KittyHawks National Under 20's Men's & Women's Singles
2-4 April, 2010
Pakuranga, Auckland
Women's - Results Charts
Men's - Results Charts
Kittyhawks Programme
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1.4 M |
GRIFFIN, MORTON 2009 KITTYHAWKS CHAMPIONS
After a gripping final between players from two small South Island towns, Sam Morton, from the Pleasant Point club in South Canterbury, established himself on the national scene by winning the Kittyhawks National Bowls Under 20 singles men’s title at the Pakuranga Bowling Club over Easter Weekend.
Morton beat young West Coaster and a product of the well known Blakestown club, Bradley Dixon, in a thrilling tie-breaker. Both bowlers were evenly poised when a solitary shot decided each of the first two sets but Morton was able to snare the telling shots to win the tie-breaker, three – nil.
Two team-mates from the New Zealand Development side at the recent Trans-Tasman series in Australia, Kirsten Griffin and Misty Arnold, faced each other in the women’s final, with Wellingtonian, Griffin, taking the title in straight sets. Griffin gained the upper hand in the first set to win, 10 – 5, and never relinquished the pressure.
The plate finals went to Nelson’s Amy Brenton and Bay of Plenty player, Cameron Riddington.
Upsets saw several of the favoured players eliminated at the quarter-final and semi-final stages and confirmed that the sport is developing a growing number of top class young players throughout the country.
Final Results
Championship:
Women’s Final: Kirsten Griffin (Wellington) beat Misty Arnold (Nelson), 10 – 5, 10 – 4.
Men’s Final: Sam Morton (South Canterbury) beat Bradley Dixon (West Coast), 8 – 7, 8 – 9, 3 – 0.
Plate:
Women’s Final: Amy Brenton (Nelson) beat 11 – 9, 15 – 11.
Men’s Final: Cameron Riddington (Bay of Plenty) beat , 4 – 13, 15 – 3, 2 – 1.
CAPTION: From Left; Lanah Craik, Amy Brenton, Misty Arnold, Kirsten Griffin, Sam Morton, Bradley Dixon, Cameron Riddington, Mark Leith
Nelson In Kittyhawks' Swoop
Amy Brenton and Hamish Wilson were the toast of Nelson bowls, as the teenage pair lifted the women’s and men’s trophies after the completion of the 2008 Kittyhawks national under 20 bowls championships at the Pakuranga Bowling Club.
In fact, Nelson supplied three of the four championship finalists with Misty Arnold – last year’s women’s champion - going down this year to her great rival and friend, Brenton.
The true worth of Nelson as a bowling nursery is further shown by the fact that Black Jacks, Val Smith and Jo Edwards – who won three world titles between them in January – and world bronze medalist Ali Forsyth, also hail from the small Nelson centre.
Both Wilson and Brenton came from behind, after losing their respective first sets, to win each final in tie-breakers.
Wilson will remember his last bowl which ensured his title fondly, for he played a beautifully weighted draw to nudge out Ruaporo’s shot bowl to score two to take the title.
“It was pretty good; it was always going to do something,” a beaming Wilson said of the shot, after the final. He won, 6 - 14, 12 - 6, 5 - 0.
For Brenton, the title was a marvelous way to celebrate her 17th birthday of the previous day. She described Arnold’s first set display as “Misty was on fire” but Brenton was able to improve her draw play to take the second set and then seal it in the tie-breaker, 2 - 10, 11 - 5, 6 - 0.
Both youngsters paid tribute to the quality of coaching they receive in Nelson and referred to the strong family support that all young players receive at club and centre level.
The standard of play over the three days of competition suggest that the future of New Zealand bowls – already riding the crest of the wave after its huge success at the recent World Championships in Christchurch – is in very promising hands.
The plate titles were won by Emma Le Lievre (Thames Valley) and Cameron Nairne (Manawatu).
Finals
Men’s championship, final: Wilson beat Ruaporo, 6 – 14, 12 – 6, 5 – 0. Plate: Nairne beat Leith 14 – 1, 12 – 4.
Women’s championship, final: Brenton beat Arnold 2 – 10, 11 – 5, 6 – 0. Plate: Le Lievre beat Everson 9 – 4, 7 – 5.
