Albion Park’s Stacey Ferguson and Paul Wesley took out the NSW final of The AERF Mixed Pairs Challenge yesterday after posting a straight sets victory against defeating South Cronulla’s Leah Lowder and George McLean. The pair won the event after some sensational leading by the 14-year-old Ferguson throughout the day’s knockout competition. In the opening round, Ferguson and Wesley accounted for Hornsby’s Di McBride and John Macgrath 9-0, 11-6 to get off to a flyer before meeting Terry and Steve Garry on their home turf. With the Taren Point favourites also registering a first up win, accounting for the highly fancied East Inverell combination of Lauren Cutis and Clayton Rogers 7-5, 6-10, 7-0, just a year after the latter had claimed the NSW title alongside Erin Brightwell, they knew they would be in for a tough clash. Despite the challenge, Ferguson and Wesley took the encounter 12-8, 10-2 to maintain their unblemished start. Not to be outdone, Lowder and McLean also began brilliantly with a 9-7, 8-1, 2-1 victory over The Hills’ Kerry and Chris Wallace before accounting for North Sydney’s Jenny-Lee and Daryl Tutton 12-6, 9-5. Ferguson and Wesley will now go on to contest the national final of The AERF Mixed Pairs Challenge to be staged in conjunction with the Australian Open next month at the Shepparton Park and Mooroopna bowls clubs. Now in its fifth year, the Challenge is played under the auspices of Bowls Australia and is initially staged at club level, with winners going on to contest regional finals. The winners of those matches then contest the state or territory final, with the top-eight from across the country battling it out for the ultimate prize. The Challenge importantly raises funds for the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation. All state and territory winners receive an accommodation/airfare/travel package to the Australian Open, with a trip to Singapore, courtesy of supporting sponsor Singapore Airlines, among the major prizes. Click here for more information on the 2010 AERF Mixed Pairs Challenge. Click here for more information on the 2010 Australian Open.
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