KIMBERLEY – The 2026-’27 bowling season got off to a cracking start as the Kimberley Sub-district (KSD) Pairs Championships wrapped up on Sunday after two weekends of gruelling sectional play.

With temperatures rising as summer approaches, the standard of bowls was right up there, setting the stage for a busy weekend of competition.

Overcast skies and light rain hung around throughout Sunday’s play-offs, but the conditions did little to dampen spirits or affect the standard of play, with all the matches going right down to the wire.

The men’s semi-finals produced two tight encounters. Driaan van Niekerk and Jobo de Villiers secured their place in the final for the fourth consecutive year after seeing off Marco Geel and JP Marais.

In the other semi-final, Vusi Mphale and Carlon Moodaley booked their place in the decider following a dramatic victory over Freddie du Plessis and Marinus Vertue.

Trailing by one shot heading into the final end, Mphale and Moodaley kept their cool under pressure, picking up the shots they needed to snatch victory and set up the final.

The championship match didn’t disappoint, with both teams trading shots throughout. Van Niekerk and de Villiers were looking to add another title to their collection, having already claimed the championship twice in the previous three years. However, their opponents had other ideas.

Once again, Mphale and Moodaley found themselves one shot behind going into the final end. Refusing to surrender, they pulled off another comeback, picking up three shots on the final end to seal the title.

The victory made Mphale and Moodaley deserved champions, having gone unbeaten throughout the tournament. Their ability to deliver under pressure, particularly in the closing moments of both the semi-final and final, proved decisive.

The play-off for third place was another tight affair, with Geel and Marais doing enough to overcome Du Plessis and Vertue and claim the bronze-medal position.

Big thanks to Sol Plaatje West End Bowls Club and all its members for their hard work hosting the men’s championship and making sure the tournament ran smoothly.

Koekemoer and Janse crowned KSD Women’s Pairs champions

The KSD Women’s Pairs Championship took place at Kimberley Town Bowling Club, South Africa’s second-oldest bowling club, where the competitors delivered a solid display of bowls.

The women’s competition featured two sections, with the winners of each section advancing to the final. This set up a showdown between Annelie Mathewson and René van Niekerk, and Adi Koekemoer and Helena Janse.

Spectators got a good final as both teams fought hard for the championship title. In the end, it was Koekemoer and Janse who came out on top, claiming the title after a strong performance, whilst Mathewson and van Niekerk had to settle for second place.

The third-place play-off saw Geraldine Moodaley and Michelle van Zyl come out on top, securing third place ahead of Direlda de Klerk and Jeanne Vertue, who finished fourth.

Special thanks to Kimberley Town Bowling Club and its members for their efforts in hosting the women’s competition and helping make the event a success.

With both championships producing quality bowls, tight finishes and good sportsmanship, the KSD Pairs Championships provided a solid start to the 2026-’27 bowling season. The performances on display promise plenty more to come for bowlers and spectators this season.

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