Singles is an event different from the rest.
Almost all tournaments are played in a team format. Be it Fours, Trebles or Pairs you always have your teammates there for support and to pick you up . . . .or . . as I hear too many times . . . to blame if you aren’t doing well!
Singles . . no coming up to the mat already 3 up or down before you throw a bowl . . . no short bowls in the way . . . . no excuses . . its all up to you . . . your 4 bowls to best the opponent with.
Last weekend was the District Singles Playdowns. We held the Dist 10 event at Cosburn this year. Last year it was unofficially held at Cosburn as the original venue (Kew Beach) was flooded out by heavy rains right at the 9:30 start time on Saturday.
Hosting the Singles is more work for the host club who are asked to supply markers for the games. Our club rep did a great job and actually had more volunteer markers on hand than were needed . . . . . even last year . . . when we didn’t know until 10:30 Saturday morning that Singles players were making the trek from Kew Beach to Cosburn for a belated 1 pm start (and playing until 8 pm), he had plenty of people on hand at the appointed hour to mark all the games. Kudos to Mike Mogan & his team.
I love playing Singles . . . was anxious to avenge last years 21-20 loss in the final game which ended a five year streak of wins (OK . . its’ my report . . I can brag a little if I want!) . . but having won Silver in the Pairs (more bragging? . .) this weekend I was not playing but was acting as Umpire for the event.
Day one saw plenty of great action. Although the hot dry weather of the previous week had the greens running very fast . . a heavy rain Friday slowed them down to about 11 seconds. The slower, narrower greens however seemed to be to the players liking as tight heads abounded.
Hi-lights of the day:
- Last year’s winner (Bert Harvey – Balmy Beach) being beaten by club mates Joe Green & Tom Marley 21-20 two games in a row to be eliminated early. What are the odds . . . counting last years final thats 3 games in a row at 21-20 for Bert.
- 2nd year bowler Bill McNally almost upsetting Peter Wong. Up 20-18, Bill let Peter slip away to a 21-20 win. This created a 3 way tie in their Group . . . with Peter eliminating Bill from further play in the 2nd tie breaker game.
Bill was playing great . . . at first everyone was commenting on how great he was playing 'for a new bowler' . . .but by the end of the day the tag 'for a new bowler' was dropped.
Day 2:
The Women were whittled down to an elite field of 4, all prior Provincial medal winners.
Nanci Myers, last year’s winner, was behind early but fought back for a semi final victory over Cathy Haskins. The other semi final game was a doozy . . . every end 4 or 5 bowls within 6 inches of the jack . . . the crowd on the deck getting their money’s worth as Helena Ho bested Laila Hassan. Gracious in defeat, Laila was right back out on the green acting as marker for the final game.
In the final game Nanci’s bowls seemed attracted to the jack like a magnet and she retained her Dist 10 crown . . hoping to better her Bronze in last years Ontario’s.
This won’t be easy as the Gold & Silver winners from last year are back as well.
The Men’s Division came down to a final between Peter Wong & David Ferguson.
David was hot . . . after falling behind 14-1 to Joe Green in the morning match, he went on a tear and won 21-18 . . . then continued his onslaught by defeating Stanley Ho 21-2 in the semi final . . .a run of 41-6!! . . . . you would have thought it was his dad (Al Ferguson) playing.
Peter came with his A game today, winning his morning match then defeating home club favorite Dave Carruthers in his semi-final.
The final was close for a while . . but after a 9-8 start Peter pulled away to a 21-11 win.
That’s Singles . . . 1 shot away from being eliminated on Day 1 by a 2nd year bowler . . . then losing his 1st 11 point playoff game . . . Peter kept plugging away and won out in the end.
On to Bobcaygeon & Campbelford for the Finals . . with tough fields in both Men’s & Ladies events.
Still got to get in my fix of Singles . . so off to WOBA Singles next Tuesday.
B.B. in the GTA
