Australian Indoor
Inaugural Soldiers Point Classic
Eight per cent of bowlers now armed
Australian Jackaroos Rebecca Van Asch and Aaron Teys claimed the 2018 Australian Indoor Championships titles at Tweed Heads Bowls Club after four days of battle which culminated in a day of blockbuster finals action on August, 23.
It was Van Asch's second successive Indoors crown, to go along with her recent maiden Australian Open crown, while Teys claimed his first Indoors crown after progressing as far as the Semi-Finals in recent years.
In a big upset for the defending Australian Open Men's champion Bester he was knocked out of the Championships by experienced West Australian bowler, Clive Adams.
In the semi Bester's fellow Queensland qualifier Chloe Stewart ousted Raymond Terrace's Genevive Delves with a 2-0 win which allowed Stewart to ascend into the final to duel it out against Bowls Tasmania's CEO Rebecca Van Asch who had beaten Dawn Hayman (St Johns Park) 2-0 as well.
The final proved to be a tight affair with Van Asch getting in front with a 9-1 win in the first set, Stewart struck back 9-4 in the second set.
The game was now into a tie-breaker situation but the seasoned Van Asch, who was last year's AI winner, looked cool and collected as she won the final set of the women's competition 5-0.
"It's been an incredible 2018 on all fronts, it's been an amazing year and to go back to back with the Australian Indoor has been very special," Van Asch said.
"I wasn't disappointed with how I started on the second set, I just had to take a few chances over the last few ends to pick up a few multiples and pull a draw out of the second set or get rid of it to throw it into the tie break.
"I was happy to get rid of it though and focus on the last three ends which were okay."
Van Asch who is expecting her first child was thrilled with the result but says she's looking forward to taking some time off as her due date draws closer.
"I'll be having a bit of a break now, it has been a massive year so I'm starting to feel it a bit now, I'm going to enjoy having a weeks holiday with my husband after this and it'll probably be the last relaxing break together for the next two decades!"
The men's final proved to be equally thrilling with the man who vanquished Bester taking on young gun Aaron Teys in the final, Adams started off on the back foot with Teys first to get a score on the board and struggled to catch up with the Warrilla bowler who steamed on to victory.
"I'm absolutely stoked, still a little bit shaky to be honest," Teys said about his win.
"It was a great final, Clive is an absolute credit to himself he played brilliantly the whole competition.
"I was just lucky enough to have a couple of opportunities to go my way."