Former internationals Maurice Symes (Christchurch) and Mike Kernaghan (Kaikorai) showed they still have what it takes when they won the Stewart Buttar Invitation Pairs on Sunday.
The pairs event honours the memory of former international Buttar whose promising career was cut short when he died of cancer early this century. Symes and Kernaghan beat the Fairfield pair of Ken Walker and Ross Thomson 12-7 in the 15-end final of the Australian pairs at the Burnside club in Christchurch.
Australian pairs is a fours game played by two players.
It was a high quality field that included some of the top Australians who won gold medals at World Bowls in Adelaide last year.
It was the first time Symes and Kernaghan had played together since they represented New Zealand in 1992. Walker and Thomson have played together in the event for the past three years and have finished second, third and seventh.
• New Zealand Professional Bowls Association qualifier Phil Bennett (Waikato) caused a major upset when he knocked out defending world indoor champion Andy Thomson (England) in the first round of the World Indoor Singles in Norfolk, England 8-8, 8-3.
Dunedin's Aidan Lusby has drawn Thomson in next month's UK International open singles in Blackpool.
