Bowlers to stake claim at mixed doubles ten-pin tournament

MONDAY, 12 January saw the start of the new ten-pin bowling season for 2015.

We welcome back the majority of bowlers from 2014 and especially glad to extend a welcome to some who had either not bowled for a few years or totally new to Dolphin Bowl.

We look forward to intense competition in all league matches this season.

On Monday, Taxi Trios kicked off the season and it looked as if some of the bowlers had used the opportunity of 'cheap' practise games for club members to keep their eyes and hands in during the closed season. High games recorded were a fine 254 by youngster Theolin Govender, closely followed by another youngster Dylan van Berkel on 238. At the other end of the youth scale, Ron McClatchie surprised all, including himself, with a 231 game. Stephan Sleigh weighed in with 236. For the women, only veteran Julie Foley was able to crack the 200 barrier with a fine 209.

The second week however saw a return to normal with none of the men performing well enough to warrant mention while only Suki Studzinski and Lorraine Brazier kept the women's flag flying with 209 and 205 respectively.

Other leagues seemed to follow similar patterns with few scores worthy of mention, the writer hopes that this is just due to aching bones and everyone getting familiar with the lanes once again.

Dolphin doubles league saw the new team of Pierre du Plooy with his partner Stacey-Lee Hooper trying to set an example by bowling a 232 game but lacked support from the rest of the league, no women cracked the 200 barrier. In the second week it was as if bowlers had seen the light with Vish Studzinski and Bronwen Elbourne going head-to-head in the second game on adjacent lanes, Vish however blinked first and finished up on a 264 while Bronwen carried on and ended up on 268 (a new lane record) to rapturous applause from the other, lesser bowlers.

Juniors sees newcomer Ryan Hattingh (+68) in first, placed from another newcomer Saigi Guy (+30) in second. New juniors are welcome to just rock up on Friday afternoon between 5pm and 5.30pm. Coaching and supervision are provided by the club and it is a fun way to get exercise and socialise with other juniors in our area.

Phantom league sees Santa Els on 457 in the lead from Warren Sturgeon, 448.

Bowler-of-the-month currently sees Vish and Bronwen sharing the men’s and women's scratch records while Theolin and Sue Conlan hold the handicap records with 279 and 257 respectively.

Staff league; It is very rewarding to see how the staff members bowling have improved since they started out in this league, many have progressed to join the other leagues where they are performing extremely well. Currently Pierre is in the lead followed by Zander Kumst and Sammy Nel in third.

This weekend sees the start of the KZN criteria tournaments with mixed doubles being bowled on Sunday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm. The public is welcome to watch the cream of KZN bowlers staking a claim towards being selected to represent the province in this year’s inter-provincial.