Mattara

• 2009 Mattara Raffle Results.pdf

 49th MATTARA CARNIVAL
10th to 21st AUGUST, 2009

Officials & spectators prepare for the Mattara Official Opening at the new Charlestown BC.

 

Ian Gardner (Charlestown Club President) delivers the
Golden Bowl at the Mattara Official Opening Ceremony.
 

 

The 12 day Carnival this year catered for 1130 entries, a very pleasing increase of 50 from last year, in the various categories of Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours.  The Les Parrott Memorial Open Singles was won for the second consecutive year by former Australian Representative Sam Laguzza (Swansea). Laguzza proved too strong for Mark Gauntlett (Mayfield West) in the Final winning 25/14 after only leading 4/3 after 6 ends.  The victory was Laguzza’s fourth open Singles title, as he previously enjoyed success in 1998, 2001 and 2008.  Both finalists recorded convincing semi-final victories, with Laguzza defeating promising young Lambton bowler Ryan Steel 25/13 and Gauntlett downed Dennis Ashbridge (Tea Gardens) 25/18 after trailing 18/16 after 21 ends.

Bob Hall (Wangi) created history by winning Wangi’s inaugural Mattara Restricted Singles Title.  Hall beat the host clubs Andy McFadden (Warners Bay) 25/19 in a keenly contested final.  McFadden hit the front for the first & only time when he scored a 4 on the 15^th end to lead 12/9.  Hall then scored a 4, followed a 1,3,2,1 & 1 to establish a match winning 21/12 advantage.  A 3 on the 27^th end sealed victory for Hall.  In the semi-finals McFadden proved too consistent for Terry Dunning (Tomago) winning 25/14 and Hall downed Tony Ross (Boolaroo) by the same scoreline.

The Stockton trio of Dick Hadley, Brian Hitchcock and Rick Clark enjoyed the honour of winning the Clubs first Frank Neat Memorial Classic K.O. Club nominated Mens Triples Title.  It was sweet revenge for last year, when they were runners-up.  They lead all the way in the Final to convincingly beat the Traditional Carnival s host club combination of Ron Routledge, Ian Gardner & Chris Evans (Charlestown) 24/12 after only having a 5/3 advantage after 5 ends.  In the Semi-Finals Clark’s team scored 6 shots on the last two ends to edge out Simon Perring, Ian Karuso & Kim Jaques (Toronto Workers) 21/20.  The second semi-final was just as close with Evans prevailing 15/14 over the powerful Alder Park trio of David King, David Evans & Martin Ball.

Defending Fours Champions Wayne Smith (Lambton), John Parkinson (Tea Gardens), Jason Pietraszek (Soldiers Point) and Andrew Smith (Lambton) created history by becoming the first quartet to win three successive Mattara Fours Titles.  They proved too strong over the later stages of the Final to defeat John Harvey, Mark Gauntlett, Wayne Hughson & Michael Beesley (Mayfield West) 22/9, after only leading 13/9 with 5 ends to play.  In the semi-finals Smith’s team downed the East Maitland quartet of Ben Trainor, Rod Smith, Neville Ellison and Mark Evans 26/14.  Beesley had a tougher match accounting for Mark Casey, John McCormack, Zen Hyndko & David Evans (Hamilton North) 18/9. 

Ben Trainor & Tim Twining (East Maitland) combined brilliantly in the Men’s Pairs Final to beat Bryan Morton & Stephen Sobolewski (Warners Bay) 28/11.  Both teams recorded convincing semi-final victories, with Twining defeating the Mayfield West duo of Daniel Hill & Shane Kelly 22/10 & Sobolewski leading throughout to down Darryl Mitchell & Garry Williams (Edgeworth) 22/8.

The Mixed Pairs Final was an amazing game of bowls, with the husband & wife duo of Ros & Neville Downes (Soldiers Point) surviving some anxious early moments to defeat Gail Parker & Peter Ball (Charlestown) 30/7.  They trailed 5/1 after 4 ends, but then won the next 8 ends to lead 15/5 after 12 ends & then gradually increased the winning margin. The semi-finals were contrasting affairs with Downes recording a comfortable 21/9 win over Nancy & David Childs (Valentine).  Ball won a tight second semi-final 17/15 over the experienced Raymond Terrace combination of Noreen Sneddon & Gerald Markey.

Congratulations are extended to the officials of Warners Bay (Singles) and Charlestown (Traditional Carnival) for the outstanding manner in which they hosted the 49^th Mattara Carnival.