Merv Ryder wins Invercargill indoor bowls title in 1986......

The Southland four of Mark Keen, Brian Hotton, Marjorie McIntosh and Lesley Wairau represented the Southern zone at the mixed four indoor bowls final in 1986.

Their first game was against the South Otago team of David Horne, Brent Horne, Jean Jenks and Joan Harris and the Southlanders were hardly troubled and won 16-6.
Their second game was against the stronger Otago team of Irene Wigley (skip), Jim Wigley, Jack Ritchie and Ella Ritchie was a lot closer due to some good bowls being played by Irene Wigley.
Keen for Southland was the one that made it count when he made it two with a good draw bowl.
Southland won 13-10.
Central Otago team of Don Peel, Alice Henderson, Janet Peel and Les Henderson found the going tough and just could  not match the Southlanders going down 21-1.
In the singles, Merv Ryder (RSA) won the Invercargill sub centre title when he beat Ken Knight (Stuart Street) 14-8 in a good final.
Ryder also took the "Norman LeLievre" trophy.
Brian Murray (RSA) beat Betty Wilson (Stuart Street) for third 13-6.
Mrs Wilson won the "Margaret Cody" cup awarded to the last women bowler.
After three rounds of games the results were as follows:
Ken Knight (9), Bay Nieborg (7), Betty Wilson (10), Barry Spencer (9), Brian Murray (9), Norman LeLievre (9), Mervyn Ryder (13) and Suzanne Mackie (9).
BLUES CLUB TOURNAMENT: Jim Dooley beat Ken Knight 4-2, Roy McPherson beat Norman LeLievre 4-0, Bill Kane beat Brian Wilson 5-1, George Joyce beat Brian Hotton 4-2.

The following teams qualified for the playoff in the Blues tournament:
Jim Dooley, Sid Smith, Graeme Waghorn (Windsor)
Roy McPherson, Isobel Blee, Ivy Burgess (Blues)
Bill Kane, Clare Kane, Jim Soper (Myross Bush)
George Joyce, D. Ross, Bob Dodds (Tisbury)
Steven Irwin, Steve McInerney, M Irwin 
Hardy McEwing, Elda McEwing, Pat Clark 
A. McDonald, D. McDonald, Bryce Pay
Len Hamilton, Rita Conley, Linda Hartley

Reference: The Southland Times July 1986

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