Australian Open 2021

Nine Sorrento players made the trek to Gold Coast for the 2021 Australian Open which started on 12th June. Run over two weeks, our players were part of sectional play for singles, pairs and fours during week one, with knockouts to finals and Over 60s pairs in the second week.

The event has a carnival atmosphere, spread over various bowling clubs in the area, with Jackeroos and Club players alike chatting and sharing their love of bowls. Competitive games played with great sportsmanship is the norm and the West Aussie contingent support each other. It’s a good time to make new friends and catch up with old, share a drink and meal after the day’s play, and relax in holiday mode with beautiful weather.

For our men, Shane Rixom and Peter Flack both won their singles section but were defeated in their first knockout round. Shane and Peter with Rick Munt and Sean Niven won their fours section and first knockout, going down in the next round. Shane and Sean combined in the pairs, making it through sectional and two knockout rounds to the final 32 – a great effort!

In the women’s events several of our ladies drew each other! Coral Smith and Jan Power-Tuke played off in their singles section with Coral taking the honours. Jan and her composite team then drew Wendy Flack’s composite team in the fours sectional and came away with a solid win. In a tough singles section, Pauline Bourne won two of her games (including one against a current Australian rep), going down in the other game to a former Australian rep by just one shot, narrowly missing out on winning her section. Wendy and her teammate made it through to the final 32 in the open pairs, going down 15-13 on the final end.

In the Over 60s pairs starting Tuesday 22nd Lee Leach and Coral Smith won their section to progress to the knockouts on Wednesday 23rd. Good luck ladies!

Photo: Irene Arndt (Safety Bay), Coral Smith, Lee Leach and Pauline Bourne enjoying dinner out in Broadbeach