State Championships - Soldiers Point

Other than a State Pennant Flag, the pinnacle for every bowler is a state title. Starting Saturday 22nd October at Soldiers Point, the best performed players in the state will compete across four discipines hoping to take home an elusive state crown.
Australia's top ranked player Aron Sheriff has shown his class by being the only player to qualify in all four events, and will deservedly be a favourite in all four tournaments.
Fellow Aussie rep Mark Berghoffer has won an impressive three zone titles as has 2011 state bowler of the year Ray Pearse, former world champion Cameron Curtis and Roselands team mate Carl Healey, and Young bowler David Quigley.
A number of others have won two events, including name players Jay Porter, Ben and Nick Golledge, Chris Herden, Shane Globits, Peter Taylor, James Cook, Lee Such, John Roberts and Sam Laguzza, ensuring the finals will be hotly contested.

State Fours
First event of the championships will be the state fours. Zone Fourteen has tatsed success twice in recnt years in this event, Kemspey Heights claiming the title in 2008, and Westports Jeff Fathers, Greg Brimms, Peter Taylor and Shane Globits being the reigning champions. The westport side minus Jeff fathers is back to defend their title, with former Aussie rep Bryce Stewart filling the void of Fathers. Last years runners up have also returned from the South Tamworth Club skippered by Nick Golledge.
Jay Porter, Matt Sargeant, Mark Berghoffer, Aron Sheriff and Cameron Curtis are all skippering solid teams and will be hard to beat. Match of the round Saturday morning will most likely be the clash between Golledge's side and Ray Pearse's team.
My Semi Final predictions are: (skips only) Jay Porter Vs Shane Globits, and Nick Golledge Vs Aron Sheriff. Title to go to Jay Porter.

State Triples
Again a number of big guns will be competing, such as Sheriff, Berghoffer, Pearse, Porter, Curtis, Jeremy Henry, Shannon White and Steven Rawlings. Zone 14 hopes are pinned on Park Beach's Johnny Bain, Mark Menzies and Cory Daley.
Semi Final predictions are: Shannon White Vs Ray Pearse, and Carl Healey Vs Jeremy Henry. Pearse to take the title.

State Pairs
Last years champions from Nyngan. John Wynne and Adam Lee return also with hopes of defending their crown, however again they face some very stiff opposition, not least of all from Westports Peter Taylor and Shane Globits. Sheriff has teamed with ex state rep Tony Laguzza and will be a orce to be reckoned with.
Best match up of round one appears to be Cameron Curtis & Carl Healey Vs Laguzza and Sheriff.
Allan Nunn & Lee Stinson Vs Troy Somerville & Tom Ellem, and Aaron Appleby & Nathan Dawson Vs Ben & Nick Golledge. Somerville & Ellem to add to their list of state titles..

State Singles
The blue ribbon event has, as expected drawn a field of champions to compete for the most sought after title in NSW. Cory Daley will ably represent Zone Fourteen and will go in with the knowledge that he has taken out this event before in 2008. His nemesis in the final that year Aron Sheriff will enter the event as favourite, closely followed by reigning champion Ray Pearse, South African international Eric Johannes, and in form Aussie star Mark Berghoffer.
Round one clashes of note include former QLD open winner Ashley Klose Vs Aussie Legend Sam Laguzza, and Daley Vs NSW under 25 star Chris Herden.
Semi Predictions: Berghoffer Vs Zel Trbara, & Johannes Vs Herden. Johannes to take out the title.

Please feel free to advise your predictions through the comments feature!

All the best to all involved..

Til Next Time,

Chippy