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A look at a better open bowls system

(The Citizen -January 20, 2006)

NEW Zealand Bowls has taken the concept of "open" bowls to new lengths in their national tournament and these thoughts from their Events Manager, Allan Griffiths, should be looked at by  bowls authorities here.
The NZB national tournament, as is the South African counterpart, is an open event for both men and women which means players from anywhere can enter a pair, a four, or enter the singles, as long as they are registered players in their own country.
Section play in the fours and pairs consists of three games of 18 ends a day over two days with winners of four or more games qualifying for post-section play. Sections consist of 14 teams
Section play in the singles consists of four games of 21 shots up a day with winners of three or four games qualifying for post-section play. Sections consist of eight players
The playing programme is:
Day One: Men's Pairs Qualifying; Women's Singles Qualifying
Day Two: Men's Pairs Qualifying; Women's Pairs Qualifying
Day Three: Men's Singles Qualifying; Women's Pairs Qualifying
Day Four: Post-section Men's Pairs; Post-section Women's Singles
Day Five: Post-section Men's Pairs; Post-section Women's Singles
Day Six: Post-section Men's Singles; Post-section Women's Pairs
Day Seven: Post-section Men's Singles; Post-section Women's Pairs
Day Eight: As some players only wish to play singles or pairs (often because of work commitments) we then run our first "Finals Day" with the Men's Semi-finals of the pairs played at the same time as the Women's Singles Final. This is then followed by the Women's Pairs Semi-finals and the Men's Singles Final with the third session of play being both the Men's and Women's Pairs Finals.
Day Nine and Ten: Qualifying rounds of the Men's and Women's Fours
Day 11 and 12: Post-section of Men's and Women's Fours
Day 13: Fours Finals for both Men and Women
The number of entries would determine how many days are needed for post-section play

THE Kiwis also have what they term a "Closed New Zealand National Tournament" which is their National Club Championships.
Each club team consists of a singles, a pair, and a four. They play in their local Centre - district in SA -- competition and the winner goes on to a regional play-off with the winner from that going to the National Finals.
Griffiths says: "We have split New Zealand into six regions so we know that six teams will come through to the National Final. Each region has also been split into either five or six centres.
"In most cases a scrambled draw is used so that no club or centre is playing the same discipline at the same time.
"In All National Play-offs two points are awarded for a win in each discipline and one point for a draw. Where match points are equal the winner shall be determined by differential points on a plus and minus basis. If the differential points are equal then the side with the lowest "total shots against" shall be the winner.
"This year we have introduced a second division into this competition to help develop and promote the game"
There are special conditions applied to these competitions:
Singles: 25 shots or two and three quarter hours
Pairs: 21 completed ends or two and three quarter hours
Fours: 18 completed ends or two and three quarter hours
In the event of a tie no extra ends will be played.
Now while you are mulling over all that after league tomorrow these thoughts might bring up a swell of conversation in your club. as they are, to say the least, interesting and innovative.

ANDRE Basson, whom we told you last week is suffering from cancer, is responding well to treatment, and thanks all of you who have sent messages for his safe recovery.
 

Younger players benefit by absence of stars

The Citizen - April 28, 2006

Several districts playing in the annual inter-districts tournament in Johannesburg were denuded by the unavailability of many players, but this has been to the benefit of many others who have the opportunity to further their own causes.
The absence of some players has definitely shown in the form of some teams, more particularly Western Province where they have lost four of their top players to retirement and lack of leave left for bowls has become obvious.
Without Neil Burkett, (in Australia), Eric Johannes (no longer available), Kevin Campbell (reportedly retired) and Shaun Addinall (no more leave) they are much less the team they have been.. However, this is not say that the team put together has not acquitted itself well and the younger players drafted into the side have coped admirably with the task.
Not least of these is 40-year-old Peter Harvey, son of one of South Africa’s greatest bowlers, Tommy Harvey, who passed away at the age of 42 in the prime of his bowls career. Just to watch the son play one sees the father in him and that recognizable push delivery is so evident in the son.
Western Province manager, Bobby Cron said Harvey would soon be skipping one of the WP teams in inter-district tournaments.
It was also fortuitous for Western Province that former international Alan Lofthouse was able to make himself available to skip one of the WP fours after it became obvious Neil Burkett would not be back from Australia in time . His experience at this and international level has been a definite factor in helping the WP younger players..
There is a lot of youth in this tournament not least of all from Bloemfontein where we have Clinton Roets, Wayne Perry – both already internationals – Handre Marais who made such an impressions in gaining a bronze medal in the SA Masters, together with Wayne York and Jarred Oracki. With this talent, the future of the game in Bloemfontein looks very alive and well, if not now, as they lead their section after the sixth of the nine rounds.

Talk of younger players brings us to thoughts about upcoming international events and the national selectors are expected to go for youth when they pick their sides for the African States tournament in August. They are due to announce their sides at the end of the inter-districts this evening (Friday).
When I say going for youth I apply that more to the men than the women for there is a definite lack of younger players of established caliber among the women, a matter that should receive the urgent consideration of national and district executives.

So with youth in mind what do you think – and I expect brickbats – of my side for the African States.
Men: Fours: Brian Dixon, Wayne Perry, Duane Abrahams and Handre Marais. Singles: Nic Rusling.
Women: Fours: Loraine Victor, Cheryl Cox, Colleen Webb and Esme Steyn, although I would like to see Leone Durand, recently returned to the game among those names. For the singles there is only Lorna Trigwell.

Men’s national tournament chair Nicky Parker has been at the inter-provincials as a spectator and tells me all is in readiness for the tournament that begins in Cape Town on May 13 with the pairs competition. Headquarters is at Constantia.

One thing the inter-provincials have brought out is that there are some better bowlers on the national executive. National president Piet Breitenbach skips one of the two North West fours while executive member Tys Pringle has the same job for Limpopo.