A blast from the past

The ACT’s Kate Carriage has produced a remarkable comeback to top flight bowls after guiding her Weston Creek triples combination through to the semi-finals of the $125,000 Australian Open in Shepparton.

Twelve years after capturing the inaugural Australian under-18 title, Carriage, who walked away from the sport for more than a decade, produced a sensational return today (16/2) as she guided Maureen Wilkie and Carole Rowe past the formidable English combination of Natalie Melmore, Ellen Faulkner and Amy Monkhouse.

The victory came just a round after they had already disposed of the alternate English team, featuring Jamie-Lea Winch, Sian Gordon and Sandy Hazell, leaving them in the final four with world number one Val Smith and her New Zealand teammates Clare McCaul and Jan Khan, as well as world championship gold medallists Lynsey Armitage and Julie Keegan, and NSW’s Beth Quinlan. 

The fourth semi-final position is still to be decided.

Playing with flair and unbridled enthusiasm, Carriage, 28, played some breath taking bowls as she moved within two wins of capturing one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest titles.

“It’s all a bit surprising,” Carriage said.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would get this far.

“We were just hoping to have a bit of fun.”

The unheralded ACT trio will now run into the planet’s top-ranked female player, with Smith guiding her side to a 14-1, 11-3 triumph over Kerry Anderson (QLD), Carla Odgers (VIC) and Natasha Van Eldik (NSW).

Keegan’s rink was just as emphatic posting a 9-7, 9-2 win over NSW’s Judy Croft, Jan Rolph and Gloria Clifton, while Carriage registered an 8-6, 6-10, 3-0 against Monkhouse, who is still alive in the women’s pairs.

In the men’s triples, the top seeds have survived the carnage to move through to the third round with some of the icons of the sport, including Mark Jacobsen, Steve Glasson and Richard Girvan leading their respective teams to victory.

World number one Safuan Said bowed out in the opening round ending a disappointing tournament for the Malaysian superstar.

A multi-discipline tournament, the Australian Open features singles, pairs and triples for both men and women, with play continuing at the Shepparton Park and Mooroopna bowls clubs, before concluding on Saturday, February 20.