The Sables Bowling Association lived up to its reputation as the ‘Small District with a Big Impact’ after putting up an impressive show at the 2014 Warwick Bowls SA National Championships.
The championship, which was held in Cape Town last month, is an annual tournament for men and women in which bowling clubs from around the country enter teams to compete against each another for the title.
Sables were proud to have a number of teams from their district entering the tournament with a few of their stars flying the Sables flag high and winning their respective events. Sables grabbed a total of 10 medals (four gold, two silver and four bronze).
In the Men’s Open Singles event, Morgan Muvhango from Discovery Bowling Club played some fantastic bowls against some extremely tough opponents. He won his section by beating Joel Roebert from Mowbray Bowling Club in the semifinals.
Muvhango then faced Billy Radloff from George Bowling Club in the finals and went on to clinch the title and bring home the gold with a 21-18 victory.
In the Women’s Open Singles event it was Sables’ very own Nici Neal from Leases Bowling Club who played some exceptional bowls and went on to win her respective section by beating J Giles from Walmer Bowling Club 21-16 in the semi-finals.
Moving on to the final, Neal faced some stiff competition from a competitor from Dundee Bowling Club. Determined and focused on the task ahead, Neal pushed on and beat her opponent convincingly by 21 shots to 8 and claimed her title as the 2014 SA Women’s Open Champ.
The Women’s Pairs event saw an all Sables final between Rika Lynn and Ute Smith from Discovery Bowling Club who met Susan Nel and Anette de Wet from Rustenburg Impala Bowling Club.
Both teams had played extremely well throughout the championships and in the end won their respective sections. With Sables guaranteed both gold and silver in the event, the women took to the green and the battle began. In the end it was the pairing of Lynn and Smith who came out tops beating Nel and de Wet 28-13.
“It was fantastic to see the Sables Women dominating an extremely tough and talented event. You have done your clubs and District proud,” new Sables spokesperson Graeme Morton said.
The Rustenburg Impala Women’s Team of Susan Nel, Shirley Buytendag, Heleen Venter and Anette de Wet also held Sables’ name high in the Women Fours event. The team of four played some top class bowls and at the end of the round robin stage had won all four games thus winning their section.
As section winners they easily progressed to the play-offs but lost narrowly to a strong side from George Bowling Club in the semi-finals. They did, however, manage to grab the bronze medal.
