Bowls: Women's open Fours gets underway this morning

Grant Hassall

Taranaki sides are going to have their work cut out when The Devon Hotel women’s Open fours gets underway in the province today.

While 29 of the 86 sides are locals, the strength in playing quality of the 57 visitors means that the likelihood is that the trophy will again depart Taranaki when the finals are completed on Sunday at Paritutu.

The last time Taranaki tasted victory was in 2016 when Opunake’s Bev Robinson triumphed.

Overall numbers for the event are down by two compared to 2024, following the withdrawal of nine sides for a variety of reasons. Notwithstanding that, there will be a fierce competition over the coming three days, with sides battling to gain four wins from the six qualifying games in order to make Friday’s post section rounds.

Defending champion Sue Hodges (Omokoroa) is back again. She combines with Karen Pickering and Rachelle Morrison, who shared in last year’s victory. Char Beckett is the change from 2024, replacing Ruth Lynch.

But backing up is never easy.

The Ngongotaha club presents three good teams, while another Bay of Plenty side expected to go well as is Marilyn Constantine (Tauranga).

The depth of the visitors is quite evident throughout the sections. Estelle Hickey (Carlton Cornwall) has achieved much success, Anne Lomas (Far North RSA) is in the Bowls NZ Hall of Fame for a reason, Hetty Bolscher (Pukekohe) is a past winner.

The Hawke’s Bay centre has again excelled with 10 teams in the field, with Louise Fitness and Ruth Spittle, both of Taradale, among them.

Northland’s two sides, skipped by Leanne Stewart (Hikurangi) and Dianne Strawbridge (Kensington), are expected to feature, as is last season’s runner-up, Kaye Bunn (Thames Coast).

From Wellington returns Paula Meredith (Johnsonville) and from Whanganui comes Reen Belliss (Aramoho).

Last year a side from Far North Queensland took part in the Open. They have not returned this time, but there is a side from the Sunshine Coast.

Taranaki teams who should keep the visitors working include the likes of Val Symes (Fitzroy), Cindy Nicoll (Inglewood), Elaine Hodge (New Plymouth), Gale Fache (Paritutu) and Trish Howard (West End).


Teams


Auckland

Blockhouse Bay: C Short, B McGregor, B Munro, B Hunter (4).

St Heliers: E Hickey, H Blick, L Fenton, L Banks (2).


Australia

Mooloolaba: F Ford, E Josephsen, C Rushton, W Smedley (1).


Bay of Plenty

Katikati: A Mahon, C Burns, J Scott, J Mabbett (5).

Ngongotaha: J Barnard, M Eden, L Sage, J Potroz (2); K Nepe, M Bishop, M Clarke, S Crackett (5); W Green, L McIntosh, J Kerry, H Ratana (7).

Ohope: R Vernon, J Morris, K Lee, C Allan (1); M Sisson, M Carpenter, A Looney, A Crichton (6).

Omokoroa: S Hodges, C Beckett, R Morrison, K Pickering (2).

Tauranga: M Constantine, M Paul, C Tasker, M Campbell (4).

Te Puke: D Smith, S A Dench, A Marsh, D Currie (1).

Manurewa: M Korewha, T Moka, S Brownlee, J Hall (7).

Buckland: A Tilyard, J Welch, S Williams, G Bremner (2).

Pukekohe: H Bolscher, S Nasey, S Perry, K Lister (4).

Far North RSA: A Lomas, D Owens, D Voss, A Muir (6).

Opononi: P Roberts, F Hau, L Fowlie, T Harris (7).

Havelock North: L Francis, S Passey, H Leyland, J Henderson (3).

Kia Toa: J Williams, C Chilton, T Brownell, P Winfield (2); J Morgan, C Lukies, A Rooker, L Rae (3).

Napier: C Telford, M Robinson, R Cronin, L Fitch (6); I Hunt, J Van der Weele, D Bentley, D Durham (7).

Omarunui: R Wallace, B Exeter, N McKinley, M McLean (1).

Taradale: C Simpson, C Le Claire, B Hewitt, J Pedersen (1); R Spittle, S Weeks, A Denton, S Glock (2); L Bowcock, A Williamson, B Bromfield, M Drury (4); L Fitness, L Hunn, D Smith, D Howard (5).


Kapiti

Levin: I Poletti, R Crone, R Adams, C Eastham (5).

Paraparaumu Beach: E Jones, A Searancke, D Graham, K Borrett (6).

Waikanae: R Wilkinson, C Henshilwood, F Vessey, C Rolton (2).

Waitarere Beach: J Olliver, G Michael, M Van der Velden, M Macdonald (3).


Manawatu

North End: F Jones, S Scott, R Burroughs, J Brown (1).


North Harbour

Mairangi Bay: S Wellington, J Gledhill, C Rice, T Rogers (4).

Riverhead: R Reihana, M Hakaraia, G Ward, J Browne (6).


Northland

Hikurangi: L Stewart, W Sarjeant, D Klomp, C Lineham (3).

Kensington: D Strawbridge, S Wightman, M Gluttenbiel, K Cooper (1).


Taranaki

Fitzroy: V Symes, M Gadsby, S Taylor, L Te Awa (1); R Adams, V Kelly, F Hill, J Crawford (3).

Inglewood: C Nicol, L Ropitini, M McCallum, L Crofskey (2); G Burrows, N Taylor, J Forbes, D Erb (6).

Lepperton: M Hona, C Hodges, N Davis, J Dunce (3); D Heaven, E Kidney, A Chambers, C Callaway (5); L Clarke, J Haggerty, C Pearce, H Hughes (7).

Manaia: J Kimber, S Kahu, M Greig, A Senior (2); S Lawn, J Fox, D Young, S Clark (6).

New Plymouth: S Edwards, L Sole, H Chitty, H Earl (1); E Hodge, M Carey, A Brophy, V McEldowney (4).

Okato: L Kape, C Gray, F Liddall, S Boardman (3); K Wallace, A Woods, M Keat, V Langton (5); E Phillips, A Megaw, D Chapman, E Hona (7).

Opunake: P Davy, C Commane, R Davey, J Henderson (5).

Paritutu: B Harvey, V Keightley, C Sharrock, J Stevenson (1); P Wright, M Farmer, J Gledhill, A Spurdle (5); C Andrews, B Batley, K Barber, I Legge (6); G Fache, B Fletcher, M McArthur, A Crehan (7).

Stratford Avon: K Stampa, J Ravji, K Bond, T Needham (7).

Tower: F Parkes, L Scott, W Mullan, S Solomons (4); J Augustine, I Taunt, P Symes, A Rowlands (6).

Waitara: K Gower, R Klenner, T Seaver, G Keighley (3); B Rowe, N Jane, A Hinton, A Rona (4); M Malcolm, Y Cann, G Wolfe, J Newton (7).

West End: J Ropitini, L Ritson, J Dyett, H White (1); S Cottam, D Cottam, D Clark, N Goldsworthy (3); V Hall, M Nagle, M Lister, A Parr (4); T Howard, L Heal, L Halls, M Shaw (5).


Thames Valley

Mercury Bay: L Clifford, L King, S Roberts, J Campbell (5); L McDonald, I Goss, N Reddy, C Sexton (7).

Thames Coast: A French, V Matthews, K McGaughey, B Rodgers (1); K Bunn, D Gainfort, T Harrison, L Putt (4).


Waikato

Central Cambridge: K De Jong, J Walker, F Bird, M Hughes (2).

Frankton Junction: J Bishop, R Chalklen, N Hancock, M Moir (6).

Raglan: E Stephens, B McDavitt-Whyte, S Moa, M Wahanga (3).

Rewa: G Hope, A Lowcay, H Barlow, K Gordon (4).

Te Awamutu: J Cato, D Sharpe, C Ball, C Osment (1).

Te Kuiti: K Norman, P Reed, K Matthews, C Callaway (3).

Tokoroa: T Jakes, V Coll, G Dwane, C Cox (7).

Wairarapa

Masterton: W Mitchell, R Schischka, M Campbell, R Muriwai (4).


Wanganui

Aramoho: R Belliss, D Patterson, D Garside, L Bourke (5).

Wanganui East: D Wildermoth, J Raymond, T Ward, A Richdale (2); M Foster, J Johnston, A Morgan, S Tasker (6).


Wellington

Johnsonville: P Meredith, G Oliver, L Campbell, M Davis (6).

Miramar: T Knap, Y Gibb, S Green, V Borrie (7).

Naenae: P Dixon, K Cross, L Gough, A Robinson (3).

Plimmerton: P Mulford, C Thomson, V Hadfield, P Christie (5).

Titahi Bay: F Cox, A Obrien, C Hallam, E Timihou (2).

Upper Hutt: J Lockwood, V Packer, D Walden, C Jackson (1).

Location of sections

Section 1: Paritutu/ Oakura/ New Plymouth

Section 2: Paritutu/ Inglewood/ West End

Section 3: West End/ Waitara/ Lepperton

Section 4: West End/ New Plymouth/ Waitara

Section 5: New Plymouth/ Lepperton/ West End

Section 6: Oakura/ Paritutu/ Inglewood

Section 7: Waitara/ Paritutu/ Oakura