Australian superstar Aaron Wilson firmly cemented his dominance as one of the world’s greatest singles exponents, once again putting paid to the courageous efforts of Canadian icon Ryan Bester to claim back-to-back titles at the Speight’s North East Valley 10,000.
Held in Dunedin every year, the 28th event was hosted in perfect conditions over the Labour Weekend period, with some section play directed to the nearby Kaikorai green in place of a recently returfed surface at the Valley.
Attracting a star-studded field of current, former and no doubt imminent future internationals, 32 players converged in Dunedin to take their shot at lifting the coveted NEV 10k Invitational singles crown.
Three-time event winners Mike Kernaghan and Shannon McIlroy were notable absentees in this year’s action, with Kernaghan ruled out through injury and McIlroy opting to restrict his playing commitments this season as he prepares for the World Champion of Champion singles in Australia next week.
However, Kernaghan’s late withdrawal provided a deserved platform for Gore youngster Caleb Hope to mix it with the best, and Hope didn’t disappoint. In a sterling debut showing, Hope notched up five wins from seven, taking the scalp of Bester along the way and playing his way through to a preliminary qualifier for a chance to advance to the last eight.
Following seven rounds of section play, only one third of the field was left standing.
Rewarded for their efforts in topping their respective sections, Broadbeach-based Scot Kevin Anderson, former Blackjack Mike Nagy, local hope Shaun Scott and Nelson Bay’s Mark Watt automatically advanced to the quarter-finals.
Preliminary finals saw the exit of promising youth players Hope and Stokes Valley’s Seamus Curtin, who along with Australian representative Scott Thulborn and Marlborough’s Andre Smith had all enjoyed a successful tournament, but may be left wondering what might have been in the later stages.
The quarter-final match-ups saw the previously unbeaten Scott suffer a loss at the hands of the vastly experienced Bill Clements, Anderson put paid to the tournament chances of past Blackjack Blake Signal, Wilson convincingly defeated Nagy and Bester dispatched Watt, 25-18, to leave the final four.
The first semi-final saw Wilson burst out of the blocks in devastating fashion, leaving Alexandra’s Clements in his dust as the Aussie booked his place in a second final in as many years, clocking up 25 shots to Clements’ solitary point in a performance that left his opponent dumbfounded at the talent that stood before him.
Across rinks, Broadbeach club mates Bester and Anderson enjoyed a tough battle, though a consistent display from Bester saw him coast through 25-9 and line-up opposite Wilson once again – a feature match that appears to be happening more often than not on the big stage, much to the delight of the onlookers following their progress.
Most memorably, Wilson and Bester went head to head earlier this year in the Commonwealth Games Gold medal match, on that occasion Wilson advancing as champion and leaving Bester to settle for silver – and such was the commanding form of Wilson on ‘Finals’ Day’, this encounter fared in a similar manner.
With both players in fine touch, the crowds, both rink side and on the live streaming feed, were treated to a masterclass of drive and draw play, with multiple burnt ends providing an adrenaline factor to the event finale.
Despite Bester throwing heavy artillery at Wilson, the Jackaroo proved equal to the task and marched his way to the trophy – joining an elite cub of former players Jim Scott and Russell Meyer as the only competitors to win the event back to back and securing the winner’s cheque of $5000.
With the 12-month countdown already underway until the 29th showpiece unfolds, the question remains to be asked, can Wilson become the first person to collect a three-peat?
As always time will tell, but one thing is for certain . . . it would take a brave person to bet against him.
-END
-Sam Morton
Results at a Glance
2018 Speight’s North East Valley 10,000 Invitational Singles, Dunedin, NZ
Champion: Aaron Wilson (Australia)
Runner-up: Ryan Bester (Broadbeach)
Beaten semi finalists:
Kevin Anderson (Broadbeach)
Bill Clements (Alexandra)
Beaten quarter-finalists:
Shaun Scott (North East Valley)
Mark Watt (Nelson Bays)
Blake Signal (Nelson Bays)
Mike Nagy (Taren Point)
