in the NEWS facebook.com/ ISSUE 72 - MAY ‘18 BowlsSouthAfrica your source for WORLDWIDEbowling information PIKETH & NEAL LEAD SA MEDAL HAUL ON GOLD COAST Colleen Piketh and Nici Neal beaming with pride aer receiving their silver medals Alan Simmonds - Media Officer South Africa’s world class Protea lawn bowlers, both in the Open and Para-Olympic divisions, showed their worth in the XXI Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Although off their 2014 Glasgow Games five- gold pace, three silver and two bronze medals is fair return. The only disappointment was the men being unable to secure a medal; more of that later. The women and the para-athletes held centre stage as far as medals were concerned. BRONZE BEAUTY: Colleen Piketh Up first was Colleen Piketh. Some moron Piketh (Bedfordview CC, JBA) magnificently Perhaps Piketh’s greatest moment came in posted on Facebook “…how can we win a medal and deservedly rose to giddy heights, taking the singles quarter-finals when she with her (Piketh) playing…? A person obviously two medals – bronze in the Singles and a one- sensaonally eliminated Australia’s golden completely out of touch with women’s bowls shot defeat silver with ultra-consistent Nici girl Karen Murphy 21-19 from the blue-ribbon on the top plaorm. Neal (Leases, Sables) in the Pairs. women’s event. Murphy, selected by Commonwealth Games Australia to read the Athlete’s Oath on behalf of all athletes at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at the opening ceremony, succumbed to a brilliant Piketh by two shots, aer leading for vast porons of the match and having won just two days before in the preliminaries 20-16. “Nothing really changed between the two matches (since the seconal match), the green was prey slow and doughy for the night game this me; she was just more up and at-it than I was and that was the difference,” Murphy said. Piketh, modest as ever, was, however, jubilant. “To beat the current World Bowls champion in her own back yard is something special. I KILLER FOURSOME: Esmé Kruger, Nici Neal, Anneke Snyman and Elma Davis played well on a difficult green, under unpleasant humid condions and kept my close throughout and 18-16 to the host side is execuve and world class umpire, officiang concentraon the beer.” probably fair, but the result was always in at the Games Trevor Davis. doubt. Forbes was enthusiasc. Proof of the Oz girls’ dominance in women’s world bowls is three of them took gold in the “A voyage to the other side of the world, triples as well. Krizanic, Sco and Van Asch tough condions, an even tougher schedule become the naon’s first ever dual gold and adjustment to food, weather and medalists from the same Games, and the first temperature swings can never be easy. But Australians to win Games gold and world tles the Proteas knew what was coming; most are in the same two disciplines. experienced and durable. The Protea girls did not feature in the triples, “I am delighted with them capturing five losing a game they might have taken, but that’s medals – Sascoc, I am sure will be pleased – bowls on the day. we went with high hopes and returned with heads held high.” Lawn bowls was one of 10 core sports at the Commonwealth Games and has been And now, the men. connuously held at every Games since the It must have been galling for SA No 1 Gerry 1930 Brish Empire Games, with the excepon Baker (Bryanston Sports, JBA), such a familiar MUMPS? Karen Murphy aer the defeat of the 1966 Brish Empire and Commonwealth figure at the Games in the past 20 years, who by Colleen Piketh Games in Kingston, Jamaica. may have been seen in Games colours for a Piketh was to bow out in the semi-finals (see A total of four events per gender was last me aer an outstanding record, having results), but took bronze with a top class contested, along with two open para-sport won silver and bronze medals and pairs gold showing against a Canadian in the play-offs. events, which meant a total of 10 medal events (Shaun Addinall in Delhi, 2010). were contested. In the pairs, Neal, a skip’s answer to a prayer, Unfortunately, it comes to the best in all codes showed her versality. Comfortable in every Bowls SA president, Rob Forbes did not aend – Shane Warne, Zidane, Usain Bolt being posion, the modest, marvellous Neal will be the games, but was represented by SABA prime examples. around at the top for a long me. Indeed, Neal was to gain another silver in the fours. The Piketh/Neal juggernaut looked to be unstoppable, but alas, Malaysia’s top pair, great friends of the Protea players, were just one shot beer on the day. Elma Davis (George BC, Eden), needs no introducon to SA’s players; the internaonal brigade is certainly aware of her talent as well. With Boland (Bredasdorp) whizz kid Anneke Snyman at third, Neal now at second and another top drawing player in Esmé Kruger (CBC Old Boys, BGN) leading, the Protea quartet demolished their secon and strode to the final with aplomb. In the final, however, they encountered the world No 1 fours of Australia (Kelsey Corell, Carla Krizanic (who graced the SA Masters in 2017), Bec van Asch, Natasha Sco). It was PARA PYROTECHNICS: Tobias Botha, Willem Viljoen, Chris Paon and Coach Geoff Newcomb PROUD MIXED PAIRS: Princess Schroeder, Director - Graham Ward, OLD MENS …! 68-year-old Ken Hanson Flippe Walker and Director - Annetjie van Rooyen bowls his way into history Baker’s trips team of Morgan Muvhango went to Australia’s Lynne Seymour, directed by BC, Erkhuleni), who downed England 16-13 – (Discovery BC, Sables) and Rudi Jacobs (Parys husband Bob and Jake Fehlberg (Grant another outstanding Protea effort. BC, NW) could not get going; in the men’s fours Fehlberg) who defeated a gallant South African (add Evans at third), a poor start against a pair of Nozipho (Princess) Schroeder (Jagger In the triples, Australian Ken Hanson, the throbbing Indian side meant it was too much to BC, WP) (director, Graham Ward, Jaggers BC, lead, became Australias oldest ever gold do within the short programme to make the WP)/Flippie Walker (Mooinoi BC, BGN) medal winner at a Commonwealth Games. cut, losing their last chance against a crack (Johanna van Rooyen, Witportjie BC, Sables) He made his debut at 68 years young, world champion Australian quartet who 12-9; a fantasc effort from the Proteas. watching as New Zealand came back from 10- eventually made the final. In the disabled B6/B7/B8 men’s triples, gold 3 down to narrow Australia’s lead to one shot, Up against Australian, New Zealand and went to Australia who pipped “the auld but Hanson delivered a stunning draw on the Malaysian (magnificently coached by former SA enemy” New Zealand 14-13. jack and sealed gold. “It's hard to describe my assistant naonal coach Dr Simon Botha), even feelings,” Hanson said, aer emoonally India and a surprisingly good Maltese team, But, (bronze) went to South Africa Christopher standing on the podium as his naonal relishing familiar condions and well “played- Paon (Knysna BC, Eden), Tobias Botha (Irene anthem played. in” the task became a goal simply unobtainable. BC Gauteng N), Willem Viljoen (Modderbee Nevertheless, Pierre Breitenbach (Potch Town, NW), superbly reached the quarter-finals in the COMMONWEALTH ultra-compeve singles and with Jason Evans (Roosevelt Park, JBA) won their tough secon unbeaten, before failing by one agonising shot GAMES MEDAL LIST to make the final four. MEN 1994 Fours – Gold Breitenbach is heir to the Baker throne and is a 1998 Singles – Bronze good bet to be the future Protea men’s skip at Pairs – Bronze internaonal events; the amiable, talented Fours – Bronze Evans, 2018 JBA singles champion, improves 2002 Fours – Silver Pairs – Bronze with each oung. Singles – Gold SA head coach Theuns Fraser (the long-serving 2006 Trips – Bronze 2010 Pairs – Gold Fraser has announced his immediate PALS: Theuns Fraser, le, the SA head rerement; more in June issue) and Trips – Gold 2014 Trips – Gold coach with Malaysia coach Dr Simon Botha coach/manager Jessica Henderson, as usual, Para Trips – Gold aer the Asian girls won the pairs final by a worked hard to ensure all went smoothly. Blind Pairs – Gold shot over SA. The two men have been pals The Para-Bowls consisted of a mixed pairs 2018 Para Trips – Bronze at judo and bowls for 50 years. Blind Mixed Pairs – Silver (visually impaired) and a men's triples (disabled). WOMEN 1994 Fours – Gold Having won gold in each discipline at Glasgow Pairs – Bronze 2014, manager/coach, the indefagable Geoff 1998 Fours – Gold Newcombe of Port Elizabeth, was wary this Singles – Gold me. 2002 Pairs – Silver Singles – Bronze “Yes, we are good, but again it’s horses for 2006 Singles – Bronze courses. The locals are perhaps beer prepared 2010 Trips – Gold this me.” 2014 Fours – Gold Pairs – Gold He was correct. Trips – Bronze Singles – Bronze But it was far from being all bad news. 2018 Fours – Silver DUTY CALLS: World class technical official Singles – Bronze and SA execuve Trevor Davis goes to work In the B2/B3 final for the visually impaired gold Pairs – Silver at Games WOMEN’S SINGLES: Sec. A: Rd.1: Karen Murphy (Australia) bt Malia Kioa (Tonga) 21-4, Catherine Beae (Northern Ireland) bt Getrude Siame 28 FOUGHT FOR (Zambia) 21-14. Rd.2: Colleen Piketh (South Africa) bt Beae 21-13, Kioa bt Siame 21-10.