Bowls: De Faria earns trip to the UK

File photo by Bowls Taranaki.

Taranaki bowler Craig De Faria is off to England.

De Faria completed an indomitable performance over the weekend at the New Zealand Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) finals at Papatoetoe to secure two trips to the United Kingdom in early 2027, a result that has seen him named the leading PBA player for the year.

De Faria had already excelled by winning preliminaries of all three singles in New Plymouth on King’s Birthday weekend. And that tenacious, consistent and accurate form, which Taranaki bowlers have become accustomed to, was on display throughout the Papatoetoe performance, with De Faria winning seven games from eight.

He won five-straight during the quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday. Then beat Jason Wong (Auckland) 13-2, 9-5 in the UK singles decider on Sunday morning. Victory gave De Faria the invitation for the UK singles in Cambridge, England, on March 1-3.

De Faria was nosed out by North Harbour veteran Colin Rogan 10-0, 7-10, 2-0 in the Scottish singles decider. But then dominated Wellington’s Stephen Zino 9-8, 11-5 to win the NZ qualifier for the world indoor singles. That will be held at the luxurious Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk, England, on January 8-24.

De Faria will be the fourth Taranaki player to compete in that most prestigious event which was established in 1979. John Murtagh competed in 1981, Brian Baldwin in 1991 and 1992, and Debbie Wilford in 2016. Cathy Andrews also competed in a world indoor singles, but that was a different event organised by the IIBC.

There was an incredible result in the qualifier for the world pairs, with Taupo’s Jack Giddy and Dave Jones taking the title from Raymond Martin and Cushla Haimona (Wellington).

Prior to the finals weekend, Giddy had been a little dubious about taking part, as it clashed with one of his other loves, whitebaiting.

A native of Taranaki, Giddy made the right decision and was intending to return to his favourite spot on the Mimi river this week.

The UK trip for the world finals will be especially poignant for Giddy, who turns 92 in November. It will in fact complete a family trifecta, following the footsteps of Murtagh, his brother-in-law, and Sid, his legendary brother, who competed in 1994.

Giddy and Jones ended the hopes of the Taranaki pairs qualifiers, Briar Atkinson and Selina Goddard, in the semifinals.