Young talent goes on show today at Kittyhawk 2000

Sheldon Bagrie-Howley
Sheldon Bagrie-Howley
Sheldon Bagrie-Howley and Elliot Mason will defend the Kittyhawk Bowls 2000 when play in the optional mixed pairs tournament gets under way today at the Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium.

The youthful pairing head a competitive field that has once again drawn several top bowlers under 30 from throughout Otago and Southland.

Bagrie-Howley (24) teamed up with Mason (25) to win the event last year. He defeated Mason’s twin brother, Oliver, and lead Leo Brett in the final.

There is no doubting the defending champions’ pedigree and form. Elliot won the PBA’s Scottish Open singles last month, while Bagrie-Howley will attend a New Zealand training camp next week.

However, it will be interesting to see how the rising talent of Cooper Stumbles (Forbury Park) progresses. He is paired with promising Central Otago bowler Jamie Nolan (Omakau).

Strong family partnerships will also be a feature of the tournament — sisters Alika and Tarryn Croot and the brother and sister combination of Bayley and Selby Marsden should be to the fore.

Elliot Mason
Elliot Mason
Also entered are brothers Cam and Mitch Cook (Brighton), who were runners-ups in the Dunedin champion of champion pairs earlier this year. Mitch will also be returning to defend the individual draw shootout title he won last year.

Another returning to defend an individual title is Cole Scammell (Tapanui), who will be looking to hold on to the driving shootout title. Scammell will be contesting the pairs title with Forbury Park’s Bradley Torrance.

Other partnerships to keep on the radar are Riversdale’s Alex Cross and Invercargill PBA champion Kerry Heffer, and the North East Valley Club pairing of Keanu Darby and Brooke Craik.

Play gets under way at 12.30pm. Graded finals are scheduled for 7.45pm tonight.

In the event of a tie in any game, an extra end will be played — and boundaries will not be included in the countback.

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