This years national final of the AER Mixed Pairs Challenge starting at Shepparton – Mooroopna on Friday looks to be the toughest on record with both state and national players representing their clubs for the first time in this prestigious lawn bowls event.

On paper the hottest combination is the Queensland pair Mark Casey and Lyndsey Armitage from Helensvale.  

While this is Casey’s and Armitage’s first tilt at a major national mixed title, both players have an outstanding individual record in men’s and women’s pairs, with Casey currently holding second place in the men’s national ranking and Armitage likewise in the women’s rankings. 

Among their individual major successes are gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Casey in triples and Armitage in pairs. Armitage is the current holder of the Australian Open Women’s Pairs, with Karen Murphy (NSW). 

Between them Casey and Armitage have 252 Australian caps and recently Casey was recalled to the Australian team being named in the side to meet England in the forthcoming test match at Moama.

The ACT pair from Weston Creek, Terry McInness and Kate Brayne, also step on to the mat with strong credibility. McInness has played 280 games for the ACT while Brayne chalked up a strong record as a junior player in Queensland winning the Australian Junior Championship in 1998 among many other successes. She was a member of the Queensland development squad before joining the Navy.  

Brayne made a comeback to serious bowls this season. She is currently studying Aeronautical Engineering at the Australian Defence Academy and was back on the bowls green after watching a test series between Queensland and ACT. Her past was discovered and she was asked to coach junior players, which she says she was more than happy to do.  Now seriously re bitten by the bowls bug, Brayne is currently playing in the Australian Open at Shepparton and is through the initial rounds of the pairs and triples.

The Northern Territory pair from Nightcliffe bowling club are also strong with current territory representative Terry Cozier teaming with Michael Loughhead.

A proven combination the pair will have every opportunity to study the conditions at Shepparton – Mooroopna as both are officiating at the Open.

New South Wales will be combining youth and experience with the 14 year old star from the Wollongong area Stacey Ferguson playing with Albion Park club mate Paul Wesley.

Tasmania has a strong reputation to defend in The Challenge as players from the apple island have had a win and second in this event, with the brother-sister combination of Wayne Manson and Gaylene Elsworthy winning it in 2006 and South Burnie pair Ruby Sheppard and David McLean finishing second to South Australia’s Michael Dunt and Jackie Gardiner last year. South Burnie are on the mat again this year and the responsibility of upholding Tasmania’s reputation resting with Cameron Windram and Marlene Singleton.

South Australian players have figured in three of the four finals of the AER Mixed Pairs Challenge and two of its best known country players Dennis and Kerry Treloar from Berri will be looking to keep the their state’s reputation intact.

Mosman Park pair Mike Grace and Carol Wright will make the trip from Western Australia and in sets play this is a combination that could really surprise.  Wright is a seasoned player and as the WA Challenge final proved, a deadeye lead.

Sets play should also favour the Victorian husband-wife combination of Rex and Elizabeth Cozens, who have not played together very much as a mixed combination at their club, Horsham City, but have competed in outside carnivals together. Over the Victorian final series they proved they can withstand pressure and combine well.

The AER Mixed Pairs Challenge is played in conjunction with the Australian Open that is currently underway at Shepparton-Mooroopna. The three sectional rounds of The Challenge will be played on Friday 19 at Mooroopna bowls club with the semi final and final being staged at Shepparton Park bowls club on Friday 20.

The Challenge supports the The Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation.  

The national winners of The Challenge will each receive the winner’s purse and a trip to Singapore courtesy of the supporting sponsor Singapore Airlines.