Alanna Preddy’s indoor bowls reached new heights when she skipped the South Island women’s triples team to an inter-island medal at Rotorua on Saturday.
Preddy (23) played a dominant role when the South Island team that included Carolyn Cooper (South Canterbury) and Marilyn Holmes (Otago) beat the North Island 23-13, 13-16, 25-15.
The triples was one of the three South Island disciplines to gain winners’ medals at the 37th annual inter-island "test" match.
It has been a notable year for Preddy, who earlier in the season became the youngest South Otago bowler to win five centre titles and her gold star.
Daniel Sinclair was the other Otago bowler to win an inter-island medal.
He was in the men’s triples team with Michael Lawson (Ashburton) and Brian Hotton (Southland) that drew with the North Island 23-11, 18-19, 16-16 and won on the countback of ends.
The other South Island medal went to men’s singles player Mike King (Canterbury), who beat Avon Compton (North Wellington) 20-18, 17-16, 12-16.
But these efforts were not enough and the North Island continued its dominance over the South Island when it won the competition 32-16 for the 14th consecutive year.
The South Island team won eight matches on its week-long North Island tour. Its only other loss was to Upper Hutt Valley 23-25. The South Island beat North Wellington and Horowhenua combined 30-18, Hutt Valley 26-22, Wairarapa-Bush Ruahine 29-19, Wanganui 35-13, Manawatu 31-17, Hawkes Bay 25-23, Poverty Bay-East Coast 31-17, and Bay of Plenty 29-19.
South Island inter-island
Medals
Men’s singles: Mike King (Canterbury).
Women’s triples: Alanna Preddy (South Otago), Marilyn Holmes (Otago), Carolyn Cooper (South Canterbury).
Men’s triples: Michael Lawson (Ashburton), Brian Hotton (Southland), Daniel Sinclair (Otago).
