2023-24 Mixed Pairs State Championships Report
The Mixed Pairs State Championships concluded on Monday, 18th March as Thomas Webb and Dawn Hayman from St. Johns Park were crowned Mixed Pairs State Champions beating Shelby Powell and Haydn Bojkowski (Raymond Terrace / East Maitland) in the final at Club Dubbo.
After two days of sectional play, only the top teams from each group progressed to the quarter-finals meaning all teams had to be on form to top their groups. Australian Jackaroo, Dawn Hayman and her partner Thomas Webb knocked reigning champions, Anne Johns and Mason Lewis’ chances of retaining their title by topping the section.
The quarter-finals were thrilling, with three games ending in close scores of 16-15 keeping spectators engaged right up until the end.
In the semi-finals Leisa Burton and Mick Beesley (Soldiers Point) faced Shelby Powell and Haydn Bojkowski (Raymond Terrace / East Maitland) while Thomas Webb and Dawn Hayman (St Johns Park) competed against Leanne Chenoweth and Andrew Rees (Kurri Kurri).
In the first semi-final, Powell and Bojkowski clinched a 19-12 win over Burton and Beesley. The Soldiers Point pair started strong leading 7-4 after five ends. However, Powell and Bojkowski staged a comeback to tie the score after seven ends. The teams were once again level after ten ends, but Powell and Bojkowski surged ahead after that, maintaining their lead until the final end.
In the other semi-final, Webb and Hayman emerged victorious with a score of 20-10 against Chenoweth and Rees. The teams started evenly matched, with the score tied after the fifth end. However, after the sixth end, Webb and Hayman doubled their score by securing four shots, making it 8-4. Although Chenoweth and Rees narrowed the gap to just two shots, Webb and Hayman secured their win, scoring in the final ends to finish 20-10.
In the final, Webb and Hayman had a strong victory over Powell and Bojkowski, winning 19-12. The teams were tied at seven shots after seven ends, and they drew level again after nine ends. However, Webb and Hayman regained their momentum to take the lead and build a significant advantage. Despite the efforts of their opponents, Webb and Hayman we able to maintain their edge until the end.
Winning the State Championship title meant a lot to Hayman, especially with her partner Webb, both on and off the green, Hayman said:
“A State Championship, it doesn’t matter which one, but it’s always pretty good to win one. It’s the first time Thomas and I have played in a State Championships together so to go all the way and win it is really special with your partner.”
Speaking about the final, Hayman said:
“It was a little bit different to when we played the semi-final this morning, I think the rain had actually quickened the green, so we were just struggling to find the line and the weight at the start but once we settled in we got some close bowls and we came good from there.”
Reflecting on their performance in the competition, Hayman commented:
To be honest it’s been quite up and down, we played a quarter-final match yesterday where we thought we were never really in it, and we just got home in the end. Today I thought we played okay, and once we got our groove, it might have taken half a game or whatever but it’s kind of the backend of the game that really mattered and I thought we played that really well, it’s been tough.”
Hayman says her victory today gives her confidence going forward as she switches her focus to the triples, pairs and singles competitions.
“It’s good to get your first one out of the way and have a win, it gives you a bit of confidence going into the rest of the week, so I look forward to kicking it off this afternoon with the girls in the triples.” said Hayman.
Attention now switches to the Triples competition where the opening round of the five categories takes place at Club Dubbo and Macquaire Club at 3.30pm.
Colleen Minehan, Leanne Chinery & Kate Walker (Taren Point) versus Melissa Allen, Dorothy Dewson & Kay Dewson (Wee Waa) will be livestreamed on the Bowls NSW Facebook and Youtube channel from 3.30pm today.
The competition continues on Tuesday 19th March with round two of the Triples at 9:30am.
Michael Phillips, Beau Prideaux & Carl Healey (Cabramatta) versus Tom Rich, Heath Lewis & Jack McShane (Merrylands) will be livestreamed on the Bowls NSW Facebook and Youtube channel from 9:30am.
At 1pm, Brianna Smith, Sam Ferguson & Dawn Hayman (St Johns Park) versus Colleen Starr, Joan Thomas & Sarah Boddington (Forster) will also be livestreamed on the Bowls NSW Facebook and Youtube channel.
Click here to view the full event results
