Amanzimtoti’s BSA Women’s Open fours gold medalists – Lesley Levy, Hilary Lindsay, Susan Nel, Nicky Stirzaker and Sarie Bisset.
Image: Tammy Douglas
The 2026 Bowls South Africa Women’s Open concluded with dramatic finals at Parkhill Bowling Club on Sunday 9 May, but for PNB bowlers and supporters the fours final carried special significance.
Amanzimtoti Bowling Club’s Susan Nel had skipped her team of debutantes through an outstanding unbeaten run of eight games. Five sectional victories followed by three knockout wins placed them in the final.
However, Sunday morning brought shock and disappointment when after effects of Nel’s foot injury finally took its toll. The strain of over-compensating for the tendon damage eventually caused severe hip pain.
An urgent 8am call went out to fellow Amanzimtoti member and Port Natal Veteran side skip, Sarie Bisset, who arrived at Parkhill prepared to step in should the need arise. After attempting to negotiate the trial ends, Nel made the difficult decision to withdraw from the final in the interests of both her health and the team.
Umhlanga’s BSA Women’s Open fours bronze medalists – Leonie Koedyk, Sandy Smart, Linda Ellis and Kim Christensen.
Image: Tammy Douglas
Tournament rules prevent a replacement player from taking over as skip, leaving a visibly nervous Nicky Stirzaker to assume the pivotal role while Bisset slotted in at third.
Facing them was the experienced Hartenbos Bowling Club combination of Esmé Kruger, Lara York, Ina Fourie and Rolinda Fourie, who were contesting their third consecutive BSA Women’s Open fours final and desperately hoping to convert two previous silver medals into gold.
What followed was a final worthy of a national championship. Stirzaker, Bisset, Hilary Lindsay and Lesley Levy played with remarkable composure and cohesion, matching their seasoned opponents end for end.
Going into the penultimate end the Amanzimtoti side held a slender 16-15 lead when Hartenbos trailed the jack into the ditch and appeared poised to seize control, with two back bowls holding.
Natalie Botha and Glenda Matthews - the BSA Open pair bronze medalists.
Image: Tammy Douglas
Under immense pressure, Stirzaker delivered what many spectators later described as the “shot of the tournament”, drawing her final bowl closer to the jack to reclaim the end and preserve her side’s advantage.
Needing two shots on the final end to force an extra end, Hartenbos could only manage one, handing the Amanzimtoti quartet a memorable gold medal victory.
An ecstatic Susan Nel praised her team’s achievement afterwards. “This being an Open National tournament, many Protea and BSA Master bowlers formed composite teams with top players from different districts,” she said.
“We decided to stay together as a club side because we know one another’s strengths and understand the mix of personalities. It has paid off. I could not be prouder of this team in their first BSA Open.”
Other local successes included the Umhlanga fours side of Leonie Koedyk, Sandy Smart, Linda Ellis and Kim Christensen, who claimed bronze after losing their semi-final by a single shot to the eventual champions.
In the pairs, Stella Park’s Glenda Matthews and Natalie Botha also secured bronze medals after another agonising one-shot semi-final defeat, while Matthews added a second bronze medal in the Veteran Singles.
Speaking at the awards ceremony Port Natal Bowls President, Ken Fann, complimented the 589 competitors on the standard of play and congratulated the event steering committee and the twelve host clubs for delivering what many visiting bowlers described as the best organised national tournament they had attended.