BHBR’s Elizabeth Kierce and Julia Holton reach Final 16 of Women’s Over 60’s Pairs at 2023 Australian Open

BHBR’s Elizabeth Kierce City Oval) and Julia Holton (BMS) competed in the Women’s Over 60 Pairs at the 2023 Australian Open on the Gold Coast last week, making it through to the final 16 of the event.

It was a fantastic effort by the duo against the best bowlers from across the land.

The Women’s Over 60’s Pairs is divided into sectional and knockout play with 4 teams in each section playing 3 games.

Winners of each section advance to the Knockout stage where winners continue on to the next round and losers are eliminated.

In sectional play at Mudgeeraba Bowls Club, Elizabeth and Julia were in Section 11 and defeated Kerry Bonner & Denise Ellison (NSW) 21-6 in Round 1 and Kaye Abercromby & Shirley Beer (QLD) 17-16 in Round 2.

They lost by 5 shots to eventual section winners Val Jackson & Adele Pershouse (QLD) 9-14 in Round 3 to finish second in their section with 2 wins.

However, they managed to qualify for the knockout stages as a lucky qualifier courtesy of their superior shot difference.

In the knockout rounds at Musgrave Hill Bowls Club, the pair proved too strong for Shirley Taylor and Diane Paulsen (NZ) in Round 1 (22-13) before disposing of Lyn Briggs and Kaylene Toovey (NSW) in Round 2 (20-9).

Their Round 3 clash pitted them against their section winners once again, Queensland’s Val Jackson and Adele Pershouse, going down by 4 shots in a close match to bow out of the tournament.

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Julia on their excellent 2023 Australian Open exploits and good luck in the new Over 60 championships next year in Victoria.

It’s worth noting the pair took out the 2021-2022 BHBR Women’s Over 60 Pairs region event two seasons ago and are quite the combination when both on song.

Below are the pairs results from the 2023 Australian Open.

Sectional Play

Round 1: Kerry Bonner & Denise Ellison (NSW) 21-6 (W)
Round 2: Kaye Abercromby & Shirley Beer (QLD) 17-16 (W)
Round 3: Val Jackson & Adele Pershouse (QLD) 9-14 (L)

The pair finished second in Section 11 with a +10 shot difference which was good enough to get them through to the knockout rounds as a lucky qualifier.

Knockout Rounds

Round 1: Shirley Taylor & Diane Paulsen (NZ) 22-13 (W)
Round 2: Lyn Briggs & Kaylene Toovey (NSW) 20-9 (W)
Round 3: Val Jackson & Adele Pershouse (QLD) 11-15 (L)

BMS bowlers Mick Storey and Geoff Allan also competed at the 2023 Australian Open in the Men’s Over 60’s Pairs event, winning their section and advancing to the knockout rounds.