First centre crown for Kora

LAWN BOWLS
 

Differentials separated the top two teams in Bowls Gisborne-East Coast centre’s Chisholm Optional Senior-Junior Pairs Tournament at Kahutia Bowling Club.

Adam McIlroy (skip) and Gerry Kora won the tournament with eight points, 33 ends won and a differential of plus-44.

It was McIlroy’s 15th centre title and Kora’s first.

Runners-up were Lucy Shanks (s) and Karen Pinn, with eight points, 33 ends won and a differential of plus-38.

In third place were Bruce Ball (s) and Andrew Ball, and fourth were Glenys Whiteman (s) and Geoff Pinn.

This was the third time this tournament had been held and it was great to see 29 teams entered.

The tournament was initiated by the late Michael John Chisholm (1940-2020) who was a bowler, coach and umpire for the Bowls Gisborne-East Coast centre. He wanted to encourage more senior bowlers to play with junior players (bowlers with up to eight years of bowls experience). His old wooden bowls were mounted as a trophy for this tournament — a great way to commemorate such an influential person in Gisborne-East Coast Bowls.

Players were divided into two sections — 16 teams in Section 1 and 13 teams in Section 2. Each pair played four games, each of 90 minutes or 12 ends. The top 16 pairs out of the two sections were put in Section 1 on the Sunday, while the remaining teams played in Section 2. All teams played four more games on the second day.

Section 2 winners were Sharon Olsen (s) and Jacqueline Horsfall. Runners-up were John Kora (s) and Dawson Owen. P Mitchell (s) and Keith Tamanui were third.

Fay Chisholm and daughter Teresa presented the trophy and cash prizes.