Tony Grantham wins BNZ National Champ of Champ Singles

Former national singles champion Tony Grantham has stamped his class once again, joining recalled Blackjack Kirsten Edwards to take out the inaugural Bowls New Zealand National Champion of Champion Singles, in the men’s and women’s fields respectively.

The event, which saw the provincial champions from each centre converge on the Naenae indoor complex in Lower Hutt over the weekend, marks the final stage of the three-tier run up – with all competitors having previously been required to win their club championships, before going on to win their centre’s champion of champions’ contest.

With some top names among the mix, which included past and present New Zealand representatives and a smattering of high performance talent, the event always promised to be a closely fought affair, throwing up some high profile clashes in both section play and post-section.

Following two days of section play, both the men’s and women’s quarter-finalists were found, with the top two from each section advancing through, edging closer to the sought-after titles and silverware.

The men’s action saw the remarkable consistency of Taranaki’s multiple national champion Dean Elgar come to the fore, topping his section and accounting for Stoke’s John Haddock and National Bowls3Five champion skip Aiden Takarua to set up a blockbuster clash opposite former world bowls representative Tony Grantham in the grand finale.

Grantham, also showing solid form both throughout the event and in the last two seasons, was in equally impressive nick, dispatching Awamoa’s Russell McDonald and home-green favourite Robbie Bird to earn his spot in the big dance.

The final saw Grantham close out the title in clinical fashion, romping to a 21-6 victory over Elgar and rounding out his season in memorable style.