BSA Women’s Open delivers thrills

The 2026 Bowls South Africa Women’s Open has delivered five exhilarating days of top-class bowls, with competitors showcasing their skill, resilience and adaptability across the pairs, singles and fours disciplines.

The tournament opened under near-perfect conditions, with bowlers enjoying ideal weather on Saturday and Sunday during the pairs sectional play. Monday delivered an unseasonal heatwave and singles competitors were forced into a battle not only against their opponents, but also against the soaring temperatures.

By contrast, Tuesday’s cooler conditions and light drizzle during the fours sectional play were almost welcomed, offering some relief and a new challenge as greens slowed and conditions shifted.

Section winners in both the Open and Veteran singles progress into the next rounds today. The Open competitors will contest games at Parkhill Bowling Club and Westville Country Club, while the Veterans gather at Durban Collegians Bowling Club.

Play will intensify as the fields are reduced to the last sixteen, with quarter-finals and semi-finals scheduled for Friday at Parkhill.

The pairs championship will continue on Saturday morning at Parkhill, where the last sixteen will take to the greens at 09:00 and the competition will build steadily toward the semi-finals, promising a day of high-quality bowls.

Meanwhile, the fours competition is building towards its own dramatic crescendo. At the close of play on Tuesday, teams had completed three sectional games, with section winners advancing to Friday’s last sixteen knockout round and playing through to the semi-finals.

All roads lead to Parkhill Bowling Club on Sunday, 10 May, where the finals across all disciplines will bring this remarkable tournament to a fitting conclusion.

Drama is unfolding at Hillcrest Bowling Club, the only venue where fours section winners are involved in a playoff.

Here, the spotlight falls on the formidable Henley-on-Klip combination of Tracy Meyeridricks, Taz Bright, Charlotte Roussouw and Colleen Marshall, who are chasing an extraordinary third consecutive title.

They began confidently with a strong opening win against a Hillcrest side, but were then pushed to the limit by Wilma Richardson, Cherry-Ann Mills, Maria Hunt and Doris Frank from The Lake Bowling Club. The Benoni quartet surged ahead early and, despite relentless pressure from the defending champions, held firm to top the log.

In a further twist, the local Hillcrest team of Yvette Arendse, Jaylene Fagan, Sandra Christie and Sue Longmoor battled to a crucial draw against The Lake, leaving just a single shot separating them from the Henley-on-Klip side.

Consistency has been the hallmark of Sue Tarr, Chantal Nell, Beverley Breytenbach and Hanri Ehlers from Harlequins Bowling Club. With three wins already secured and a bye in the final round, they appear well positioned to top their section and a playoff for a last sixteen spot.

With two rounds still to play, this section is poised on a knife’s edge, a scenario that guarantees gripping finishes and edge-of-the-seat viewing for spectators.

One thing is certain, the 2026 BSA Women’s Open is living up to its promise. From scorching heat to cooling drizzle, from dominant performances to nail-biting finishes, this week has already delivered it all. And with knockout bowls now underway, the best is surely yet to come.