2020/21 champions: Steve Appleton and Bob Gillian
Championship sponsored by Dynamic Carpet & Tile Cleaning
A VINTAGE performance from Steve Appleton and Bob Gillian gave the Merriwa stalwarts their first pairs championship success in emphatic style in a high quality game against Lindsay Marsh, the only previous winner of this title, and Kevin Adams. So dominant were Steve and Bob that their opponents won only four of the first 17 ends by which time the final was well and truly decided. Three winning ends were merely a consolation prize as the players shook hands after 20 ends with the score 20-10. Steve produced his A drawing game to give Bob the perfect platform to complete the job when the need arose. It was a welcome confidence booster for Bob, who has been struggling to find his top form this season. The early stages suggested a close encounter but from 5-5 on eight ends, Steve and Bob stormed into an unassailable 20-6 lead. Steve will be bidding to make it two titles in five days when he teams up with Fay Stanley, Gayle Harding and Lionel Peacock in the mixed fours final. Plate: Colin Tremlett/Bill Kell beat Len Paterson/Barry Whinfield 19-18. THREE players who have never won this title will contest the final alongside a Merriwa legend, whose name appears seven times on the honours board in this competition alone. Former singles champions, Steve Appleton and Bob Gillian, just got the better of Ronnie Futter and defending champion Graeme Winter. Going into the final end ahead 18-17, Steve and Bob, who were behind for much of the game, ended on a high with a count of five for a 23-17 success. Three ends earlier another five took them into the lead for the first time since the ninth end. Seven-times champion Lindsay Marsh showed all his class to spearhead a convincing 20-10 win along with skip Kevin Adams over Owen Thysse and Brian Barron. Owen and Brian won just six ends as they were thoroughly outclassed by top quality opponents. Plate: Colin Tremlett/Bill Kell beat Karl Schuller/Alex La Corte 23-7; Len Paterson/Barry Whinfield w/o. OWEN THYSSE and Brian Barron emerged from two close encounters to clinch a place in the semi finals. Their delayed alignment round game against Len Paterson and Barry Whinfield was washed out on Sunday and with Owen, having already booked Wednesday off work, the tie had to be played in the morning. Both sides held a four-shot advantage but by the 14th end the scores were locked at 13-13. Owen and Brian, playing together for the third straight season, edged the closing stages to win 17-14. In the afternoon, after an hour's break, they faced last season's beaten finalists, Brian Wilkins and Steve Szonyi. Again the scores were tied at 13-13 (15 ends) before a strong finale saw Owen and Broan prevail, 20-13. Graeme Winter, who took the title last season with John O'Brien, scored another emphatic victory with new partner, Ronnie Futter. With Mitch Brown waiting for a hip replacement, Ian Edgar teamed up with newcomer Keith Oellerman but conceded after 16 ends with the score on 21-9. Colin Tremlett and Bill Kell, both former Merriwa players and now back after joining from Wanneroo, put up a great show agaist two former singles champions, Steve Appleton and Bob Gillian. From 2-8 Colin and Bill took a 9-8 lead on ten ends but were never ahead again as Steve and Bob closed out a 17-13 success. Lindsay Marsh and Kevin Adams had too much firepower for Hans Fiege and Bill Nicoll. The game was played out to the bitter end with Lindsay and Kevin cruising to a 21-6 victory.

DEFENDING champion Graeme Winter, minus his former partner John O'Brien, made an impressive start to the defensive of his title thanks to a sparkling performance from new sidekick, Ronnie Futter.
Facing the experienced pair of Clive de Ridder and Morrie Slot, they stormed out of the blocks and never took their foot off the pedal as they translated an 18-2 opening burst (ten ends) into an emphatic 28-11 victory.
The other Alignment round matches were closer than might have been expected. Former singles champion Ian Edgar, partnered Keith Oellerman - filling in for Mitch Brown who has a hip problem - and they scraped home (19-17) against Alex La Corte and Karl Schuller. A four on the penultimate end took Alex and Karl to within a shot before a single on the last clinched victory for Ian and Keith.
Brian Wilkins, who lost his 100 Up crown to Brian Wright, came up against him again and took his revenge... but only just. In parinership with Sergio Sananbria, Brian Wright was 14-10 ahead (14 ends) before three successive doubles gave Brian Wilkins and Steve Szonyi a 16-15 win.