Bowls: Belliss rolls up for pairs tourney

By LINDSAY KNIGHT

Peter Belliss, one of New Zealand's lawn bowling greats, will make a sentimental return this week to the Auckland region to appear in a tournament he once dominated.

Belliss, now based in Australia and recently retired from international competition, will be reunited with his old Wanganui partner, Keith Slight, in the Manurewa invitation pairs which starts on Saturday and ends on Monday.

Belliss and Slight won this tournament six times, in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1992 and 1994.

They also were runner-ups twice in what since 1979 has been New Zealand's foremost invitation pairs event.

Tournament organiser Barry Drabble said yesterday that securing the return of Belliss and Slight, who concentrates more on golf these days, had not been Manurewa's only coup.

New Zealand international Russell Meyer, who is also now based in Australia, will join one of the strongest fields for many years.

Meyer will be playing with Australian Shaun Parnis as representatives of Manurewa's sister club, Warilla in New South Wales.

Two other representatives from New South Wales, Ian Barrett and Wayne Lambourne, will among the 48 combinations.

The tournament has a first prize of automatic entry into the Warilla pairs in Australia, including accommodation and travel expenses, plus $2000 in cash.

Aucklanders Ivan Marsic and Mike Farac will defend the title they won last year.

Other top pairings include Rowan Brassey and Jamie Hill, winners this month of the national fours for the second consecutive year, recent internationals Sean Johnson (Wanganui) and Phil Skoglund jun (Palmerston North), and experienced South Islanders Ken Walker, Gordon Duggie and Jim and Terry Scott.

Also on this weekend is the Browns Bay invitation pairs, which is in its ninth year.

Wellingtonians Rob Ashton and Adam Newman will miss defending their title, but the Browns Bay event has also attracted a powerful line-up from all parts of the country.

Carlton's national pairs champions, Petar Sain and Wally Marsic, will be turning out, but with different partners from their club.

Two Helensville veterans, the legendary pairing of Ivan Kostanich and Pat Robertson, are together again,

Other former internationals and past national champions include Danny O'Connor and Canterbury youngster Glen McDonald.

The Browns Bay pairs, which starts on Friday and ends on Sunday, has total prize money of $11,000 and a first prize of $4000.