Maree Mortimer and Andrew Ransom won a deciding tie-break thriller to claim the Illawarra District Mixed Pairs crown at Figtree Sports.
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The Figtree duo beat Wiseman Park's Gail Schultz and Shane Pascoe on an extra end tie-break in the final to qualify as Illawarra's representative at the 2020 State Championships, rescheduled to February 2021.
Nineteen Mixed Pairs teams from across the region competed through three rounds plus quarter-finals, semis and final in a marathon nine-hour day at Figtree.
The event featured teams from eight clubs with host club Figtree contributing nine sides.
Mortimer and Ransom - who was a late call-up as a sub - played six matches were one of three teams to make the quarter-finals as sectional runners-up.
The Figtree pairing reversed a loss to Julie and Steve Breasley in their pool with a 2-0 win in the quarter-finals, then defeated Vicki and Brian Bott on an extra end semi-final.
With Mortimer leading the way the home club combination completed a great day with a tense tie-break win in the decider.
Ransom won the State Rookies Men's Pairs in 2014, while for Mortimer the triumph was her biggest success in eight years of bowls.
"I'm really looking forward to the state champs," she said.
"I haven't been able to play a lot, but I've joined both the men's and women's clubs at Figtree in order to play more."
The District Mixed Pairs was open to all men and women bowlers with the format being best-of-three, five-end sets, with a one end tie-break if locked at a set each.
Mortimer and Ransom now take on the other Mixed Pairs champions from across the state in the Women's Bowls State Championships at Club Malua, next February.
The 2020 State Championships were originally scheduled for this month but were postponed due to COVID-19 shutting down bowls completely from mid-March to July.
The championships were then pushed back to October 6-15 at South Tamworth BC, but a when all District and rep bowls was called off for six weeks from August 19 it led to further changes in the Women's Bowls NSW program.
Club Malua on the NSW South Coast is rapt to host the prestigious event following a dreadful 2020 which began with members coming to terms with the club being burned down in the bushfires in late December.
The State Championships feature the District/Association champions from across the state in Singles, Open and Senior Pairs, Triples, Open and Senior Fours and Mixed Pairs.
Illawarra will want a strong performance following a comparatively lean run in 2019 against many of the best bowlers in NSW.
The State Titles always feature a host of NSW and Australian reps.
Singles title on the line at Fairy Meadow
There's no shortage of contenders for the Fairy Meadow Major Singles crown after members battled through near gale force winds in the opening round last weekend.
Thirty-one members nominated for the club's most prestigious annual championship with second round matches to be completed this Sunday and the final set down for September 27.
Fairy Meadow are one of Zone 16's battling clubs with more than 120 mens and womens bowlers and three men's pennant teams in Grades 2, 6 and 7.
Among the opening round winners were Rob Kerr, Steve McPherson, and Mark Hasley, while Kerry Charleston beat Bob Keat 31-30 in the standout match.
Les Smith also advanced with a 31-21 win over Keith Kelton, while former Socceroo Scott Chipperfield beat Les Prior 31-21 in tough conditions for all bowlers.
Fairy Meadow Grade 2 pennant bowler Daniel Nanasi had a forfeit win and is a contender for his club title after claiming three upset wins to qualify for the Zone 16 Open Singles quarter-finals.
Nanasi's father Wayne is also into the second round after beating Drew Stacey 31-15.
The Fairy Meadow Major Singles is scheduled over five weekends with the semis on September 20 and final on September 27.
Zone 16 can publicise their club championship results by emailing Mike Driscoll at mikedriscoll@hotmail.com with their details.
Major changes to events program
Bowls NSW has released its proposed calendar for 2021 including the controversial move to postpone the 2020 State Championships until next February and March due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
With the latest NSW Government guidelines restricting Zone events until at least September 30, a new proposed deadline of December 1 has been declared for all 16 zones to complete their 2020 Zone Championships and Champion of Champion Singles and Pairs.
Bowls NSW is asking clubs for written feedback over the proposed changes, specifically the Conditions of Play pertaining to 2021.
Zones within NSW are running out of time to complete their 2020 Championships and it is clear there's no real window to play the State Championships this year.
One view is the 2020 State Championships should be cancelled, while others believe it must go ahead in 2021 - even in February and March - as it represents the pinnacle for club bowlers to chase a state crown.
The Bowls NSW calendar also lists the 2021 State Pennant Finals for end of September 2021, which may not suit all zones.
The 2021 State Championships are listed for late August next year.