Daniels key to defence
The two Daniels French and Sinclair - are expected to play a key role in Otago's defence of the Paterson trophy in Dunedin at the weekend.
The winner of the zone six competition between Otago (Dunedin), South Canterbury, North Otago, South Otago, Central Otago and Southland will contest the national Welch Trophy at Christchurch on September 3 and 4.
French, the holder of 19 Otago indoor bowls titles, won the New Zealand champion of champion's singles in 2014 and is the best Otago indoor bowler.
Sinclair has shown good early season form and won his sixth centre title in the Otago fours.
The promising Jonty Horwell, a reserve last year, will make his Paterson Trophy debut.
He has proved his mettle at national level over the past two years by winning the junior singles title in 2014 and the national secondary schools singles last year.
Horwell won five of his six games in the Jolly quadrangular intercentre event at Oamaru last month.
He reached the quarter-finals of the regional junior pairs at Timaru with Kaikorai club mate Mitchell Scott last weekend.
Southland strong
A strong Southland team that includes New Zealand representative Gary Low and 2013 national junior champion of champions singles winner Trevor Burgess will test Otago.
Central Otago should not be underestimated, because its team includes Cromwell's John Leyser, Ev Bisset, Gloria and Kevin Hurley who won the zone six mixed fours at Alexandra to qualify for the national final.
The South Otago team includes South Island representatives Kathryn Edgar and Robert Wilson and South Island champion Stephen Preddy.
Trophy time
The Paterson Trophy was first held in 1964 and zone six has been dominated by Otago and Southland. South Otago won in 1978 and 1979.
Since 1989 the indoor bowls districts in New Zealand have been divided into six zones and the winner of each zone contests the Welch Trophy.
The Welch Trophy was first held in 1952, when it was won by Wellington.
Otago's first win was in 1970, when it beat Bay of Plenty at Wellington.
The team was John Williamson, Hori Miller, Stan Purdie, Beau Heather, Kevin Darling, Florence Brook and Molly Kaglund.
Otago also won the trophy in 1990, 1999, 2001 and 2003.
Cromwell in final
Two weeks ago, the Cromwell team qualified for the national final of the mixed fours.
Williamson was a member of the only other Central Otago team to qualify for the national final.
The combined mixed fours team of Williamson and John Greenbank from Clyde and Manuherikia's Mata Wood and Diana McGregor won the zone six event at Clinton in 1990.
On that occasion they drew with South Otago 6-all, beat Southland 12-8 and Otago 15-9.
Williamson represented the South Island in 1983 and 1987 and had a New Zealand trial in 1990.
He represented Central Otago in the national final of the Henseltite singles in 1981.
Begg wins No30
Centre president Mat Begg won his 30th Central Otago title when he beat Colin Robson 13-4 in the singles final last Saturday.
It was the first championship event of the season.
In the semifinals Robson beat Dave Moreton 11-8 and Begg beat Theresa Gallagher 11- 8
South Otago pair help out
South Otago bowlers Stephen Preddy and Kathryn Edgar were in the Ashburton fours team that finished runner-up at the National Indoor Bowls Championships at Mount Maunganui last month.
They were beaten 11-7 in the final by Nelson's Lloyd Bellis, Kath Arvidson, Rhonda Bellis and Debbie Warren.
Lloyd Bellis won his first fours title in 1988 and the singles in 1964.
Robert Wilson reached the last 16 in the singles.
Former Otago bowler Grant l'Ami retained the pair's title with Tauranga team mate Mike Phipps.
It was the 12th national title for l'Ami and the tenth for Phipps.
South Otago trio picked
Three South Otago bowlers, Robert Wilson (men's triples), Kathryn Edgar (women's triples) and Alanna Preddy (women's fours), were selected in the South Island team to play the North Island in
Christchurch on August 13.
Otago bowlers in the team are Ann Cottrel (women's triples) and Daniel French (men's fours).
Marilyn Holmes is a reserve.
Daniel Cook (Hillend) won the singles at the junior regional tournament at Timaru last Sunday while the South Otago pair's combination of Anna McCaughan and Lily Paterson won the plate.
Paretai final
It was an all-Paretai final in the South Otago combined senior and junior pairs with Alanna Preddy and Emma McCaughan beating Tony Cook and Anna McCaughan 13 5.
Doug Grant (Glenledi) beat his nephew Peter Grant (Glenledi) 16-4 in the final of the Henselite singles last weekend. Gail and Lance Ibbotson (Katea) won the over 60s pairs.
Howard in final four
Mike Howard reached the last four in the singles and was the best-performed Oamaru bowler at the Clubs NZ Indoor Bowls tournament at Christchurch last month.
There were 240 entries.
In the triples, Bede Mallon, Andy Blakeley and Graham Larcombe reached the last eight, and in the fours Bede Mallon, Russell Aimers, Andy Blakeley and John Brice reached the last 16.
Howard has won 22 North Otago titles and finished third equal in New Zealand champion of champions singles in 2014.
In the Jenkins Triples Trophy tournament Scott Guyton, Carol Read and Keith Creighton (Meadowbank) beat Lynne Porter, Daphne Campbell and Barbara McErlane (St Pat's) 11-3.
Dunedin claims shield
Otago (Dunedin) convincingly won the Jolly Shield at the annual quadrangular tournament at Oamaru last month, with 80 points, and was followed by North Otago 49, South Otago 46 and Central Otago 38.
There were six games and the unbeaten Otago bowlers were James Horton, Daniel Sinclair and Mike Harte.
Otago also won the Briscoe Plate in its game against South Otago.
Mike Cox (Prince Albert) and John Edington (Brockville) won the Otago senior pairs title from Barry Cadogan and Bob Cowan (Momona). Jonty Horwell (Kaikorai) won the junior singles with club mate Sean Hall runner-up.
Otago to fore
Otago bowlers dominated the physically disabled section of the Australian open outdoor championships on the Gold Coast last month.
Carolyn Crawford (St Clair) beat Pam Walker (Taieri) 21-12 in the final.
The annual event is the world's biggest bowls festival, with a prize purse of $A250,000 ($NZ267,000) over all events.
Crawford received the winner's cheque for $A1000 and Walker the runner-up prize of $A500.
Crawford and her partner Ann Muir (Northland) both received $NZ1200 for winning the New Zealand pairs title at Dunedin in 2014.
Ten Otago bowlers competed at the championships. Barbara Walker (Fairfield) lost to Australian international Karen Murphy 21-11 in section play.
But she had the satisfaction of taking a four off Murphy on one end.
The honours
Indoor bowls
30 centre titles: Matthew Begg (Central Otago).
NZ championships: Stephen Preddy and Kathryn Edgar (South Otago) runner-up in fours.
South Island team: Robert Wilson, Kathryn Edgar, Alanna Preddy (South Otago), Ann Cottrel, Daniel French (Otago).
Paterson Trophy teams
Otago (Dunedin): Daniel French, David Webb, Daniel Sinclair, Brandon Williams, John Williams, Nic Sinclair, Jonty Horwell , Kristen Gould. Reserve, Craig Cowan.
South Otago: Kathryn Edgar, Doug Grant, Eileen Grant, Marilyn Paterson, Alanna Preddy, Stephen Preddy, Chris Moffitt, Robert Wilson. Reserve, Barry Gray.
Central Otago: John Leyser, Colin Robson, Evelyn Bisset, Gloria Hurley, Mathew Begg, Kevin Hurley, Carol Sanford, Ricki Yorston. Reserve: Neville May.
North Otago: Mike Howard, Andrew Robb, Wally Strachan, Norman Robertson, Scott Guyton, Bede Mallon, Andy Blakeley, Graham Larcombe. Reserve Gordon Robb.
