They were both playing in the world champion of champions singles in Warilla in New South Wales.
Grantham was representing New Zealand for the first time and Chinery was competing for Canada.
Grantham (39), an Auckland aircraft welder, beat Willie James (Swaziland) 16-3, 6-6 to win the final.
Chinery helped Grantham understand how all the charts worked.
It was a game played in sets and was different from what Grantham had been used to in New Zealand.
"You get a point for every set win," he said.
His brother, John, went from Adelaide to Warilla to watch the bowls.
"I thought I'd be alone over there but I had a few people supporting me," he said.
Making the World Bowls team has been the pinnacle of Grantham's career.
"All the hard work has paid off," he said.
"My partner, Leanne, and friends have given me a lot of help. They have helped me to believe in myself and know that I have the ability to be there."
Chinery has been an inspiration.
"She makes sure I am in the right head space," Grantham said.
"It's not all about bowls. It's about our own personal life as well.
"Leanne has been training on the green and going to the gym with me.
We have been very close to each other."
They do not talk too much about bowls at home.
"That's our own personal space. We would rather talk about ourselves and our future than talk about bowls."
Grantham has not found it difficult adjusting to the greens in Adelaide where this year's World Bowls will be held.
"They can get up to 18 seconds, which is the speed of most Auckland greens," he said.
"The grass gets its hard green crisp leaf on it and can be tricky to play on.
"But I think I've adjusted well to it."
The highlight of Grantham's bowls career was wining the world champion of champion's singles.
'My goal was just to make the top four," he said. "I just took it one game at a time."
Grantham won his first New Zealand title in the singles in Dunedin in 2007.
He replaced Black Cap Gary Lawson, who was forced to withdraw when his wife's health took a turn for the worst.
Grantham played with Rowan Brassey in the pairs and also replaced Lawson in the singles.
"Playing with Rowan helped me to believe in myself," he said.
It was a difficult year to win the title because Malaysia had sent a team over to get used to New Zealand conditions before World Bowls in Christchurch the following year.
Grantham idolised Brassey from his first day in bowls and took two days' sick leave to mark his games when he played in the Masters singles at the Bayswater Bowling Club.
"Over the years I have watched him, played with him and he's taught me a lot about the game," Grantham said.
Grantham won the Speight's Invitation singles at North East Valley last year.
"I'm preparing for World Bowls and am fit and happy," he said.
"This is biggest singles tournament in New Zealand in my eyes.
"You don't get invited to play unless you've done something outstanding."
Now that Brassey is domiciled in Australia, Grantham's mentor is former international Danny O'Connor.
"He's keeping my head screwed on and making sure I'm doing things right." Grantham said.
Grantham praised the Bowls New Zealand High Performance plan and the help he has received from sports psychologist John Quinn and fitness guru Matt Ingram.
Tony Grantham
At a glance
Age: 39.
Occupation: Aircraft welder at Air NZ.
Home: Auckland.
Partner: Leanne Chinery.
Club: Birkenhead Bowling Club.
Bowls record
New Zealand: NZ singles champion (2007), NZ open fours champion (2007), triples (2010).
International: World champion of champions gold medal (2007); Asia and Pacific fours, silver (2011); Six Nations fours, gold (2012).
