INDOOR BOWLS - Masters chance to end on high

Northland indoor bowlers have been running hot and it would be a fitting end to a successful season to see a local bowler become champion of the premier singles event in the country, outside the NZIB nationals, in Auckland this weekend.
Former winner Lyn Brittain will head a strong Northland contingent for the final major indoor bowls tournament of the season, the Auckland Invitation Masters Singles.
Brittain won the tournament in 1986 and will be a force to be reckoned with.
Joining her in the competition will be 10 other Northlanders: Lillian Christini, Noel Bethel, Trudy Watson, Chris Watson, Don Christini, Eryl Nolan, Kia Ward, John Dufty, Jeff Cole and Noel Bailey.
Brittain won the Truth Cup at the nationals in Tauranga in June. She skipped the North Island ladies' fours team to victory over the South Island this year and also won the Northland Centre Triples Championship, to claim her 15th centre title.
Also making waves for Northland in Tauranga this year was Judy Johnston, who with Colin Douglass and Kath Love, made it to the final of the national triples contest, just missing the gold medal.
Johnston was picked for the Masters team at the nationals alongside Kia Ward, who was selected to play in the singles.
Meanwhile, John Teirney, Jeanette Smith, Inez Bunting, Michael Teirney, won the Northland NZ mixed fours play-off before qualifying for the national final at Napier in the zone one playoff, where they finished second equal.
This weekend's tournament features more than 140 bowlers, including 14 previous winners. Grant Harvey, the runner-up in this year's national singles and last year's winner, Tauranga's Fiona Wilson, will be favourites.