KEY POINTS:
Two of New Zealand's representatives at the world championships in Christchurch in January, Andrew Todd and Sharon Sims, got a timely confidence boost at Henderson yesterday.
Todd won the inaugural New Zealand Open men's singles title and Sims skipped her long-time pairs partner, Mary Campbell, to the women's pairs title, thanks to a superb rally over the final five ends when it seemed they would be beaten.
After a slow start Todd outplayed Australian Gerard Beath in the singles 10-10, 9-4.
To most New Zealanders Todd is something of an unknown as he has lived in Sydney since 1991. But the Upper Hutt product has emerged as a fine all-round bowler in the tough New South Wales club competition.
Sims and Campbell made a rousing comeback to win the women's pairs, beating Australians Claire Duke and Julie Keegan 23-19 when they appeared headed for defeat at 18-11 down after 13 of the 18 ends.
On that 13th end they dropped a four, to complete four consecutive losing ends and forfeit what had been a halfway lead of 11-7.
But on the 14th end, with Campbell trailing the jack into the ditch, the New Zealanders picked up a five and followed that with a four, to regain an edge.
From then on, the pair were never going to surrender.
For Sims it was atonement for her own personal performance in losing the fours on Thursday, when by her own admission her play had been disappointing.
But yesterday's win saw her back to her best and, while the world championships in Christchurch will be on a different surface, this week has been the best possible preparation for that event.
"What we've been getting here is good hard match play," she said.
"The greens here have been quick but they're going to be quick in January, too."
Sims and Campbell first played together in Palmerston North and though Campbell, who is part of the national development squad, now lives in Taupo, they still usually team up at nationals.
Because of their long-time partnership Sims was not fazed even when they were seven behind with just five ends left.
"I knew we just had to get the rhythm we had in the first half of the game back," she said.
By contrast, New Zealand's male hopes for the pairs title, Ali Forsyth and Tony Grantham, conceded a handy lead over Australians, Mark Casey and Wayne Turley.
Despite a brave effort over the last few ends weren't quite able to regain it, losing 13-11.
On the second-to-last end the New Zealanders were holding two shots which could have put them back in front.
But Casey played a magnificent last bowl to trail the jack into the ditch to effect a three-shot swing.
In an all-Australian final Sharyn Renshaw, having been in the winning "United Nations" four skipped by South African Lorna Trigwell on Thursday, completed a double for the tournament, by beating Karen Murphy with some skilful draw bowls.
