the national winner of the The AER Mixed Pairs Challenge.
The Challenge is the only Australian major title for mixed pairs and next week’s final will be played in conjunction with the Australian Open currently being staged at Darebin.
This nation wide tournament, now in its 7th successful year, supports The Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education Limited (FARE), formerly known as the Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation Limited (AERF), in its continuing work within Australian communities. – see footnote
The organisation is not preaching temperance to lawn bowlers but rather calling on the assistance of one of Australia’s most popular sports to get its message across on ‘changing the way we drink’
This year’s field is one of the toughest yet with a number of players having state and national championships or representation under their belts.
ACT heads the starters with husband and wife team Trent and Janet Healey from Belconnen BC. Among the young stars of the game Trent has three ACT singles titles to his credit plus the Champion of Champions. Janet has already represented Australia in the under 25 team against New Zealand.
In the opening round they are up against the Western Australian duo from the Wanneroo Sports and Social Club, Stein Davies and Valerie Thorpe. Both are leading pennant players and club champions. It is the second year in succession that Wannero Sports and Social have represented the West.
Northern Territory representative Jade Groenewege will partner his Nightcliff BC team mate Karen Pickering when top enders meet Tasmanian state player Peter Zoon and his wife Maureen from the northern Tasmania club, Kings Meadows.
Tasmania have a strong record in this event having won once and been runner-up in the last three finals. Again they bring a strong combination into the fray.
Queensland have won The Challenge twice and this year the pressure to take out a third title is on the shoulders of former national triples and Queensland Open singles champion Paul Jobson. He is partnering Noelene Dutton who last year was named best woman player in the prestigious Golden Nugget played annually at Tweed Heads.
They are up against the NSW duo from East Maitland, Rod Lawton and Helen Allomes. A win in the tough bowling state of NSW means that this pair has to be respected.
However all eyes will be on the clash between Victoria and South Australia when one of the ‘golden girls’ of Australian bowls, Audery Hefford steps onto the green.
With a long string of titles to her credit Hefford is playing with her grandson, Craig Treloar, and from all accounts still has her famous skills and the fitness of a woman years younger. Treloar is a respected country player from Berri coming from a long line of champions. His parents Dennis and Kerry represented SA in The Challenge two years ago.
Craig and Audrey are in the hot seat as South Australia is defending the title, Wayne Haskett and Cherie Morgan having won it last year. SA players have figured in four finals for two wins.
First up they face Victorian pair Frank Tonn and Jan Morton, from the Cohuna BC on the border of NSW. They are two of the most traveled bowlers in the state, both with a great deal of experience and success under their belts. They beat the ‘bridesmaids blues’ to win this season’s Victorian final, having been runner up on the last two occasions.
They are the tried and true combination in the field and the pair most likely to give Victoria its first running in the event.
The Challenge, which attracts thousands of players across Australia, is initially played at club level with the winners going on to contest regional and state finals.
At the local events clubs advance the FARE message by promoting - One drink isn’t always one drink or Learn to say ‘no thanks’. Make every second drink a non-alcoholic drink. Reduce your risk – avoid binge drinking. Avoid topping up – keep count and don’t let risks out way the benefit
The format for The Challenge final is sets play. Initially there is sectional play in two pools. The semi final and final will be decided on Friday.