Gold for Carla, silver for Barrie
Victorian Carla Krizanic can now add “world champion” to her impressive bowls resume after Australia’s women’s fours team won gold at the 2016 World Bowls Championships in Christchurch.
The Sunbury bowler, playing second alongside Kelsey Cottrell (lead), Rebecca Van Asch (third) and Natasha Scott (skip), helped the Jackaroos to a 23-8 win over England in the final at Burnside Bowling Club.
In a great day for Australia. Victorians picked up two World Bowls medals – gold from Krizanic and silver for Mulgrave Country Club’s Barrie Lester as part of the Australian men’s triples team.
Lester, Mark Casey and Aron Sherriff were edged out 15-14 in a thrilling final by England – forced to an extra end when skip Sherriff performed some late match heroics to level the scores after the regulation 18 ends.
But England steadied to pick up the shot they needed on the extra end and relegate the Aussies to silver.
For the women’s fours, the result was barely in doubt from the moment Scott turned the opening end on its head.
The Ellen Falkner-skipped English held four shots, before Scott’s brilliant drive turned it into a shot for Australia.
Scott’s composure late was pivotal with two more shots either reducing what would have been multiples for England or picking up shots for Australia instead.
But Australia were consistent and strong throughout, which proved the difference.
Earlier in the tournament, Victorian-based internationals Kelly McKerihen (Canada) and Ali Forsyth (New Zealand) picked up bronze medals.
Women’s fours, full story via Bowls Australia
Men’s triples, full story via Bowls Australia
2016 World Bowls Championships schedule