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7th December 2016 Daily Update Memorable day of world bowls Contact Details on the greens The one and only Valerie ‘Val’ Smith was hoisted shoulder high by Bill Fowlie the New Zealand and wider world sporting fraternity yesterday Ph: +64 3 358 4617 to acknowledge 500 marvellous international lawn bowls Mob: +64 22 697 3560 appearances in the distinctive Blackjacks livery. Email: [email protected]

And how marvellous that this recognition came just six days after her best friend and long-time on-green partner Jo Edwards was gonged for the same accomplishment? Ian Watson Ph: +64 21 666 196 In fact, the sport’s three most-capped internationals, Val and Jo Email: [email protected] with 500 games apiece, along with ’s Karen Murphy’s 550+, are all still plying their craft with gusto and class during these championships. Now that’s one for the trivia buffs.

In 2008, when Christchurch last hosted these same championships that are approaching their crescendo, Val scooped the pool by winning the singles gold medal, then joining forces with Jo to clinch pairs gold as well.

Two years later in Delhi she had to settle for silver after a herculean battle with England’s Natalie Melmore, while a further two years on she added more silver following an adrenalin-pumping final against Karen Murphy in Adelaide.

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WORLD BOWLS 2016 MEDIA RELEASE

Memorable day of world bowls

on the Christchurch greens Also in Adelaide, Val and Jo featured in yet another big international final, but fell marginally short against Aussies and Kelsey Cottrell, who won fours gold last Saturday and will be well in the mix over this coming weekend.

Val Smith, the bowls community around the world salutes you.

Yesterday will be long remembered for some of the most curious outcomes ever! But fair to suggest, in this environment it would be a shock, if there were no shocks!

Take for instance the USA men’s fours team of Aaron Zangl, Scott Roberts, James Flower and Charlie Herbert, who were on the receiving end of a serious 41-shot spanking from Ali Forsyth’s Blackjacks in Round 5, yet came out in the next round and claimed the points against Scotland’s Commonwealth Games gold-medal-winning four under the astute skippership of Alex Marshall.

Go figure. And while you’re at it, explain this one from Section 2 of the men’s singles. Round 2 saw South African great Gerry Baker record a solid 21-18 win over Norfolk Island’s Ryan Dixon, then twenty-four hours later Dixon handed in a 21-14 winning Round 5 card over NZ’s Shannon McIlroy - who then proceeds to dish out an astounding 21-1 drubbing to Baker, the legendary Proteas southpaw in yesterday’s sixth round.

Another hearty plug for the health of our great game in the Asian theatre. How the visionaries of the game would be thrilled to read of Japan’s Kenta Hasebe beating Scotland’s Darren Burnett, the reigning Commonwealth Games singles gold medalist; or overnight leader Ryan Bester’s loss to Sunil Bahadur from India, where there is only one fully operational bowling green; or Johnny Ng from Macao, the first bowler from his country to ever qualify for this event, who scored a great win over Jersey’s richly talented Malcolm De Sousa yesterday.

WORLD BOWLS 2016 MEDIA RELEASE

How the sections stand after Day 2 (of week 2): Women’s pairs: Men’s singles: Current standings: Sec.1: New Zealand 18 points Current standings: Sec.1: R Bester (CAN) 15 +61 shots, Australia 15 +71, Philippines 12 +55, points +50 shots, A Sherriff (AUS) 15 +26, D England 12 +47, Cyprus 9 -10, Israel 9 -18, Burnett (SCO) 12 +23, K Hasebe (JPN) 9 +8, P Canada 6 -3, Netherlands 3 -47, Singapore 3 -60, Bonsor (ESP) 9 -2, S Bahadur (IND) 9 -3, M Namibia 3 -96. De Sousa (JER) 6 -14, W Esterhuizen (NAM) 6 -21, T Priaulx (GUE) 6 -23, J Ng (MAC) 3 -44. Sec.2: Wales 18 points +91 shots, Scotland 18 +47, Norfolk Island 12 +42, Malaysia 12 -37, Sec.2: J Tomlinson (WAL) 18 points +37 South Africa 12 +27, Ireland 6 -27, Spain 6-53, shots, S McIlroy (NZL) 15 +39, F Jabal (MAS) Hong Kong China 3 -24, China 3 -38, Cook Islands 15 +29, G Baker (RSA) 9 -5, G Kelly (IRE) 6 0 -102. +10, J Walker (ENG) 6 +1, T Cheung (HKC) 6 - 12, R Dixon (NFI) 6 -26, L Paraskeva (CYP) 6 - Women’s triples: 34, R Omar (BRU) 3 -39. Current standings: Sec.1: England 18 points +50 shots, Malaysia 15 +44, Philippines 12 +30, Men’s fours: South Africa 12 +10, Hong Kong China 12 +9, Current standings: Sec.1: New Zealand 18 New Zealand 9 +20, Namibia 6 -4, China 3 -45, points +114 shots, Scotland 15 +34, Wales 4 Spain 3 -65, Norfolk Island 0 -49. +43, South Africa 4 +16, Hong Kong China 9 - 13, Israel 9 -13, USA 9 -38, Canada 3 -29, Fiji Sec.2: Australia 18 points +114 shots, Canada 12 3 -45, Brunei 0 -81. +25, USA 12 +1, Wales 12 -10, Fiji 9 +16, Scotland 9 +15, Brunei 6 -5, Zimbabwe 6 -19, Sec.2: England 18 points +115 shots, Ireland 6 -21, Isle of Man 0 -116. Australia 18 +57, Ireland 16 +57, Malaysia 9 +23, Jersey 7 -22, Zimbabwe 6 -25, Spain 6 - 37, Norfolk Island 4 -42, Japan 3 -63, Singapore 1 -63.

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