1999 Central West Ladies Cup placegetters: Bathurst's Liz Gray scored a great win in the inaugural Central West Ladies Cup at the Orange Tenpin Bowl last Sunday.
After an epic battle with Orange pair June Reil and Melanie Brown during the eight game qualifying section, Gray grabbed top spot in the stepladder final and beat Reil 216-186 to claim the trophy, a bowling shirt and first place prizemoney of $200.
The handicap section went to Orange's Debbie Seers who triumphed over Carolyn Cox 215-196 in the final match.
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It was a three-way war between Liz Gray, June Reil and Melanie Brown in the qualifying round, with the lead swapping on a number of occasions. Gray scraped into top place by just seven pins, overhauling Reil in the final game.
Brown was just a single pin further back in third place while there was a big gap to fourth placed Dianne Gee who edged Toni Brastings by eight pins for the last stepladder position. Brastings started brilliantly 811/4 but couldn't capitalise on that over the last four games, a disappointing 645/4.
There was another large gap back to Tennille Smith who finished sixth ahead of Leanne Everett, Sharon Trudgett and Belinda Irwin.
In the first stepladder game, Dianne Gee beat Melanie Brown 209-199 in a good game. Gee led all the way after an opening double while a triple from the sixth frame set up the win. To her credit Brown fought all the way and could have won with a double in the tenth frame. She got the first but missed the second.
Dianne Gee started well against June Reil but a couple of missed spares proved costly as Reil stayed clean and added a late turkey to seal a comfortable 199-156 victory.
That set up a clash with top seed Liz Gray and it as another top game. Reil started with a double but Gray did even better with strikes in the first three frames. She was always around the pocket after that, never getting less than a nine count, which made for easy spares.
Reil missed a couple of spares, which ended her bid for the title, and despite striking out in the tenth fell short 186-216.
In the handicap division Debbie Seers was top qualifier ahead of Carolyn Cox, Toni Brastings, Bernadette Turner and Brigitte Eden.
Game one of the playoffs saw Bernadette Turner crush her opponent, getting the start but not needing it, winning the match 220-178 (with handicap).
Carolyn Cox had the handicap advantage in the next game and proved too strong, winning 228-197.
Debbie Seers was consistent in the decider, stringing together seven spares before a strike in frame nine which sealed a 215-196 victory.
High games during the tournament from the top trio were Liz Gray 201-200-202-213, June Reil 204-207-212-202 and Melanie Brown 212-237.
Other good games included Dianne Gee 217, Toni Brastings 202-203-233, Tennille Smith 202-200, Leanne Everett 224-202, Sharon Trudgett 214, Belinda Irwin 231-216, Debbie Seers 217, Rebecca Belmonte 209, Marie Rosser 201, Alison Lyons 201, Cathy Zajaz 201 and Sharon Clark 204.
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Just when you think it can't get any better, the scoring at the Orange Tenpin Bowl just keeps improving.
There was a mountain of 600 series rolled during the week plus a couple of 700 efforts and numerous other high games.
Leading the charge was deaf champion David Hayward who is well and truly back at his best, firing a magnificent 732 series in the always high-scoring Friday Triples league.
Hayward unleashed games of 237-246-249 for his 732 trio and just managed to pip Jason Belmonte who shot 720 after games of 235-251-234 and increased his average to 210.
Mark Lijic continued his incredible run, lifting his average to an unbelievable 222 with games of 237-240-211 for a 688 block.
Aldo Belmonte made it over 600 with a 256 game and 621 series while other notable efforts were turned in by Rebecca Belmonte 209, Gwen Britt 201, Ross Caltabiano 202, Maree Caltabiano 234, Chris Collins 216, Les Gunner 233 and Warren Handel 202.
Also making their presence felt were Tim Irwin 215-201, Henry Phillips 222-207, Tony Richards 214, Marilyn Schwenke 213-203 and Tennille Smith 201.
After a top opening night, David Rosser continued to impress in round two of the newly reformed Monday Scratch Singles, belting out a fine 1295/6 series with games of 212-234-216 (672/3), capped off with a later 255.
Jason Belmonte shot 1206/6 after posting games of 215-217-223 while Mark Lijic shot a solid middle block of 267-214 (661/3) but struggled apart from that.
Other good games were bowled by Jason Brown 253-238-202 (856/4), Les Gunner 205, June Reil 203, Mick Moorby 200-207, Wally Price 237 (633/3), Mario Mastronardi 200 and Bindi Irwin 201.
John Rapley started poorly but came home well, tossing 203-216-259 (678) in his last three games. Rapley did just as well in the Friday 10am league, recording a 673 series with games of 258-204-211. Carl Bishop shot 220 in that league.
Clare Hodgson shot a 221 in the Monday Mixed Singles while Trevor Rowney and Frank McGovern both rolled a 210 game.
David Brit bowled a 201 in the Golden Oldies league on Monday while Marilyn Schwenke fired 213 in the Monday 10am Triples. In the 6:30 league later that night John Marks shot a 222 and Michael Marks fired a 203.
Wally Price had a big night in the Wednesday Doubles, shooting 222-258-214 for a 694 series. After an inexplicable first game (three single pin misses and two splits), Ian Hazzard recovered with 245-203 (607/3) while Marilyn Schwenke shot 214 and Glenn Robinson 205.
In the following 7:30 league there were a number of good games including personal best efforts from Tony Glanville 228, Bernadette Turner 205 and Marian Mabee 214. Others included Ray Davis 221, John Rapley 212-221, Bruce Clements 206211 (609/3), Tony Knudsen 201 and Pat Tilston 212.
Peter Smee did well in the Friday 6pm league with games of 200-222.
Turning to Sunday, high games in the Singles were bowled by Bob Waddell 239-200, Chris Fuller 202, Trevor Auliff 210-202 and Steve Halls 201. In the Doubles Jonathan Thatcher shot 226-213 ahead of Mick Moorby 203 and Bob Waddell 217 while in the Sabbath league John Rapley shot a nice 255 and Debbie Dean 202.
David Rosser rolled 205-227 in the Wednesday 10am league while Jonathan Thatcher shot 210.
In the final round of the Tuesday Ladies Singles high games came from Melanie Brown 224 and Bindi Irwin 232. Brown finished as league champion ahead of Marilyn Schwenke and Dianne Gee and also grabbed the high average award with a 183 mark. Brown's 923/4 series was also best for the league while a 277 game from Rhearne Trudgett was best.
Personal best games this week were bowled by Judy Parson 195, Todd O'Neil 107, Wade Cunich 139, Jason Blackburn 173, Cheryl Green 166, Brittany Butler 111 and Jack Deblanken 111.
They're starting young these days. Two year old Lachlan McCawley bowled an 89 game in the Wednesday Juniors while three year old Zeair McCawley rolled a 102 game.
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A cosmic tenpin bowling fun night will be held on Saturday 14 August to help raise funds for Sally Hart to attend a major poetry award ceremony in the United States.
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The fifth round of the Country Challenge series will be bowled in Mudgee this weekend. Representing Orange will be:
Men
Ken Wiseman, Henry Phillips, David Rosser, Wally Price, Chris Collins, Alan Collins
Women
Gwen Britt, Judy Streatfeild, Bonnea Wiseman, Dianne Gee, Lyn Handel, Marilyn Schwenke.
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