2023/24 champion: Ellaine Jopling
WHAT promised to be an absorbing final ended in bitter disappoint for players and spectators alike as Soly Batka, bidding to add the Merriwa singles title to the four she won at Joondalup, reluctantly retired after ten ends as the extreme temperature took its toll to hand the championship to Ellaine Jopling, who would not have wanted to win it in such unfortunate circumstances.
Ellaine, herself drenched in sweat after a curtailed final that lasted just ten ends, was leading 14-2 and well on the way to her second title, showing once again that when Marilyn Bradbury is not in the field, she is the player to beat.
Ellaine alluded to that in her gracious speech at the post-match presentation with Marilyn among the audience with her right arm in a sling.
Later, Spanish-born Soly, looking a lot more comfortable after a shower and change of clothes, had the consolation prize of being named as the club's most successful second in the website pennant awards that preceded the championship presentations.
The prize was presented by vice president Julia Barron, her pennant skip and semi final conquest!
SOLY BATKA, four times singles champion at Joondalup, now has the chance to add the Merriwa title to her list of credits, after a devastating semi final display against Julia Barron.
In just 13 ends, Soly won 18-5 against the twice-beaten finalist Julia, who lost both times to Marilyn Bradbury.
With Marilyn out of the competition with a recurring shoulder injury, Soly will meet Ellaine Jopling, the last woman to win the title in Marilyn's previous absence in 2020, in the final.
Ellaine also looked to be romping to victory when she led 15-5 against pennant team-mate Lyn Sibson. But Lyn hit back with four straight ends to reduce the deficit to 15-12 before Ellaine regained her composure to get home 18-14.By her own admission, Julia was totally outplayed by Soly, especially going away from the clubhouse. While Soly was at ease handling the Easterly wind, Julia failed to get to grips with it.Having won the mixed fours, ladies pairs and fours this season, Julia only needs the singles to complete her Merriwa cv.With Marilyn missing, several players would have had a great chance to take the title but only eight entered - some dropping out because there was already eight on the board. That is disappointing especially when 12 ladies will soon be battling for the Division Two Flag and yet only six of that championship-winning squad entered.Some admit they cannot handle games on Tuesday and Wednesday and moves are afoot to alter the timing of championships - men and women - next season to take advantage of quieter times in the bowling calendar.
THE late withdrawal of seven-times champion Marilyn Bradbury has left a disappointing field - down to four after the first round - with a golden opportunity to get their name on the Honours Board, including Ellaine Jopling, winner in 2020 in Marilyn's absence, and last season's beaten finalist Julia Barron.Julia almost missed the opening round, having thought the competiton started on March 6. A telephone call from men's captain Len Paterson alerted Julia to her error and she arrived a few minutes late, slightly flustered, to fulfill her game against Tina Hay.The confusion did not appear to affect her game as she built up a 14-6 lead on ten but then Tina hit a purple patch - four of the next five ends - to narrow the gap to a single shot before Julia took the final three ends for an 18-14 victory.Ellaine was on the verge of going out to Maggie Edgar, who was just two short of the required 18 shots with a commanding lead of 16-8 on 17 ends. Undeterred, Ellaine showed admirable resilience to win the next five ends, including a four on the 21st which took her into the lead for the first time since the third end, and completed the comeback a few minutes later for an 18-16 victory.Soly Batka will face pennant team mate Julia, after an 18-11 win over former champion Ann Walsh. Soly took a grip on the game with a count of four on the ninth end to go ahead 10-7 and three ends later had consolidated her position with five more shots.Lyn Sibson, already with the mixed pairs championship under her belt, was in a tough contest with Dee Winsor for 13 ends, having a slender 9-7 advantage. But a four broke Dee's resistance with Lyn going on to win 18-9.Lyn and Ellaine know each other's game well as they form the back-end pairing in the pennant squad that has won this season's Division Two Blue title.
THE late withdrawal of seven-times champion Marilyn Bradbury has left a disappointing field - down to four after the first round - with a golden opportunity to get their name on the Honours Board, including Ellaine Jopling, winner in 2020 in Marilyn's absence, and last season's beaten finalist Julia Barron.Julia almost missed the opening round, having thought the competiton started on March 6. A telephone call from men's captain Len Paterson alerted Julia to her error and she arrived a few minutes late, slightly flustered, to fulfill her game against Tina Hay.The confusion did not appear to affect her game as she built up a 14-6 lead on ten but then Tina hit a purple patch - four of the next five ends - to narrow the gap to a single shot before Julia took the final three ends for an 18-14 victory.Ellaine was on the verge of going out to Maggie Edgar, who was just two short of the required 18 shots with a commanding lead of 16-8 on 17 ends. Undeterred, Ellaine showed admirable resilience to win the next five ends, including a four on the 21st which took her into the lead for the first time since the third end, and completed the comeback a few minutes later for an 18-16 victory.Soly Batka will face pennant team mate Julia, after an 18-11 win over former champion Ann Walsh. Soly took a grip on the game with a count of four on the ninth end to go ahead 10-7 and three ends later had consolidated her position with five more shots.Lyn Sibson, already with the mixed pairs championship under her belt, was in a tough contest with Dee Winsor for 13 ends, having a slender 9-7 advantage. But a four broke Dee's resistance with Lyn going on to win 18-9.Lyn and Ellaine know each other's game well as they form the back-end pairing in the pennant squad that has won this season's Division Two Blue title.