ATBC hosts masters inter-provincials

THE past week at Amanzimtoti Tenpin Bowling Club was an extremely busy one when the cream of the country’s master (over 45 years) bowlers descended on KZN to bowl in the TBASA masters inter-provincials at Dolphin Bowl.

They may be seniors but like fine wine, as they grow older, they grow better, if the bowling was any yardstick.

The competition involves 64 bowlers over four disciplines – mixed doubles, doubles, mixed fours and team and each player bowls 28 games in four days. Thus stamina and endurance play a huge role in the team’s success.

Not all provinces are represented as some do not have bowling centres but it was satisfying to have eight teams participate in this event. Central Gauteng, Midlands (Pietermaritzburg), N Gauteng A and B, Eastern Gauteng A and B and KZN A and B were represented.

Starting at 7am on Monday, the mixed doubles teams bowled eight games with high scores of 235 and 268 being recorded by Bill Brown of E Gauteng while Able Haywood of Central Gauteng had a 257 game. KZN high scorers were Brian Daventry-Bull on 230 and Saleem Jagot on 248. For the women Kiley Cassel (Central Gauteng) had 242 while Lorraine Brazier bowled 235 for KZN A. The mixed doubles event was won by Gauteng N from Eastern Gauteng with KZN picking up the bronze medal in third place.

The tournament then moved into the mixed fours event with a great showing from Ricky o’Hare of KZN, with games of 246 and 276. Other notable achievements were from Bill Brown (again) on 244, Richard Lotheringen, 241 Tony Sham 246, both of Central Gauteng, while Chris Hanna, N Gauteng, 261 and Saleem Jagot 244. Women’s high scores were not as prevalent but N Gauteng’s Carina Louw bowled a fine 226 and 213 while KZN bowlers Lorraine Brazier and Cheryl Hambrook bowled 222 and 212 respectively. The mixed four’s event was won by Gauteng North followed by KZN and Eastern Gauteng.

Women’s doubles once again saw Gita Soorjlal (M) heading the leader board with a fine game of 243 followed by Barbara Wilford, two games of 223, Elsabe Stoltz (GN) on 230. The event was won by Eastern Gauteng from Midlands, their first medal in inter-provincial tournaments, and KZN in third.

Men’s doubles once again saw brilliant performances from Bill Brown with games of 236, 225 and 249 while Able Haywood achieved games of 238 and 278, Les Connors, the retreaded mountain goat, on 258 while Hennie Fouche (KZN) scored his best game of 242. It was, once again the mighty Eastern Gauteng team which took the honours from Central Gauteng and Gauteng North.

The women’s team was the final event of the tournament and exhaustion was definitely setting in, with very few high games being bowled. However mention must be made of Sheila Hanna who bowled a 234 game. Final result saw Gauteng North taking the event from Eastern Gauteng and KZN B in third place.

In the men’s team, perennial traveler Len Elbourne stepped into the breach for KZN when Saleem Jagot was unable to bowl on Friday and had games of 238 and 245. Otherwise the event followed pretty much the results of the previous events, with Bill Brown once again bowling up a storm with a fine 236 game as did team mate Richard Lotheringen while Gerhard Stoltz (GN) achieved 247 and Tony Sham (CG) 244. The men’s team event was won by Eastern Gauteng with KZN in second place and Central Gauteng in third.

Overall averages over the tournament (28 games) were Elsabe Stoltz, 181.4 Lorraine Brazier 180.0 and Julie Foley on 178.8. Among the men, there was no surprise to see Bill Brown top of the leader board on 209, followed by Richard on 202 and KZN Ricky O’ Hare in third on 201.

The victory banquet was held on Friday night and suspense mounted towards the announcement of the final results for overall women and men’s trophy’s as well as overall winners of the tournament. Women’s overall was won by Gauteng North with Eastern Gauteng in second and KZN B in third. Men’s overall was won by Eastern Gauteng from KZN and Central Gauteng. Overall winner of the event was the team from Eastern Gauteng followed by Gauteng North and KZN.

ATBC upcoming events at Dolphin: On 15 August, midnight marathon bowls from 11pm until 7am in aid of charity. On Sunday, 17August, third round inter-league.