Canada, U.S. tied at continental Challenge
Vancouver, B.C. | September 30th, 2016
With the pairs and triples competition complete Team Canada and Team USA are all tied up going into the second half of the North American Challenge.
The greens were running a speedy 16 seconds at the Pacific Indoor Bowls Club today.
On the Women’s side, strong play for the triples teams. The score did not reflect the quality of bowls for Canada Folkins team, Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong (Winnpeg, MB), Baylee van Steijn (Gores Landing, ON) and Jaymee Sidel (Victoria, BC). In the last end of one game, Canada Folkins were lying two for the win with one American bowl left. US Folkins skip, Margi Rambo, played an outstanding shot to move the jack out of the head and towards three US bowls to take the game. Fitzpatrick-Wong’s play provided strong leadership for youngsters van Steijn and Sidel.
“Shirley’s play here is exactly where she needs to be for the upcoming World Bowls Championships,” said Manager Jean Roney. “Her play here on the faster surface definitely bodes well for New Zealand”.
Jordan Kos (Regina, SK) and Pricilla Westlake (Delta, BC) competing as Women’s pairs Folkins, played accurately and confidently throughout the competition. Despite their young age, Kos and Westlake, displayed calm and focus in a come from behind win.
For the Women’s triples Jarvis team, Jenny Siu (Burnaby, BC), Nicole LeBlanc (Uxbridge, ON) and Joanna Cooper (Calgary, AB) came out of the first half of competition with one win and two losses. “I am playing second in the fours, and I feel good going into it,’ said Nicole Leblanc. “It will be a fresh start and I will put any bad bowls in the past.”
On the men’s side, strong front end play by Men’s Folkins Triples team of Rob Law (Winnipeg, MB), Pat Bird (Calgary, AB) and Darryl Fitzgerald (Kitchener, ON). It is critical in two bowl triples, to have a strong front end and Law delivered throughout the competition. Team chemistry has been excellent with Bird’s leadership and Fitzgerald’s steady play as skip. The team implemented a strategy of playing “t” to “t”, which they worked on during training camp and just kept getting better and better through out the day.
“I’m feeling optimistic going into the fours,” said Law, Team Canada Folkins. “I’m playing lead as well heading into fours, so it will not be much of an adjustment for me.”
Men’s Jarvis team of Steve and Adam McKerihen, came out strong in their second game. After 16 ends, they were down 12-14 before picking up four in the 17 end to be two heading home. Lying two for the win, after Adam’s bowls, U.S. skip Charlie Herbert (U.S. Folkins) drove the jack back into the ditch to lie one. With McKerihen’s accurate spacing of his bowls he made the shot next to impossible leaving Canada lying two for the win.
“Steve McKerihen made great shots under pressure. This is exactly what we are going to need at World Bowls and McKerihen is showing us he is ready,” said Don Caswell, Men’s Team Manager.
In the Men’s (Jarvis) Triples team, Steven Santana (North Vancouver, BC), Kody Olthof (Delhi, ON) and Lucas Caldwell (Peterborough, ON) came down to the wire in their first match. Team USA (Jarvis) was up three coming home and Olthof trailed the jack to the ditch to sit two. The skip of Team USA, on his last bowl drew the ditch to lie one. Santana’s last bowl pushed the American’s bowl to trickle into the ditch, which lead Team USA to the victory 14-15 over Team Canada.
Going into the second half of the competition, it now switches over to singles and fours.
| Women’s Team | |
|---|---|
|
Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong |
Joanna Cooper |
|
Jordan Kos |
Nicole LeBlanc |
|
Jaymee Sidel |
Sue Roth – substitute – Jean Roney |
|
Baylee Van Steijn |
Jenny Siu |
|
Pricilla Westlake |
Stirling Wood |
|
Men’s Team |
|
|
Pat Bird |
Lucas Caldwell |
|
Darryl Fitzgerald |
Adam McKerihen |
|
Owen Kirby |
Steve McKerihen |
|
Rob Law |
Kody Olthof |
|
Chris Stadnyk |
Steven Santana |
For the full results and more information on the North American Challenge please visit: https://bowlscanada.com/en/hp/nac.html.
For more information, please contact:
Katie Gardner, Communications and Promotions Manager, Bowls Canada Boulingrin
[email protected]
About Bowls Canada Boulingrin
Bowls Canada Boulingrin (BCB) is the governing body responsible for lawn bowls in Canada. The BCB mission is to advance the sport of bowls in Canada. For more details on Bowls Canada Boulingrin and the sport of lawn bowls, visit www.bowlscanada.com.
