Novice Champions crowned for 2023

Tamara Arnold (Yanchep)

The Yanchep Bowling Club is still celebrating as Tamara Arnold became the club’s first ever winner of the Novice Champion of Champions Singles event held at Morley. In an enthralling final, Arnold struck early to establish a handy lead, and in the race to 21, with the score at 18-10, it seemed over. Arnold's opponent Mary Thomas from Mount Pleasant then put together three ends on the trot to close within four shots and put the pressure on. It was Arnold that steadied from there however taking the title 21-14.

Semi-finalists were Helen Lamb (Manning), eliminated by Arnold 21-14, while Thomas ended Sue Edwards’ (Ellenbrook) run 21-15.

Tony Perrella (Roleystone)

With Yanchep taking the Women’s title, it was perhaps fitting that the Men’s Novice Champion of Champions Singles title went to the other side of town – Roleystone. Tony Perrella produced the goods to defeat Thornlie’s Harrison Mayers 21-17.

The final was an interesting affair with Perrella storming out to an 11-0 lead before Mayers knew what had happened.

Mayers then settled however and amazingly, a few ends later it was a 15-14 lead to Mayers.

From there, a tense finish saw Perrella home, albeit a little closer in margin than he would’ve liked. Semi-finalists were Cockburn’s Jason Kop who went down to Perrella in another close one 21-19, and Scarborough’s David Tunnicliffe, eliminated by Mayers 21-12.

Women , s 100up Singles

Two in a row for Lisa Featherby

The Women’s 100up was an all Mosman Park final with last season’s winner Lisa Featherby lining up against the ever-reliable Kerry Andersen.

The first semi-final was also all Mosman Park with Andersen up against Wendy Stower. Andersen, a previous winner of this event in 2009 and current State Singles runner-up, didn’t have it her own way in this match. Stower pushed the match all the way before Andersen finally prevailed 100-98.

The second semi-final saw Lisa Featherby taking on Shaan Saunders (Osborne Park). The two state teammates pushed each other before Featherby was able to prevail in another close semi-final 100-89, making her way to her second consecutive final.

Featherby and Andersen know each other’s game extremely well with Featherby prepared to play a little bit of weight occasionally while Andersen is happy to just keep drawing close and take a majority of the points on offer.

Featherby took a slight lead early 35-25 but it didn’t last long as the scores came back together. 70-70 and then 80-80 – it was anyone’s game on the way to 100. With five bowls within a foot on the last end, showing the standard of the game on offer, it was Featherby who came out on top 103-97 to win the 2023 Women’s 100up singles title and make it two in a row.