adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national team bowler Derek Robinson will be a loner ranger at this year’s World Singles Champion of Champions Bowls Tournament in New Zealand in November after the other representative pulled out.
The tournament has been pencilled for November 23 to December 2 in Christchurch and Robinson was expected to go with Sylvia Kendall-Ball but her travel documents are not ready.
This will be Robinson’s first time to represent the nation at the World Singles although he has played in other International competitions before.
“I am happy that I will be taking part in the tournament. It is sad Sylvia is not coming with me, the teams are going in pairs but I am not. It could have be better if it was the two of us going or even going with a manager but funding is a problem.
“My second challenge will be the greens, they are faster than the ones we use here but I still feel that the going much earlier before the event will help.
“I will be leaving around 16 November and arrive in New Zealand on November 19 and so I will have a four-day training session to get used to the greens,” said Robinson.
Robinson has been training four days a week and he is taking part in a number of local tournaments to boost his preparations for the World Singles.
Bowls Zimbabwe President Malcolm Evans said Kendall-Ball had challenges with her travel documents.
“Kendall-Ball is not going, it takes about six months for all (documents) to be ready and looking at the period it is late to do that. She had problems with her travel documents,” said Evans.
Robinson’s Profile
Zimbabwe
Name: Derek Robinson
Name known by: Derek
Town/City & Country of Birth: Harare, Zimbabwe
Occupation: Retired Airline Pilot
Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Gardening
Left/Right handed: Right
Year first started bowling: 2004
Outdoor Club Name: Highlands BC
Make and Model of bowls:Drakes Pride Professional
First Major Bowls Achievement:
2008 Zimbabwe Men’s Champion of Champions
Other major bowling achievements
2009 Men’s Rinks Silver medal
2011 Men’s triples Gold medal
2012 Inter Provincial Men’’s pairs Gold medal
2012 Inter Provincial Men’’s triples Gold medal.
Online Reporter