Bowls: Women's champ happy despite cash imbalance

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand's latest world champion, Marlene Castle, was not willing to let one of sport's biggest inequities spoil the occasion as she accepted a crystal bowl for winning the world indoor singles bowling title in Ireland.

The winner of the men's world indoor championship in January pocketed $60,000 - but the bowl and the glory were all Castle received.

"That's the way it is," said 56-year-old Castle, after beating Margaret Johnston of Ireland in a five-set final early yesterday morning.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have won. It is never easy. The women over here play indoors for eight months a year - we have just one tournament."

The win, in her sixth attempt and in her 16th year in the sport, was some compensation for Castle, who returned home from last month's world outdoor championships in Australia as the only member of the New Zealand team without a medal after Kiwi victories in the triples and fours.

"I wasn't good enough there, but this makes up for it," said Castle, who has been in a bowling whirl.

After returning from Australia, she and Brent Turner won the New Zealand mixed pairs in Rotorua before she flew to Ireland.

Due home on Wednesday after a 40-hour journey, Castle will be in Hamilton on Friday morning for the Super Eights intercentre event, in which she will play in the pairs or fours but not singles.

Winning her world title did not come easily.

After beating Scot Caroline McAllister, winner of the past two indoor world championships, in her first qualifying game, Castle had a four-hour, five-set marathon quarter-final to beat Ireland's Phyllis Nolan on her home green before a straight-sets semifinal win over England's Ann Knott.

The final was tense.

Castle took the first set 7-1 but dropped the second by the same margin and Johnston won the third set 7-5.

"I had a little talk to myself at that stage," Castle said. "I said to myself, 'It is too hard to get to a world final and not win.' So I dug in, changed things around and went for it."

Never afraid to play aggressively, Castle hit four of five drives, including two in the first set, and won the last two sets 7-3 7-1.

"You are never completely in control, but I was feeling good," said Castle, whose previous best effort was getting to the semifinals in Wales three years ago.

"Singles is so lonely, but you forget about that when you win."

Castle celebrated her victory with her husband Bruce over half a glass of wine, interrupted by numerous telephone calls from New Zealand, including one from daughter Raelene who had reminded her before she left "not to put too much pressure on yourself."

While Castle is assured of being invited back next year to defend her title, there is some doubt on how a second New Zealander will be found to accompany her.

Women's superbowls tournaments in New Zealand last season were a pay-as-you-go matter, with only nine centres hosting preliminary tournaments.

Bowls New Zealand is considering the future of the event, but is adamant an indoor champion will be found to ensure New Zealand's double challenge in 2001.

In the meantime, Castle will put her crystal bowl alongside the medals she has won at Asia-Pacific championships, Commonwealth Games and world championships.

It would be nice if there was a cheque to go with it. But women bowlers have long lived in the considerable shadow cast by their male counterparts.

Castle takes her satisfaction in succeeding where no New Zealand male has, including Phil Skoglund, Peter Belliss and Rowan Brassey.

And that is no mean feat.