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2006 November 25 – December 2 Fendalton Bowling Club, Christchurch, New Zealand
The fourth tournament will be held again at Fendalton Bowling Club in November 2006 using the exciting sets format. Entries are at present being registered by World Bowls and the 2006 Championships promise to be as exciting and colourful as the three previous tournaments.
The third tournament, was held at the 3-green Fendalton Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand in November 2005.
November 19-26, 2005 will be a special memory for all those that took part in any way in the third World Singles Champion of Champions hosted by the Fendalton Bowling Club. The singles champions of 28 countries (23 women and 23 men) competed for the titles of World champion and what a competition it turned out to be!
For the players the format was simple – play 11 games in section play and finish in the top four to gain a quarter-final berth. From then on win three games in a row and the title was theirs. All this on three excellent greens, expertly prepared by green keeper Ken Thicket and his helpers, and in varying weather conditions – wind, cool and hot temperatures and rain - sometimes all in one day. Typical November bowling weather for Canterbury players.
Set play ensured that interest remained high to the last end in most games and the six games on the two final days were great spectacles with 19 year old Nor Iryani Azmi from Malaysia and Englishman Mark Walton worthy winners of their respective titles.
New Zealand’s Dwayne Cameron and Sharon Sims responded to their home crowd’s encouragement and played their way into their finals where both performed with skill and panache to be awarded the runner up trophies. It was no surprise to see them both win National titles later in January - Sharon the Pairs and Dwayne in the Fours.
The eight semi-finalists were Mark Walton (England), Dwayne Cameron (NZ), Shane Globits (Australia) and Saijad Khan (Fiji) in the men’s event and Nor Iryani Azmi (Malaysia), Sharon Sims (NZ), Cecilia Smith (Scotland) and Amy Monkhouse (England) in the women’s championship.
Highlights included the colours - bowls, flags, players’ clothing, volunteers’ uniforms, gardens, greens and surrounds – the TV trucks and set up, the friendliness of the players to each other, to volunteers and to spectators alike, and some great games.
Thanks must be given to the 200 volunteers and to the Organizing Committee, led by Dr Michael Kerr, who gave their time, knowledge and expertise so willingly to make the event the success it was. A lot was learnt to make the next tournament even better.
The only disappointment was the low number of spectators especially on the Finals’ Days. Don’t miss the fourth running of this event November 25-December 2, 2006 to be held again at Fendalton.
It may not be repeated in Christchurch in our lifetime!
The second World Singles Champion of Champions was decided at the Warilla bowls and Recreation Club in Shellharbour City on the NSW coast in November 2004.24 men and 23 women, every one a current national singles champion, arrived at Warilla determined to win their respective Championship. Only two however could prevail.
Margaret Johnston showed her class and World Championship winning experience in winning the women’s crown defeating Karen Dawson of Scotland in the final.
NZ’s Shona Klimeck from Southland’s Hokonui Club in her international debut finished ninth in her section.
Nelson’s Ali Forsyth after winning his second NZ singles title in Christchurch had returned to Australia for another tilt at the Championship. This time he was successful. Winning all 10 section games Ali headed his pool and followed this achievement by defeating Rohan Kelly (Australia) and Eric Johannes (South Africa) in quarter and semi final matches. The final, played in heavy rain, was close resulting in a 9-3, 8-8 win to Ali Forsyth (NZ) over Scotland’s David Anderson.
13 wins in a row is a remarkable feat at this level and Ali surely deserved the title – Champion of Champions
28 men and 22 women competed for their respective coveted title of World Singles Champion of Champions.
Ali Forsyth and Marie Watson, both from the United Club in Nelson, represented NZ at this tournament. Like all their rivals Ali and Marie qualified to play in the event by winning their respective national singles titles earlier in the year.
Watson topped her section but lost to Ireland’s Alicia Weir in a tight quarterfinal while Forsyth finished sixth in his section after several close games.
The titles went to two of the smallest bowling nations – Namibia and Swaziland. Namibian Douw Calitz defeated Scotland’s Darren Burnett in the men’s final while Swaziland’s Liz James overcame Alison Merrien of Guernsey for the women’s crown.
In this event there are no play-offs for third and fourth. In the traditions of a jousting tournament from a former age the competition winner takes all – the title of Champion.
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