Competing for family bragging rights

Age was no barrier when three generations of Dunedin’s McEwan family took to the rinks at Bowls Dunedin Stadium last night, proving that when it comes to skill, age is just a number.

With a limit of just 68 players, it is hardly a coincidence to see five McEwans featuring in the Dunedin region of the Professional Bowls Association (PBA) this season.

With two more weekends of the PBA season to go, this weekend’s competition will see players compete in the Dunedin regional competition for a place in the national finals for Scotland and UK Open Singles.

The national winner then earns direct passage to the world championships at Britain’s Potters Resort in early January.

Brent McEwan transferred his golf skills to bowling about 10 years ago. With three Bowls Dunedin titles already under his belt, he has proved a tough opponent in both the local inter-club and PBA competitions.

He replicated his success on outdoor courts over the indoor summer when he became a national finalist in the international singles in 2019 and qualified for his second national final last year with doubles partner Andy McLean.

He was also one of the leading forwards in the national rankings last year, but this PBA season may be curtailed by challenges within his own family.

His wife, Shannon, and sons Lachie, 9, and Jordan, 11, along with his dad Bill, are all vying to take home the family bragging rights.

While Brent has firmly established himself in PBA competition for the past seven years, Bill will be competing for his second year while Shannon and the boys will be participating in their first. The three join nine other players cutting their PBA teeth for the first time, making the race for the Rookie of the Year Trophy interesting indeed.

Both Lachie and Jordan represented Bowls Dunedin in the win over a very strong Canterbury Center side last weekend. Jordan made an impressive representative debut to make the Dunedin under-26 squad, which will travel to Wellington to play in the Naenae under-26 tournament.

Lachie, Jordan, Brent and Dennis Lobb (Shannon’s father) will all play at the Australian Open on the Gold Coast as a foursome later this month.

Lachie and Jordan will also play together in the Australian Open doubles. And both will compete in the under-18 singles

With a Dunedin Center title to her name, Shannon played Dunedin representative bowls in her senior year and was part of the women’s team that won the Southern Zone 6 title.

But interest will focus on Lachie and Jordan, who in their first bowling season last season played for the St Clair Club and won the Dunedin Junior Fours title in a team featuring Mark and Steve King (Mornington).

“The key to playing well is being humble and respectful,” Lachie said of his approach to each game.

PBA International Marty Kreft was on the sidelines last night to watch Lachie beat Tom McGregor 9-8, 2-12, 2-1 in the first round and what he saw made him a little nervous.

“I’ve got Jordan in the first round tomorrow (10am today). If he plays anything like his brother here, I might be in trouble,” he said.

“These boys will go a long way in the sport.”

A second-round defeat at the hands of Michael Greaves last night – lost on a 2-0 tie-break – ended Lachie’s hopes of going deep into the Scottish Open singles competition and what would have been a round-robin match the third against his father. , who defeated Jeff Nowell in straight sets 9-8, 10-4.

Play resumes with the third round matches at 10am.

By Wayne Parsons