The four skipped by Margaret Coutts lost both matches at the national women’s bowls tournament in Wellington yesterday. But they didn’t mind.
The losses meant Coutts and her team of Janette Smith, Toni Ress and Joan Bailey can not qualify for post-section play in the Bell Tea event.
But Coutts and her team are winning just by taking part. They are the team from the New Zealand Deaf Society. Coutts talks a little but the other three rely exclusively on sign language.
This is their fourth national tournament, and they enjoy it, Coutts said.
“All the team is enjoying it. It helps to gain knowledge to equal any hearing bowlers.”
Is bowls a hard game for the deaf? “No, most of them play at their own local clubs and they can win,” Coutts said.
Her team was unlucky to lose 17-18 to Anne Smith (Thorndon) in the fourth round yesterday, dropping a four on the penultimate end. It won one match on Monday, but its three losses mean it can not meet the qualifying standard of four wins from six games.
It is a widespread quartet. Coutts is from Sumner in Christchurch, Smith and Ress from Levin and Bailey, 24 years a bowler, from Palmerston North.
Many of the leading teams have already won their four games to qualify.
Wellington Women’s Judy Howat was not one of those. It beat Phyl Geaney (Rocky Nook) on an extra end for its third successive win but dropped a one and a three on the last two ends to lose 18-20 to Nancy Fulford (Otaki Central). Howat should still qualify today, however.
Those who won the necessary four by yesterday include the barrage of powerful Matamata teams, skipped by Jean Simpson, Thelma Kidd, Dale Clements and Rhoda Ryan.
They were joined by Joyce Osborne (Maniwatu), Catherine Bond (Omaranui), Jenny Willis (Kapiti), Alethea Spriggs (Riccarton Women’s), Vera Bindon (Rocky Nook), Denise Page (Linwood) and Barbara Kunicich (Bayswater).
Several Wellington teams joined those safe bet-winners, such as those skipped by Tangiora (Taita), Shirley Fowler (Tawa), Gwen Mouat (Central), Edna Rait (Porirua Hospital) and Jackie Nunns (Lower Hutt Women’s).
Photo caption (beneath image): Deaf bowler Toni Ress in jubilant mood during a match yesterday.
