The golden run of national PBA pair's champions Helen Carman and Mario Sopp ended in section play of the World Bowls Tour's World Indoor Championships at the Potter's Leisure Resort in Norfolk, England, at the weekend.
The Dunedin pair rocketed up the PBA rankings last year when they won the Dunedin regional section and then qualified for the World Bowls Tour event when they won the national title in Hastings.
They continued their unbeaten run when they won the first of two qualifying games against Israel's Beverley Polantinski and Boaz Marcus 7-5, but faltered in the second game 6-9 to come away with a draw, only then to be eliminated by pool favourites Derek Smith and Ian McClure (Ireland) 3-14, 5-7. The Irish pair went on to qualify and win the pool, but were knocked out of contention by the Australian pairing of Dave Rankin and Kyle McIlroy.
But despite fortunes fading for Carman and Sopp, Dunedin still maintained a close link to the world championship crown through Rankin, who began his Professional Bowls Association career with the Dunedin branch, before leaving the city to co-ordinate the PBA in Western Australia.
While the tournament is over for Sopp, all was not lost with Carman, who was one of three nominations for Best Overseas Qualifying Performance of the Year, at the awards evening held after the final.
Although this honour was bestowed on Dan Lemesseurier, from the United States, Carman was thrilled with the recognition.
Carman will return to world champion action at Potter's Leisure Resort this weekend when she will contest the world mixed pairs title with the world's sixth ranked player, Nick Brett (England).
The match will be streamed live on the Worldbowlstour Youtube channel.
