Amy and Shannon McIlroy have pulled off a rare sporting feat for their Stoke Bowling Club and themselves.
Shannon returned from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to skip Stoke to win the Champion of Champions Men’s Triples in Pukekohe, beating Waihopai 22-9.
His teammates were Peter ‘Nobby’ Hodson and Nic Thomsett.
The victory provided Nobby with a Bowls New Zealand Silver star for winning five silver titles, a perfect 60th birthday present.
A week later, Amy emulated her partner, leading Stoke to win the Women’s Triples at the same venue, south of Auckland.
It was a gruelling final day for Amy, Kirsten Edwards and Gemma Watts.
Fortunately, Amy had changed their flights home.
After beating Sandra Keith’s Mid Canterbury’s side in the semi-final, Stoke took on Paritutu, skipped by Briar Atkinson.
The final went to an extra end before Stoke beat the Taranaki triple.
“It was pretty cool for Shan and I to complete the double and a great result for a quite-a- dominant Stoke club too,” Amy says.
She and Kirsten will now switch to doubles for next month’s Stoke Stakes.
Amy will pair with Tayla Bruce, while Kirsten will link again with Mandy Boyd as they look to defend their title.
Meanwhile, Shannon is on the Gold Coast this week, playing as a marquee player for Melbourne’s Deer Park Club in the Broadbeach 5-Side tournament.
