2023-24 STATE SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT
The Bowls NSW State Championships’ Men’s and Women’s State Singles events concluded on Sunday, March 24th at Club Dubbo.
Saturday’s schedule featured three rounds to determine the semi-finalists. The strongest competitors emerged from the sectional play as winners with many close games.
State Women’s Singles
In the first semi-final clash, Dawn Hayman of St Johns Park faced off against Taren Point’s Louise Cronan. With an early lead, Dawn maintained a commanding position to secure a convincing victory with a scoreline of 25 – 4, cementing her spot in the final.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final encounter between Sherilee Stewart of West Tamworth and Sarah Boddington from Forster was a close game with the score too close to call for the majority. After a late surge Sarah pulled ahead to claim her spot in the final with a score of 25-20.
Dawn Hayman of St Johns Park was crowned State Champion. After a nail-biting start to the game at the mid-way point Dawn pulled ahead to maintain the lead to win with a final score of 25-11. This is Dawn’s fourth tile of the championships winning in the Mixed Pairs, Women’s Pairs and Women’s Triples competitions.
On the finals Dawn said,
“I am very happy with the way I played, Sarah played really well I just kicked away at the end.”
Of her overall performance during the championships Dawn said,
“I said to my partner before Mixed Pairs, if we win only this one I will be happy, but winning four titles is an unbelievable achievement.
If someone said to me at the start, you will win all four I would have told them you are joking! I am just so happy I have done it!”
Sarah can be proud of her performance in the State Championships winning through her singles section undefeated to make it to the finals. Sarah also qualified for the State Women’s Triples but did not make it to the Semi-finals, and was a quarter-finalist in the State Mixed Pairs with Clinton Doust, missing out to the eventual winners, Dawn Hayman and Thomas Webb by only one shot.
State Men’s Singles
In the first Semi-final Ray Pearse of Taren Point faced off against Jay Breust from Malua Bay in a tightly contested semi-final. Jay however emerged victorious with a final score of 25-18
Meanwhile, in the second Semi-final, Wyong’s Mark Wheatley faced off against Haydn Bojkowski from East Maitland. Despite a close start, Mark pulled away to maintain the lead and head into the final with a finishing score of 25 -15.
In the Final Jay Breust staged an impressive comeback to win in the final against Mark Wheatley and to secure the Men’s State Singles Championship title.
With the scores tied for the majority of the first half, it was anyone’s game, Mark pulled ahead to take the lead, but Jay fought back to tie the scores 24 all.
In a nail-biting last end Jay claimed the final with a score of 25 -24.
On the final Jay said,
“The game was unbelievable, just knowing I had to step up my game to catch up made it the most nerve-wracking, hand-shaking game I have played.”
“Mark was an incredible opponent, and one of the best draw bowlers I have ever played against.”
Senior and Reserve Singles Finals
Tomorrow will see the conclusion of the Senior and Reserve Singles Finals at Club Dubbo.
Kicking off at 9:30 am Men’s Senior final Warren Shipley (Soldiers Point) v Rob Warren (Towradgi Park) the Women’s Senior Singles Final Wendy Clarke (Ballina) v Vicki Turner (Warilla) and the Reserve Singles Final Steve Smith (Cabramatta) v Maelene Reynolds (Northmead).
Fours
Fours Section play will commence tomorrow with round one starting at 1 pm across all three event locations Club Dubbo, Macquarie Club and North Dubbo RSL Sporties.
Singles Finals
State Women’s Pairs
Dawn Hayman (St Johns Park) Winner
Sarah Boddington (Forster) Runner Up
State Men’s Pairs
Jay Breust (Malua Bay) Winner
Mark Wheatley (Wyong) Runner Up
