(Photo World Bowls)
Gary Kelly of Ireland and Dawn Hayman of Australia are the first-ever World Bowls Series (WBS) gold medallists.
he three-day singles spectacular was the culmination of this brand-new competition which has seen 24 players from eight nations compete for the ultimate honours in the men’s and women’s singles.
In the men’s semi-finals, New Zealand’s Aiden Takarua continued his unbeaten run from the group stages, edging a tight first set 8-8 against Cohen Litfin, of Australia, before closing the second set 5-4 to secure his place in the final.
Takarua was the only men’s competitor to go 5-0 through qualifying, supported by eight set wins and the strongest set points in Section 2. In the last two years, his season includes Hong Kong Classic gold in the singles, World Champion of Champions silver and the New Zealand Open singles title. Litfin secured his semi-final place with three wins and five set wins, adding to a breakout year highlighted by Oceania titles and Australian Open singles success.
In a heavyweight semi-final between two of the most in-form singles players of 2025, Gary Kelly booked the second spot in the final after another composed performance – level at 5-5 against his Australian Open pairs winning partner, Australia’s Corey Wedlock in the first set before lifting to take the second 8-4.
Kelly advanced from Section 1 with three wins and six set wins, backing up what has already been a standout season that includes Australian Open success, BPL medals and a World Championships pairs gold. Wedlock had progressed from Section 2 with three wins and six set wins, bringing the form that won him the Australian Indoor title, World Cup singles bronze and multiple major pairs titles this year.
In the final, Kelly took a single and a three on the first two of the seven end sets, before Takarua replying with five singles on the remaining ends to edge the first set 5-4. The second set was a ding-dong battle with Kelly scoring a double on the seventh end to grab the honours 6-4 and force a three-end tiebreak which saw him score a two and a single conceding only a single shot to be crowned men’s singles champion.
In the women’s semi-finals, England had the bragging rights with two players in the final four – young guns Nicole Rogers and Emily Kernick.
A huge second day of round-robin group games saw Rogers win Section 2 with four match wins and consistent set points, adding to a year that includes world indoor medals, European gold and British Isles success.
She faced Kelly McKerihen, of Canada, who qualified with four wins and six set wins, reflecting the steady form she has shown across the Victorian Open, Australian Championships and the World Cup.
Rogers took the first set 5-3, dropped the second 2-8, but then steadied in the tie-break to win 4–2, picking up twos on the first and third ends to book her place in the final.
Two of the most consistent performers of the last two seasons met in the other top-tier semi-final.
For the host nation, Dawn Hayman topped Section 1 with five wins from five and nine set wins, the strongest qualifying record in the entire women’s field. Her 2025 includes the Australian Open singles title, World Cup singles bronze and multiple national finals.
Kernick reached the semis with three wins and six set wins from Section 2, continuing her strong international form – world indoors singles silver, world indoors mixed pairs gold and British championships titles across fours and junior pairs.
Hayman lost the opening set 2-7, but responded with a 5-4 second set, then edged the tie-break 3-2, scoring a single on the second end and two on the third to make the final.
Scoring a double on the opening end of the first set against Rogers, Hayman went on to pick up another two and a three as she pipped her English opponent 7-6 before scoring three doubles on consecutive ends to stamp her authority on the second set running out a 7-3 winner to record seven wins out of seven matches and be the only player out of the world-class field of 24 to go unbeaten in the event.
SECTIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Results show finishing position, game points, sets won and set points in the way they were decided.
MEN’S SINGLES
SECTION 1: 1. Gary Kelly (Ireland) 9 pts (6 sets won); 2 Cohen Litfin (Australia) 9 (5/5.50 set points); 3. Ross Owen (Wales) 9 (4/5); 4. Sam Tolchard (England) 6 (6/6.50); 5. Dominic McVittie (England) 6 (3/3); 6. Aron Sherriff (Australia) 6 (2).
SECTION 2: 1. Aiden Takarua (New Zealand) 15; 2. Corey Wedlock (Australia) 9 (6); 3. Lee Schraner (Australia) 9 (4); 4. Jack McShane (Australia) 6; 5. Izzat Dzukeple (Malaysia) 3 (2); 6. Daniel Davies Jnr (Wales) 3.
SEMI-FINALS
Takuara bt Litfin 8-8, 5-4; Kelly bt Wedlock 5-5, 8-4.
FINAL
Kelly bt Takarua 4-5, 6-3, 3-1.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
SECTION 1: 1. Dawn Hayman (Australia) 15; 2. Kelly McKerihen (Canada) 12; 3. Cheryl Chan (Hong Kong China) 6; 4. Olivia Cartwright 6; 5. Selina Goddard 3; 6. Stef Branfield (England) 0.
SECTION 2: 1. Nicole Rogers (England) 12; 2. Emily Kernick (England) 9 (6); 3. Cassandra Millerick (Australia) 9 (5); 4. Kelsey Cottrell (Australia) 6 (5); 5. Nural Alyani Binti Jamil (Malaysia) 6 (4); 6. Emma Firyana Saroji (Malaysia) 0.
SEMI-FINALS
Rogers bt McKerihen 5-3, 2-8, 4-2; Hayman bt Kernick 2-7, 5-4, 3-2.
FINAL
Hayman bt Rogers 7-6, 7-3.
