Women’s State Championships – Day 10 Wrap

by Billy Johnson

Redemption for Port City as they claim Open Fours Title

It has been a whirlwind few days for Port City’s Kylie Hardy. Two days ago, she and pairs partner Carol White played in a hard-fought final, ultimately going down to Sam Ferguson and Anne Johns from Engadine. While obviously thrilled to have made it so far, losing a State Championship final can sometimes be a bitter pill to swallow. Fast-forward two days, and Hardy was again featuring in a State Championship final, this time in the Open Fours with Jeanice Schiemer, Sonny Willis and Karen McFarlane.

Facing Adaminaby, themselves runners-up in the State Triples Championship, there was a guaranteed story of redemption for one of these teams. With the way Hardy and her team played in the afternoon, they wanted to make sure that it was their story of redemption. From the outset, they were on song in all positions, playing an aggressive but calculated game. Adaminaby did well to keep pace for most of the game, but Port City were just too consistent on the day, running out 26 – 14 winners.

Kylie Hardy can now walk away from Tamworth with a State Championship to go with her runner-up finish, an incredible result. For Adaminaby, a second runner-up finish in the State Championships is an amazing achievement for which they should be incredibly proud. The small Snowy Mountains club has proved that anyone on their day can be good enough to make it through to a State Championship final. Time will tell if they can convert their next appearance into a State title!

Superb St Johns Park Seal Senior Fours Title

St Johns Park are the Women’s State Senior Fours Champions, beating Ballina in a quality final 19 – 13. Ballina, who overcame 2020 champions Warilla, Tuncurry Beach and Double Bay to qualify for the final, jumped out to an early lead against St Johns Park by a couple of shots. Both teams played magnificently, but the pivotal moment came in the 12th end with Ballina leading 10 – 7. Skip Beth Quinlan asked Suzanne Brooker to sit out a shot bowl or trail the jack into the pit. She nailed the jack into the ditch, sitting only a foot away from it. Not content with holding one, St Johns Park drew beautifully to pick up a pivotal 6 and take a 13 – 10 lead. From there, they held their nerve, and a Ballina fightback, to win the State title.

A special mention must go to Beth Quinlan, who now has her first Senior State Championship to add to her collection of 10 Open State championships (one Singles, one Pairs, four Triples and four Fours titles). Winning a State Championship is an incredible achievement, so to win 11 is a feat that very few will ever achieve.

Congratulations to St Johns Park, Ballina and all the teams who competed in what has been an outstanding Women’s Senior Fours State Championship.

Click here to view the event results.