ZURGENA PAIRS LEAGUE (ZPL) 2025

The Zurgena Pairs’ League (ZPL), played over 8 weeks, is a drawn handicap competition with players drawn out of two handicap groups to ensure fairness and it proved to be very even with all teams capable of beating each other on the day.

The format of 2 sets of 5 ends, a one end tie break to decide the winner, no casting of the jack and the one set powerplay for each skip when double points can be earned, made for an exciting and fun packed tournament.

The top four teams played off in the semi finals and it was the two teams that finished first and second in the league, Tony Harris/Sharon Slater and Stuart Sedge/Mike Philpott who reached the final.

In a thrilling and close encounter it was inevitable that it ended up 1 set all with the one-set tie break to decide the winners. Tony won the mat and chose to bring the jack up to the minimum mark with the jack on the T. Adrenalin must have kicked in as Sharon and Stuart’s first bowls ended in the ditch but on the changeover, Sharon was holding shot. Tony bowled 3 bowls into the head and his team were holding the match and with Mike having one bowl left, and his backhand blocked off, he had to try and draw to the jack on the unreliable forehand side. The crowd held their breath, Mike took a deep breath and then delivered the perfect bowl within a foot of the jack to win the match and take the inaugural ZPL crown. Each player was asked to vote for the MVP (Most Valuable Player) over the 8 weeks and there were two close contenders. Stuart Sedge received 5 votes but the Zurgena Pairs League MVP for 2025, with 6 votes is Sharon Slater.

The players also voted for 3 players to form the ZPL All Star Team and the team as voted by the players is Sharon Slater, Stuart Sedge and Tony Harris.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the competition a huge success, to the players, the organisers, to Tammy in the tea hut and to the spectators who came to watch yesterday.