Rotorua pair combine to make indoor history | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua's Pat Ashton and Fae Fenneman made history at the weekend when they became the first all female combination to win the Owhata Indoor Bowling Club's Christmas Pairs tournament.

The Rotorua Bowling Club pair defeated Roy and Linda McCurdy from the St Andrews Club, Hamilton, in a three-end play off 3-1 at the Sportsdrome on Sunday.

Three teams emerged from the pairs tournament unbeaten with six wins each. Ashton drew the bye and in the semifinal McCurdy defeated clubmates Barry Chapman and Caroline Thompson 3-2 to advance to the final against Ashton.



Another play off was required to find the other third placing from two teams with five wins and adraw. This saw Joseph and Marge Taare from the Westbrook Club beat Richard Caddy and Kenny Benfell, Rotorua Citizens Club, 4-1.

In section play Ashton defeated Alison Littlejohn, Tatuanui Club 9-6, Tim Jones, Owairaka Parish 16-3, Alan Ellis, St John's Papatoetoe 7-6, EJ, Waihi Beach 8-6, Glenis Cohen, Tatuanui Club, 8-7 and Margaret Plane, Gordonton 6-3.



Meanwhile, on Saturday the Ngongotaha club's fours were won by Alan Ellis, George Paice, Carol Ellis and Sue Paice from the St John's Club. This combination, except for Sue Paice, also won last year. All of the placegetters in the fours were from visiting teams.

Two teams were unbeaten with five wins and Ellis defeated Gavin Stringer, John Steer, Dianne Sargent and Yvonne Langman from Hamilton City 2-1 in the play off to secure the victory.

Trevor Coleman, Bruce Hudson, George Tuck and David Tuck, Hamilton City, recorded four wins and a draw to secure third place. In the play off for the other third place between Noel Gray, Rotorua, and Barry Chapman, St Andrews, Hamilton, who had each recorded four wins, Chapman won 4-1.