The 2010 Selection Trials season started with an outstanding display from the ACT Ladies over the last two weeks. With five changes to last year’s Top 12 – including 3 newcomers – this weekend’s Top 12 promised to be an exciting event, with two of last year’s ground breaking State Team not in the mix.
As it stood, four of the twelve were current or recent ACT State Champions, including defending champion Cindy Blackmore, who was looking to add to her unbelievable resume with a 10th Ladies Singles title. But perennial ACT reps and top 4 contestants Nicole Welsh and Lesieli O’Connor were also keen to add to their trophy cabinet, as was Theresa Whitten, who has come back from a long layoff to once again challenge for the ACT title.
Other long time ACT Representatives BJ Frost, Kylie Power and Ruth Stone intended on adding to their state caps, while Jennifer Everett was enjoying a return to the top flight. Michelle Massey returned to defend her 2009 Top 4 finish and Heather Robertson was determined to make amends for 2008 when she qualified for the Top 12 but withdrew due to illness.
But those wanting to make the biggest impression were first time Top 12 qualifiers Mel de Mestre and Penny Foudoulis. Now they might tell you they were just happy to be there, but you don’t get this close without ambitions of going that one step further…
And so the Top 12 ACT Ladies met at 11am at The Maram on Saturday. Nicole drilled home 10 frames in the first round for a huge early lead, while Ruth and Theresa lead the chasing pack with 7 frames apiece.
Apparently Nicole forgot the idea of “fair competition” in round 2 as she annihilated the rest of the field for a perfect round of 11 from 11 to finish the day with the record of 23 wins and 1 loss. That one loss came at the hands of Les who hit 7 wins to end the day in 4th place with 13 wins and 8 losses behind Nicole, Theresa (15 and 6) and Kylie (14 and 7).
Behind them, though the chasing pack left nothing between them, 5th to 12th being separated by only 3 frames. Sunday was looming as a day where either youthful exuberance or experience would decide the final 7. But then again…
Kylie proved that Nicole wasn’t the only one allowed to hit a double figure round by clearing all before her in winning 10 frames in round 3, ironically only losing her last frame of the round to Nicole. Nicole finished one frame behind with 9 wins whilst strong rounds from Theresa (7) and Les (7) left them 3rd and 4th and Les 3 frames ahead of Michelle in 5th after Michelle’s 7 frame 3rd round. Only one frame behind Michelle was the ever dangerous Cindy, but 7th place was anyone’s guess. The last spot in the 2010 team was still only separated by 4 frames from 7th to 12th and yeah, this adjudicator was loving the tension!
Surprise surprise Nicole nailed another 7 frames to top the group on 37, followed by Kylie on 30. Theresa had yet another strong round to finish 7, 8, 7, 7 and 29 overall for 3rd.
Cindy and Michelle started the last round a few frames behind Les for the last spot in the Top 4 as Les carefully watched her frame count. Cindy had played consistently just under her par all weekend but showed in the last round why she has an unbeatable record in ACT Eight Ball by drilling home 10 frames in the final round. Unfortunately this left her one frame behind Les and a frustrating 5th place. Fortunately though, ACTEBA is once again proud to include the name Cindy Blackmore when they register their team for the 2010 Nationals.
Les, by winning 7 in the last round, was also able hold off Michelle, who backed up her 4th place last year with a 6th place finish and a spot in the ACT team once again. But 7th place was proving a difficult contest…
Mel played many outstanding frames but unfortunately someone has to come last, and this by no means diminishes her play this weekend (she was 5/8 against two of the Top 4). Next year I expect her to come back stronger after this year’s experience. BJ and Ruth have been there, done that before, and there is no doubt their participation this weekend raised the level of experience greatly. But again, unfortunately, someone has to finish 10th and 11th, although it did take a playoff for Ruth to nudge ahead.
Jennifer, meanwhile, seemed to be the thorn in many player’s side, picking frames off the contenders to finish 9th, but unfortunately a few back from the top 7.
After Les had beaten off a fast finishing Cindy for a Top 4 position, the real contest was between Heather and Penny for 7th place. If you exclude Heather’s withdrawal from the 2008 Top 12 due to illness, both players were competing in their first Top 12. Penny started the round 2 frames clear of Heather after starting with weekend with a poor first round of 2, while Heather had maintained consistency with 3 straight rounds of 4.
Heather grabbed the initiative early by grabbing the 2 frames back in the first half of the round, and from then the pair went neck and neck until Heather met Jennifer and Penny took on Cindy in the last frames of the day. Heather gained the win she needed and a strong finish of 7 frames in final round, but Penny had run into a red hot Cindy and went down in a tight frame, finishing an agonizing one frame short of a playoff.
And so Heather qualified for her first ACT Ladies Team, joining the experience of Nicole, Kylie, Theresa, Les and Cindy, along with second time qualifier Michelle.This once again looks like a strong team to send to Adelaide and defend their great result from 2009. Final results are below:
| Player | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | W | L | % |
| Nicoel Welsh | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 37 | 7 | 84.09% |
| Kylie Power | 6 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 30 | 14 | 68.18% |
| Theresa Whitten | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 15 | 65.91% |
| Lesieli O’Connor | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 17 | 61.36% |
| Cindy Blackmore | 6 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 18 | 59.09% |
| Michelle Massey | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 23 | 47.73% |
| Heather Robertson | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 25 | 43.18% |
| Penny Foudoulis | 2 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 26 | 40.91% |
| Jennifer Everett | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 28 | 36.36% |
| Belinda Frost | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 30 | 31.82% |
| Ruth Stone | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 30 | 31.82% |
| Melanie de Mestre | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 31 | 29.55% |
The Top 4 will meet again next Monday the 26th (time and venue to be confirmed) for a shot at the 2010 ACTEBA Ladies Singles Title. I will post this when I have confirmation, but wherever it is, make it part of your long weekend to come and see Nicole Welsh, Kylie Power, Theresa Whitten and Les O’Connor go head to head for the title.
Thank you to The Maram for hosting the weekend and a big thank you to Scrol and Trent for adjudicating. And of course a big thank you must go to the Ladies themselves, whose attitude and fair play made the weekend a great success.
Regards
Chris Jones
ACTEBA Tournament Director
