National Grant's Corner to Corner Bowls Champion is crowned!

MEDIA RELEASE

11 April 2011

National Grant's Corner to Corner Bowls Champion is crowned!

Charlie Hughes from Plimmerton took home the title of Grant's Corner to Corner Bowls winner for Plimmerton Bowling Club at the national final in Auckland on April 8.

Hosted at Pakuranga Bowling Club, 13 finalists from six regions battled it out on the green to become the 2011 national Grant's Corner to Corner Champion.

Held for the second year in a row, the Grant's Corner to Corner Bowls Tournament has quickly gained a reputation as one of standout competitions within the bowling community. Since the inaugural tournament last year, the number of participating bowling clubs has grown from 100 to 151 proving that competition in the lead up to the final has been fierce.

The grand final saw tough competition from the talented participants but it was Charlie that took the title and won $3,000 for Plimmerton Bowling Club.

Charlie says "This has been a great experience and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I've had so much fun getting up to this point so it's great to have the support of Grant's who are helping to promote the game in New Zealand. My club is really thrilled and will be putting the prize money to good use."

Michael Morton, (LNNZ) Global Spirits Marketing Manager says, "It's fantastic to see the Grant's Corner to Corner grow from strength to strength in just its second year and continue to enjoy overwhelming support from the participating clubs and players.

"We'd like to congratulate Charlie and Plimmerton Bowling Club - his fantastic sportsmanship and attitude has really stood out throughout the tournament. We'd also like to thank all the bowlers and clubs who have been involved and made this year such a success.

"We're so pleased to offer the Grant's Corner to Corner competition as a bit of fun and watch it becoming a firm fixture in the bowls competition calendar. We can't wait to see everyone back on the green next year!"

A number of celebrities including Jared Turner, Leighton Cardno, Ban Barrington and Emmett Couling Skilton from popular television shows Almighty Johnsons and Go Girls played a fun celebrity match with Paul Ellis winning $2,000 for his nominated charity New Zealand AID's Foundation.

As opposed to normal bowls games which are played end to end on a bowling green, Corner to Corner is played diagonally across the entire green from one corner to the opposite corner and uses no jack. The objective is to play the bowl as close to the corner of the green as possible.

Most Kiwi bowlers will understand 'corner to corner' play as an informal game that allows players to wind down from the more serious play and have some fun.

Thirteen regional finalists (detailed below) from North and South Auckland, Bay of Plenty/Waikato, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin took part in round robin matches held over the last three months. This identified them as their club winner and gave them the opportunity to compete in the ultimate Grant's Corner to Corner bowls match.

Final Placings

1. Charlie Hughes - Plimmerton Bowling Club 2. Adam Harding - Papatoetoe Hunters Bowling Club 3. Reg Cook - Whakatane Bowling Club

The other national finalists were:

North Auckland

Pierre Dreloud - Russell Bowling Club

Peter Schultz - Whangarei Bowling Club

South Auckland

Robbie Finn - Avondale Bowling Club

Bay of Plenty/Waikato

Doug O'Brien - Frankton Railway Bowling Club

Wellington

Lisa White - Naenae Bowling Club

Christchurch

Brian Barker - Christchurch Bowling Club

Pat Mussen - Parklands Bowling Club

Dunedin

Nigel Birkbeck - Wakari Club

Paul Nicholls - St Kilda Club

Wild Card

Wayne Ford - Pakuranga Bowling Club

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