Bowls: Daily coverage of the Taranaki men's Open fours

Sports News Taranaki will provide daily coverage of the Taranaki men's Open fours below. Stories are by Grant Hassall and photos by Mary Salt/Kevin Jordan. 

Day 7: Auckland skip youngest to win the Open fours tournament

Adam Blucher of the Te Atatu Peninsula club in Auckland has become the youngest ever winner of The Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s Open fours tournament.

Blucher and his side of Stefan McCartain, Richard Coles and Brendon Walton took out the 121st edition of the biggest provincial bowls event in New Zealand on Paritutu’s front green yesterday afternoon.

They won the first all-Auckland final since 1963, beating Steve Bicknell, Darral Gordon, Neville Hill and skip Liam Hill (Onehunga & Districts) 23-8 in the final that concluded after just 18 ends.

Aged 20 years and 169 days, Blucher becomes the youngest ever winner of the Open.

The record was previously held by another Aucklander, Dan Delany, who was 20 years and 327 days old when he first won the event in 1999.

The record was always going to be broken after the finalists had been found, with Liam Hill only 16.

Next week he enters year 13 studies at Selwyn College from where he eventually hopes to become a commercial lawyer.

The final was supplemented by some good shots but generally the heads were not ultra tight, with the momentum firmly with Blucher’s team.

Even though scoring was restricted on most heads, a four on the sixth and a five on the 11th proved decisive. Blucher’s side led 10-1 after seven ends.

Hill’s side replied, winning the next three ends.

That made it 10-5 and Hill held four shots. But Blucher, with his first bowl, killed the end.

On the replay, Blucher’s side got close, a five swinging the impetus. On the resumption after tea, the game sat for a period of time, with four ends killed.

The match was very much still alive, Blucher leading 16-8 after 14. Blucher then took counts of 2-3-1-1, making it 23-8, at which point Hill conceded.

Following his semifinal finish in the Dominion singles earlier in the month, Blucher delivered on that potential.

It was very much a Delany-like performance and he is certainly on the path for higher honours. McCartain actually lives in Taranaki.

He had not played any bowls until the recent Dominion and belongs to both the Hawera Park and Piha clubs.

Coles, unknown on Monday, is a fourth-year player, who divides his time between Northland and Auckland.

His consistency impressed many and suggested that this first centre title will not be his last.

The plainspoken Walton drew a number of good shots.

He becomes the 14th player with his name on all three trophies presented during the week — fours winner, fours runner-up and pairs winner.

But as the victors don’t all belong to the same club in Auckland, the victory is not added to Walton’s three Gold Star-qualifying titles in Taranaki.

Liam Hill acknowledged the death of Mike Bradshaw during the presentation and said the side had dedicated their performance to him.

Bradshaw had been a regular attendee with Hill senior. They were runners-up in 2014.

Both morning semifinals became largely onesided affairs.

Blucher beat his clubmate Andy Ellis 28-14 through 22 ends. Ellis is a dual a member of the Pringle Park club, where his team mates all belong — David Windler, Willis Wichman and Wayne Ruka.

Consistent scoring had Blucher’s team in charge at 21-5 after 14 ends. Ellis narrowed that to 21-9 three ends later.

But Blucher counted that with a three on the next.

Ellis, 11 behind after 21 ends, conceded after dropping a further three on the last played end.

It was a similar trend in the other semifinal, with Hill’s side beating the Mt Maunganui quartet of Graeme Hill, John Simons, Warren Harford and skip Paul Eaton 27-7.

The damage was done between the fifth and ninth ends, when Hill took the score from 4-2 to 18-2.

 

Eaton’s side won five of the next six ends but on each occasion the scoring was restricted to a single. From 19-7, Hill won the next five ends, with Eaton waving the white flag after 20 heads.

Day 6: Northern domination at Open fours

It’s a sure bet that the JJ Goodwin Memorial Cup will be heading back over Mt Messenger tomorrow morning, or perhaps this evening, after two rounds reduced the teams to just four in the 121st Devon Hotel Taranaki Open fours tournament yesterday.

Three of the remaining teams are from Auckland, Adam Blucher and Andy Ellis (both Te Atatu Peninsula) plus Liam Hill (entered under Onehunga & Districts), plus one Bay of Plenty side, skipped by Paul Eaton (Mt Maunganui).

After play was transferred part-way through the morning games from West End to Paritutu, teams had to adapt to the indoor complex.

In the two quarterfinals completed in the morning round, Ellis beat Cary Pinker (Wanganui East) 26-13, while Blucher accounted for Peter Belliss (Aramoho) 26-16.

Ellis and Pinker were relatively even at West End and that trend continued initially at Paritutu, where the sides could not be separated through 15 ends.

However, with counts of 4-2- 5-2, Ellis and his side of David Windler, Willis Wichman and Wayne Ruka took control of the game.

Those scores made it 24-11 after 19 ends, and Pinker, playing with Colin Wright, Garth Lyne and Warwick Pinker, were effectively done, Ellis winning through 26-13.

Blucher and his team of Richard Coles, Stefan McCartain and Brendon Walton led 10-3 after seven ends against the Aramoho side of Ray Wilson, Keith Slight, Lance Tasker and skip Peter Belliss when the match was transferred to Paritutu. Belliss had the frustration of holding five sides when the umpire’s bell rang for wet weather at that time, and never really recovered.

Blucher extended the advantage to 21-7 after 18 ends and won 26-16, after the difference was seven shots playing the 25th. The other two quarterfinals were played in the afternoon.

Hill’s side of the 1999 champion Steve Bicknell, Darral Gordon and 2014 runner-up Neville Hill beat the Fitzroy quartet of Ian Dawson, Ron Gadsby, Andrew Gadsby and skip Evan Jones 24-20.

Hill’s side raced out of the blocks, leading 11-1 after eight ends. But Jones’ side turned it around, leading 19-13 after 20 ends.

However, they loosened on the 21st, a drawn six to Hill tying up the scores.

It was a momentum swinger, Hill scoring five shots over the next three ends to lead by five playing the last end.

There was sentiment in the success of Eaton, who commenced his bowls at West End and who’s late father, Stan, was a past Paritutu titleholder.

Eaton skips Graeme Hill, John Simons and Warren Harford. They beat the Tower side of the three Anderson brothers, Brendan, Grant and skip Mark, with Bruce Phillips at No 3, 30-20.

It was a topsy turvy game. Anderson led 9-2 after eight ends. Eaton turned that around to 16-11 in front after 12 ends.

Two ends later the scores with tied. But a four, followed by a two and a further four created the impetus for the ultimate result, with Hill’s leading especially impressive.

Eaton was involved in the closest of the four round four matches that were played in the morning. His side beat Bart Robertson (New Plymouth), a team that contained Eaton’s nephew, Warren Bellringer, 20-18.

In a nip-and-tuck clash, the sides were locked at 14-all after 19 ends. The next three ends went Eaton’s way to give his side the advantage.

Anderson beat Maurice Symes (Fitzroy) 25-12, with 20 ends completed. The edge came outside with Anderon leading 14-2 after 10 ends.

Symes got a sniff soon after, bringing the score back to 15-9 after 14 ends, before Anderson sealed the outcome with two fours.

Jones beat Frankie Lim (Pukekohe) 40-12. The score was 14-4 at the time they changed locations and Jones’ side continued to dominated proceedings after that.

In the remaining last 16 game, Hill beat Nathan Goodin (Rahotu) 28-15. There was little between the two teams initially, but Hill took the score from 11-all after 13 ends to 25-11 after 19 heads to dominate the contest.

Taranaki’s last hope lies in pairs Taranaki’s last hope of the week rests in the Marbles Restaurant pairs where Tegel work colleagues Daryl Read (Paritutu), the 2023 fours winner, and Corey Brookes (West End), the 2024 fours runner-up, are through to the semifinals.

They meet highly promising Wellington youngster Marshall Kenny and his father from the Silverstream club, Simon.

In the other semifinal, entertainer Tupu Campbell and Matiu Kirk (Opononi) play Kapiti rep Nicky Morgan and his lead Dylan Thomas (Paekakariki). Read and Brookes won a high-quality quarterfinal 20-13 over the Motueka father and son duo of Hank and Max Nalder. Nalder junior is in fact a Melbourne-based pennants player.

In the other quarterfinal games, Kirk and Campbell beat Kevin Saunders and Steve Cottam (Paritutu) 21-10, Thomas and Morgan defeated David Nightingale and Crawford Blair (Glendowie) 20-4, while the Kenny’s edged Tawa’s Mike Steele and Paul Hassall 16-14.

Finals transferred to Paritutu organisers resolved late yesterday afternoon to transfer today’s finals from West End to Paritutu.

That followed yesterday’s decision to transfer the fours inside to Paritutu at approximately 11am.

The pairs, after contending with more persistent rain, followed as rinks became available inside.

“We can understand the frustration of the players, but our original decision to start outside and the resolution to reaffirm that at 10am was based on the belief that the showers were intermittent and the wind was subsiding,” Ian Lewis said.

Soon after, two heavy showers changed the tune and play for the fours was moved inside.

The intention this morning is to play matches on Paritutu A, which is much less exposed to the westerly.

Ordinarily the westerly is not as strong as the conditions that the players encountered yesterday was, especially in the fours which was greatly exposed.

However, if the rain becomes too steady, play will once again be transferred inside.

“The change is no reflection on the high quality of the West End greens. Rather we are endeavouring to give the best conditions to the players.”

* For livestreaming of today’s action, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=CGv_l7B0C5Y

Day 5: Title race wide open as field is reduced to 12

Seven visitors and five Taranaki sides will resolve the 121st Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s Open fours title.

And the field has a wideopen field to it.

The three games of 18 ends yesterday certainly tripped up a few, the agony of a narrow defeat and the “what-might-have-beens” had it been 25 ends.

While everyone was aware of the changes to the conditions of play, the most noted feature was the number of games where the plug was pulled early, including one match after just 10 ends.

Four of the surviving 12 sides are already through to the quarterfinals and they will play those clashes this morning at West End: Adam Blucher (Te Atatu Peninsula) meets Peter Belliss (Aramoho) and Andy Ellis (Te Atatu Peninsula) will play Cary Pinker (Wanganui East).

Those two winners will earn the afternoon off and play the semifinals on Sunday.

The other eight teams still in contention will need to win twice today to make the money rounds.

 In matches this morning, Liam Hill (Onehunga & Districts) meets Nathan Goodin (Rahotu), Evan Jones (Fitzroy) plays Frankie Lim (Pukekohe), Mark Anderson (Tower) squares off with Maurice Symes (Fitzroy) and Bart Robertson (New Plymouth) will tangle with Paul Eaton (Mt Maunganui).

All the successful sides won thrice on the day, except for 16-year-old Hill, who had a bye first thing.

They all had their own recipes and respective delights in advancing. Robertson and Symes, both vastly experienced players, had to call on their composure throughout the day to get through.

Symes has always thrived on post section play and his side is warming nicely after their 19-8 third-round effort against Dean McMurchy (Kamo).

Symes led 10-8 after 12 ends and won the next four heads to sew up the contest.

McMurchy, in the previous round, had scored 15 points in succession between the eighth and 14th ends in beating one of the teams some were picking to win the title, Garry Muriwai (Martinborough), 21-12.

Symes had earlier beaten Jim Cornish (Omarunui) 20-14 in round two, after leading by two shots playing the last, and Chris Waterson (St Johns) 20-14 in the morning, after the scores had been tied after 16 ends.

Robertson oozed class most of the day, with his side winning 21-11 over Pat Walklin (Raglan) in the last round.

Robertson cooly drew second shot on the final end of the middle game to allow his side to sneak past Paddy Deegan (Opunake) 15-14.

There were plenty of other nailbiters, too. Nathan Goodin (Rahotu) dropped a three on the last end of his third-round clash against Ted Walker (Carlton Cornwall).

That forced the game to an extra end, where Goodin’s No 3, Joel Chard, rose to the occasion, drawing off the shot bowl to give Rahotu a 19-18 win in front of a vocal Coastal gallery.

Belliss, after two big wins, also needed a 19th head to prevail 15-14 over cross-city rival, Roger Neilson (Wanganui East).

And it required a bit of Belliss magic with his last bowl, when he came through a narrow gap to dislodge the shot bowl.

It was described as a bowl for all seasons, one that will live in the memory banks, and the Inglewood crowd showed their appreciation.

Belliss’ clash with Blucher promises much, after the latter ended the hopes of Barry Fishburn (Picton) 22-18.

Fishburn led 15-14 after 12 ends and held a few on the head when the rains came.

The green was partly submerged, play was halted and the end declared dead.

On the replay, Blucher took a three and repeated it on the next to take a match-winning break. Pinker also went to the death in his final match of the day, taking a brace on the last head to pip West End’s John Garrud 22-21.

After the successful completion of three rounds yesterday, normality is restored forthwith in the Open. All the remaining games will be of 25 ends and will be held at West End. Should the weather turn sour — and there is a strong chance of this at the time of going to print — then play will be transferred to Paritutu’s Indoor Complex.

Meanwhile, 20 combinations won the necessary three games from four to qualify in the Marbles Restaurant pairs event.

Those teams will also play at West End today, with the field being reduced down over three 21-end games to the semifinalists.

Day 4: Post section underway in Open fours

Three games of 18 ends will be played in The Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s Open fours when post section commences this morning.

That will come as a disappointment to some players, who thrive on the 25 end games. But after weighing up all factors, including the unpromising weather forecast, organisers have resolved that the highest priority is bringing the Open to a successful conclusion.

“There is a huge risk, given the weather, that we may not be able to complete the event if we stick with 25 ends and encounter more wet weather,” Bowls Taranaki Executive Officer Ian Lewis said.

While the demand from players to stick with 25 ends is high, this would result in a Monday morning final even if no more time is lost.

The last Open final held on a Monday was in 2010. Broadcasting arrangements and various team and individual travel plans have also been made, which a Sunday final would satisfy.

If three rounds are completed today at all six greens being used for post section, that will leave 12 teams remaining to play over the weekend.

This being the case, 25 end games will resume. The Paritutu Indoor Complex would also be capable of accommodating the necessary matches should the need arise.

Otherwise, the finals this year will be held at West End. There was some relief at lunchtime yesterday at headquarters when the number of sides that had or could qualify, fell below the 128 mark.

That meant that an eighth post section round would not be required. The two sections playing at Stratford-Avon and Inglewood today having drawn byes but will still play three rounds.

The afternoon round yesterday enjoyed arguably the best weather of the week so far and ultimately 94 sides secured the necessary three wins from the qualifying games to advance to post section today.

The biggest casualty was Logan Amer (Johnsonville), a semifinalist in 2025. His side fell 25-16 to a former Johnsonville member, Pat Walklin, who is skipping a Raglan side this week.

The victory was the third for Walklin.

However, the Johnsonville club will still be represented in post section after three of the five sides from the club made it through.

After a second loss in the morning, Grant Wakefield’s side sailed through 30-19 after lunch; it was the same scenario for both Trevor Ross and Brendon Gibson, their sides prevailing 30-11 and 32-11 respectively.

And another former Johnsonville man, Maurice Symes (Fitzroy), also advanced, after two close matches against local sides.

Despite the reduction in the number of games, there was still frustration and delight as qualification was missed or achieved.

Himatangi Beach junior, Jay Taylor, the nephew of Blake Signal, drove the jack into the ditch on an extra end to win a round five clash 23-22 over Brent Stubbins (Naenae), who had already qualified.

It completed a great transformation for Taylor’s team. They had lost their two games on Monday but won the next three to advance.

Other teams that were also in that category were Liam Hill (Onehunga & Districts), Evan Jones (Fitzroy) and John Petelo (Birkenhead).

There were five teams that won all five and therefore denied their opponents in the last round. Those sides were Nathan Goodin (Rahotu), Dean McMurchy (Kamo), Paddy Deegan (Opunake), Nigel Berry (Hawera Park) and John Garrud (West End). Bowls New Zealand President Piripi Huwyler also qualified.

His Para team beat Eric Ashby (Plimmerton) 26-14 in a match both sides needed to win.

Post section draw for the 121st Taranaki men’s Open fours on January 23 (9am start):

Section 1 – Inglewood: William Rona (Waitara), Adam Blucher (Te Atatu Peninsula), Tony James (Mairangi Bay), Bernard Anderson (Wanganui), Dennis Turner (Lepperton), Phil Corney (Durie Hill), Barry Fishburn (Picton), Kevin Smith (Burnside), Steve Fisher (Royal Oak), John Petelo (Birkenhead), Peter Belliss (Aramoho), Mike Ponder (Eastbourne), Dave Jones (Taupo), Paul Digby (Stratford-Avon), Roger Neilson (Wanganui East), Danny O'Sullivan (Inglewood).

Section 2 – Stratford-Avon: Wayne Gundersen (Rewa), Stacey Thomas (Paekakariki), Wayne Hawkes (West End), Carl Northcott (Miramar), Adam Batty (Levin), Andy Ellis (Te Atatu Peninsula), Tony Gray (Frankton Junction), Brian Cable (North End), Cary Pinker (Wanganui East), Mark Dudley (Hawera Park), Steve Muller (Oakura), Deryck Scott (Omokoroa), John Garrud (West End), Bill Fulton (Henderson), Phillip Morgan (Mount Manganui), David Ball (Carlton Cornwall).

Section 3 – Paritutu B, report 11.30am: Kevin Smith (Hinuera), Liam Hill (Onehunga Districts); 9am start: Neil Earley (Inglewood), Phillip Huwyler (Durie Hill), Andrew Bowden (Parklands), Brendon Gibson (Johnsonville), Bruce Peacock (Okato), Richard Helms (New Plymouth), Ted Walker (Carlton Cornwall), Steve Boyce (Whangamata), Nathan Goodin (Rahotu), Nigel Berry (Hawera Park), Peter Hawken (Tumut), Darren Goodin (Paritutu).

Section 4 – Paritutu A: Gavin Taylor (Himatangi Beach), Graeme Crawford (Pohara), Evan Jones (Fitzroy), Brian Pearce (Stratford-Avon), Brent Stubbins (Naenae), Ian Busby (Tower), David Hewitt (Upper Hutt), Scott Roberts (Tower), Craig De Faria (West End), Frankie Lim (Pukekohe), Barrie Johnstone (Katikati), Daniel Geaney (Blockhouse Bay), Joe Hunn (Kia Toa), Keith Hastings (Miramar), Petar Sain (Carlton Cornwall), Regan Larkin (Fairfield).

Section 5 – West End 2: David Brunton (StratfordAvon), Mark Anderson (Tower), Dean Edge (St Heliers), Trevor Ross (Johnsonville), Michael Crooke (Raumati), Mark Taylor (Matua), Warwick Fredrickson (Feilding), Shae Fleming (Rahotu), Keith Sargent (Fitzroy), Garry Muriwai (Martinborough), John Michael (Waitarere Beach), Dean McMurchy (Kamo), Michael Proffit (Kihikihi), Jim Cornish (Omarunui), Chris Waterson (St Johns), Maurice Symes (Fitzroy).

Section 6 – West End 3: Dan Delany (Royal Oak), Paddy Deegan (Opunake), Grant Wakefield (Johnsonville), Bart Robertson (New Plymouth), Ian Mahoney (Waitarere Beach), Jono Radka (Papanui), Peter Small (Naenae), Pat Walklin (Raglan), Henry Yee (Whitby), Mike O’Leary (Aramoho), Mike Oldfield (Mount Manganui), Leighton Wilding (Silverstream), Paul Eaton (Mount Manganui), Trevor Belk (Takaro), Geoff Bovey (Paekakariki), Keith Wood (Riverhead).

Marbles Open fours-pairs section play draw (8.45am start) today: Section one at West End 1: M Baldwin, K Stevenson, R Farrant, B Bayly, C Gardner, K McGovern, G James, M McArthur, T Campbell, M Kenny, N Morgan, H Andrews, R Knight, J Kishore.

Section two at Oakura: W Place, R Clark, J Campbell, I Davis, B Martelletti, I Little, J Peters, R Brokate, C McLellan, T McGrath, P Pershouse, R Manning, J Dicks, D Read.

Section three at New Plymouth 1: C Blair, D File, P Hassall, F Christian, C Gyde, T Morris, B Currie, M Dempsey, G McLeod, C Hall, S Cottam, F Nicholas, L Gall, S Siffleet.

Section four at New Plymouth 2: W Te Huki, D McLeod, G Evans, H Baloch, M Bayliss, I Morris, T Johns, M Nalder, W Donovan, B Hall, K Hall, T Howell, P Megaw.

Day 3: More qualifiers expected because of unsettled weather

Participants in this year’s Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s Open fours must be worrying what they have done to encounter such a cruel run with the weather.

Day three saw only the third round completed, and in some instances, especially Urenui, that was heavy going. And at Paritutu, too, where two games were concluded indoors.

Then the heavens opened. With organisers still committed to giving all teams the full quota of 25 ends, it means that so far only three of the scheduled six rounds have been played.

If today’s two rounds can be completed, it will mean the qualification criteria is three wins from the five games. But that, based off the forecast, is a big if.

Even more scarily, the forecast for Friday and Saturday looks even worse. Between 90-100 qualifiers are expected.

Even if five games are played this year that will be a record low for section play in the Open.

But as the majority of bowlers agree, you can’t control the uncontrollable.

Of the 182 teams entered, 28 have posted the necessary three wins to qualify for post section.

There are a further 62 teams on two wins, 65 sides have one win, while 27 quartets have yet to register a victory and are out of contention.

Naturally, a number of the more experienced players have already secured three wins, and generally, despite the conditions, most of the games went as expected yesterday.

Two of the more noted teams to lose, after a win and a loss on Monday, were those skipped by Maurice Symes (Fitzroy) and Logan Amer (Johnsonville).

Both teams need to win twice today to qualify. Symes’s side was edged out 21-19 by qualifier David Ball (Carlton Cornwall) on a soaked Urenui green.

Amer’s defeat was 20-15 against Graeme Crawford (Pohara).

Crawford led 13-5 before Amer reduced the deficit to one point.

But last year’s semifinalists didn’t manage to get in front.

In the delayed match of the morning, as promoted in Tuesday’s Open News, Phil Morgan’s Mt Maunganui team took the win 23-21 over Tower’s Mark Anderon.

Anderson had led 19- 14 after 22 ends. But a drawn six to Morgan, followed by a three, gave Morgan’s side a four-shot buffer playing the last end.

Joining Morgan among the qualifiers is Chris Waterson (St Johns), although his side got a fright from Dean File (Fitzroy).

Waterson’s side had look comfortable leading 17-9 after 15 ends. But six ends later File was in front 18- 17.

Three singles to Waterson turned the tide, and with File managing just a single on the last, Waterson took the game 20-19.

Rahotu’s Nathan Goodin also had a few tense moments before his side got win No 3, 24-21, over Stacey Thomas (Paekakariki).

Goodin held handy leads three times during the match and each time Thomas fought back. Just one point separated the teams after 24 heads.

There was another exciting finish on an adjacent rink at Stratford-Avon where Ian Davis (Sunnybrae) got the nod 22-21 over Grant Wakefield (Johnsonville) after the scores had been even playing the last end.

Both sides sit on two wins.

That is the same position as Peter Belliss (Aramoho), who accounted for Rangi Hiroti (Inglewood) 25-18.

Hiroti led 8-0 early and still held a seven-shot lead mid-game, before a five gave Belliss the momentum.

Day 2: Rain affects qualification criteria

Players and administrators were similarly left frustrated as unpredicted rain, which commenced just before 6am, resulted in no play in The Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s Open fours yesterday.

Puddling at some locations was already occurring by 8am, when most bowlers were either arriving at clubs or enroute.

The rain was not necessarily heavy but it was persistent. Players would certainly have been soaked had they been pushed out to play.

It was not too bad at Okato, Oakura and Stratford-Avon, where play would have been possible for most of the day. Urenui, Waitara and Paritutu B were among the worst affected.

But the Open is run as one combined tournament, and ensuring all teams have the same conditions of play is viewed as important.

It has been common over the years that a round on a day has been lost, but this is the first time since 2004, when the opening day was washed out, that a whole day was lost.

The loss of play means that rounds seven and eight will not be played now.

Rounds three and four will be played at the day three venues today.

Rounds five and six will be played at day four venues tomorrow. Games remain at 25 ends.

“That was the key determination in our thinking,” Bowls Taranaki Executive Officer, Ian Lewis, said.

“Bowlers are here for the 25-end game.”

The change means that the new criteria for qualification becomes four wins from six games.

“Yes, that means that we will end up with more qualifiers. We will not know until Thursday night, once section play has concluded, whether six or seven post section rounds will be needed.”

Some participants were asking questions about the implications of more forecasted rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

“The tournament committee will make decisions as the circumstances become known.”

There is no doubt that the Open has held special significance in many families and the history book records fathers and sons who have combined to win the event, such as Ken and John Murtagh (1978), Ross and Grant McKay (1982), Bruce and Craig Johns (1987), Barry and Craig Gush and Ray and Clint Park (2005), John and Dan Delany (2012).

Other families have also tasted success, albeit in different teams, such as the Boultons, the Baldwins, the Spurdles, the Andersons and the Settles.

Two other well-known family names squared off at New Plymouth on Monday — Lambert and Sellars. Mark “Jacque” Lambert, a second-year player leading for Michael Crooks (Raumati), is the son of Open great John, who won the event three times in the halcyon days of the 1980s.

Wayne Sellars, playing for Warwick Fredrickson (Feilding), is the son of Vic, the former NZ rep and Dominion singles and pairs winner.

Wayne in his own right has had a decorated career, including North Island representation, and was runner-up in the 1989 Open. Sellars’ side won the game 27-18.

Day 1: Stratford-Avon teams win nine from 10 matches on opening day

While Stratford-Avon is widely regarded as home to one, if not two, of the best bowling greens in the province, the club had extra reason to celebrate on the opening day of the 121st Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s Open fours yesterday.

The club has five teams competing this year, the most in two decades, and they excelled, with nine victories being secured on the day.

It means that the central Taranaki club has four teams on two wins — the most out of any clubs in the competition.

The unbeaten skips are Kevin Sullivan, David Brunton, Paul Digby and Brian Pearce. Sullivan, pictured, scored two nail-biting 25- 24 victories on Paritutu’s front green.

The first was at the expense of Brain Cable (North End), after the scores had been even playing the last end, and the dose was repeated in the afternoon against Peter Hawken (Tumut).

Hawken had comfortably led the match before Sullivan pulled a four and a five — the latter when the southpaw beautifully drew the jack — to bring his side back into contention.

Hawken still led by two playing the last end, but, after a measure, the scores were drawn, with Sullivan taking the extra end.

Brunton’s side also breathed heavily in both matches, before prevailing. They edged Hank Nalder’s luckless Motueka side 21-19 in the morning.

Brunton led by one playing the last end, but was five down until he called on his years of experience, which has included a NZ Indoor Masters triples title.

Brunton rested onto the shot bowl to take the point. Nalder was again nosed out by two shots in the afternoon, while Brunton got home 24-22 over David Nightingale (Glendowie).

The scores were even playing the last end, and after the head was killed three times, Brunton took the game.

Pearce’s side cruised home in both matches, beating Jeff Blyde (Vogeltown) 23-10 and Auckland Gold Star holder Murray Dickson (Pakuranga) 35-5. Blyde and Dickson both finished with one win each. Digby was equally emphatic on his home green.

Again being untroubled with the dual supervisor and umpire duties, Digby’s side won 25-11 over Wayne Place (Reporoa) and 31-5 over Wayne Parker (Bay View). Rex Dyason’s side certainly didn’t disgrace themselves either, finishing with a win and a loss.

They opened 25-22 over Daniel Geaney (Blockhouse Bay) before they lost 26-17 to Wellington Gold Star holder Grant Wakefield (Johnsonville).

Wakefield and Nathan Goodin (Rahotu) emerged as the only two unbeaten sides from what looms as a cut-throat third section.

Goodin’s clubmate, Shae Fleming, also won twice, to leave Rahotu with a 100% record.