Former winners Sandra Keith and Lesley Dabinett have made it through pool play unbeaten and shape as strong contenders in the North East Valley women’s classic pairs.
They may face some stiff competition from Dunedin pair Judy Robertson and Lyn Rance, who also posted four wins from four games on the opening day yesterday.
But that potential showdown will have to wait. Keith and Dabinett will need to get past Bronwyn Stevens and Gail Page in the quarterfinals today, while Robertson and Rance will met Ann Curtis (Nelson) and Dale Bourke (Dunedin).
The other quarterfinals will pit former two-time winner Christine Buchanan and Hilda Bennett against Jan Hall and Shona Morrison, with Janet Swallow and Angie Francis pitted against Sarah Scott and Viv Forrester.
Keith, who is from Canterbury, won the first three titles and Dabinett was in the winning team last year. She produced a toucher on the last end of the final which proved decisive in the victory.
The pair gelled nicely together and perhaps shape as the favourites. But the Dunedin pair of Robertson and Rance played very well too.
Most of the leading players got through pool play, although former New Zealand representative Lisa White and her lead Jenni Heazlewood could only manage two wins, while Canadian representative Joanna Cooper and her partner Kerry Williams were unable to recover from a disappointing start and missed out as well.
The tournament was forced indoors to the Dunedin Bowls Stadium due to heavy rain in the city yesterday.
Organiser Jim Scott said the greens at the North East Stadium were too wet to stage the event, so it will remain at the stadium. The final is scheduled for 12.30pm.
