Echuca-Moama and district bowls notes | April 21

Louisa led 20-19 in an amazingly high standard match but her opponent drew a resting toucher and a second shot that was enough for Louisa to go down 21-20.

In another equally staggering performance, 12-year-old Jacob Brighton was runner-up in the state under 18 singles at Bendigo East last week. Congratulations on a magnificent performance, Jake. You obviously have a great future in the game of bowls.

In last week’s Lockington Waterwheel Fours, two Echuca skipped teams quinellaed the event with Norm Hodge (s), Evan Berryman, Bill Curnow and Bill Toll winning the event from Ivan Hicks(s), Beryl Murray, David Murray and Gayle Kerr.

Thursday’s Jackpot Pairs saw 24 teams compete with five two-game winners.

Best performed were John Dinsdale and Bill Cook (+20) from Peter O’Brien (Kyabram) and Eddie Smith ( 16).

Best one-game went to Rich River team of Max Kosch and Robert Taylor ( 25).

Don Hicks and John Kelly took home the jackpot which went off after 13 weeks.

Saturday's social bowls were attended by 29 bowlers with the winners being John Simpson (s), Bluey Charman and C. O’Brien (53 points) on a countback from Trevor Rickard (s), Bob Pratt and C. Campbell.

This week sees the 2021 Women’s Country Carnival being held in the district with Echuca hosting 112 bowlers on Monday along with the same numbers at Rich River and Moama.

Knockout pairs are to be held on Wednesday and knockout fours on Thursday, which is sure to be a busy time for the club.

Rich River

Our 2021 Club Championships are nearing completion with only the men's and ladies' pairs games to be played. These are expected to be contested in the coming days.

In the meantime, congratulations go to both Noeline King and Robert (Sam) King for their double victories in the respective ladies' and men's 21-Up Championships, both of which were closely contested finals. Runners-up went to Liz Easther and Eugene Xodo.

Congratulations also go to Eugene Xodo for his win over John Hart in yet another closely fought-out contest for the 100-Up title.

The ladies played their Daisy Taylor Pairs on Thursday and Friday, which is a draw for partners event that resulted in some newer members being matched with long-term members in a friendly but competitive game.

The final was played between Roseanne Sharp/Kerryn Sparks and Wilma Williams/Moira Thomas with an excited Kerryn and Roseanne taking out the title.

Numbers were down for Saturday's social bowls on April 17, with honours on the day going to the team of Leon Sharp, Roseanne Sharp and John Langley as the only two-game winners.

The club will continue to run this each Saturday until the end of May, with weather and sufficient entries permitting.

The last social Tuesday bowls will be held on April 27 with a bistro lunch afterward. It would be appreciated if those attending could place their names on the list for catering purposes.

Ladies' indoor bowls will start on Tuesday, May 11 at 11 am in the usual venue over at the golf club.

For further details please contact either Joyce Brereton on 5482 1242 or Bev Mills on 5482 5262. Alternatively, call the club's reception on 5481 3333.

The Rich River Men's State Fours team of Darryl Weymouth, Peter Nesbitt, Colin Hayes and Gerry Devlin will be playing in the regional finals on Tuesday, May 4 at the Bendigo East Club.

We encourage any of our members who are able to attend to go along and support these bowlers.

Our club hosted the Women's Country Bowls Carnival on Monday, April 19 with 28 teams of four bowlers contesting the events on great greens in very pleasant conditions.

Thanks to the ladies from our club for volunteering their time to assist with the day's proceedings and making it such a successful and enjoyable day.

Dates not to forget are Thursday, April 22 for our annual general meeting and Sunday, May 2 for our presentation night, both to be held over at the Golf Club upstairs in the meeting room.

Jackpot Pairs results for Wednesday, April 14:

John Hart and Max Kosch - 56 points/30 shots up.

John Stuart and Darryl Wood - 56 points/15 shots up.

Gerry Devlin and Ken Dashwood - 56 points/13 shots up.

Repecharge:

Toy Egan and Eddie Blampied - 10 ends won/16 shots up.

Moama RSL

On Monday, April 19, 22 players played three games of 10 ends.

The winners on 39 points were V. Gaylor (skip), P. Kerr (third), Carol O’Callaghan (second) and H. Salter (lead).

Runners-up with 37 points were R. Panozzo (skip), B. Glasson (third), C. O’Callaghan (second) and S. McKinnon (lead)

Consolation prizes went to J. Heals, B. Glasson and C. Glass.

Lockington

We are looking forward to a big week of bowls in the Campaspe area with the BowlsVic Women's Country Carnival being held.

A total of 360 bowlers will be playing at several venues throughout the area in pairs and fours.

At Lockington we will be hosting the pairs event on Tuesday, April 20 with 40 bowlers in action, then the consolation event on Thursday.

Play starts at 8.30 am each day. An opportunity not to miss, as several high-standing bowlers will be on display.

Last Tuesday the women played rinks with the highly talented team of Margaret Dowie, Denise Gilmore, Margaret Davis and Annette Brereton (s) collecting the trophies.

On Tuesday evening there was another fine showing of 29 players for the barefoot bowls.

The winning trio was Taya Munro, Brett Munro and Warren Jones (s) in a near-faultless display.

There will be no barefoot bowls this week due to the Country Carnival.

In the club competitions, Leanne McInnes won the 100-Up Presidents Trophy against Denise Gilmore in a match highlighted by some extraordinary bowling from both contestants.

Scores were level on several occasions before McInnes gained the upper hand to win the contest 101-79.

This win enables McInnes to claim both the 100-Up championship along with the club championship in the one year. Congratulations to both bowlers.

On the men's side of the ledger, Tom Davis defeated Bill Musgrove 21-19 in a close encounter in the 21-Up Presidents Trophy.

Davis will now play John van den Bosch for a semi-final spot. Other players involved are Owen McPhee versus Brian Kinnane in a semi-final while Phillip Cunnington will meet the winner of the Davis/Van den Bosch match.

The 100-Up Championship saw Ray Hanson defeat a gallant Alan Kauffman 100-98 in another great contest. Hanson will now play Cunnington in a semi-final with Davis to meet Leon Laffy in the other semi-final.

A busload of bowlers ventured to Lake Boga on Saturday for the two-bowl triples event. Both teams had mixed success but enjoyed the outing, winning a couple of games each.

On Friday evening, the barbecue/practice session was well attended with Tom Davis going home before the draw which saw his name drawn. The members' draw will have a jackpot this week.

The club will hold the annual presentation evening on Sunday, May 2 at 6.30 pm for a 7pm meal. Names to be listed for catering purposes.

During the past week, the BowlsVic State 60 and Over Singles and Pairs championships were decided at the Bendigo Bowling Club.

Our Bendigo/Campaspe Region bowlers performed well against some spirited opposition.

In the women's section, Susan Howes lost to A Hall (Yarra) 15-21. Hall was eliminated in the semi-final.

In the pairs, the Golden Square combination of Patti Pain and Julie Ross (s) gained the early break against M. Forras and H. Redpath (s) to lead 9-3 but lost the advantage to lose the game 10-15.

In the men's singles event, supporters witnessed an in-form Jim Hogan (Moama) exploded out of the blocks to lead his opponent Nino Vlahovic 9-2 before Vlahovic won the mat and played short ends to bridge the gap and trail 9-13.

However, the mercurial Hogan was equal to the task and played some brilliant bowls to win the contest 21-13 and progress to the next round.

His opponent in the match was M. Pearce (Mornington Peninsula) and was found to be a stumbling block for Hogan.

On several occasions Hogan would be holding multiple shots, only to have his opponent alter the head to his advantage with sheer ability and confidence.

Pearce eventually won a semi-final berth with a 21-5 scoreline. In the semi-final, Pearce lost to the eventual state winner Tom Ristic 20-21.

The pairs saw Barry Tinning and Kevin Brennan (s) (Tongala/Moama) play S. Kostov and B. Ferguson (s) in the first round. The Thinning/Brennan combination gained an early advantage to lead 8-4 in a tight contest.

On the second last end of the 15-end contest, the local pair dropped three shots to trail 9-13. On the final end their opposition was holding one shot and the Bendigo/Campaspe pair had four second shots.

Brennan tried desperately to remove the shot bowl and claim the four shots to force an extra end. However, the aggressive drive failed to make contact and the game was lost 9-14.

The bowling fraternity are reminded the BowlsVic State Pennant championships are to be held at the Moama Bowling Club this coming weekend.

Weekend pennant finals are on Saturday and Sunday followed by the midweek pennant finals on Monday and Tuesday.

Mathoura

Men's 100-Up Handicap Singles: B. Papworth d D. Murray

Men's B Grade 21 Up Singles: N. Dovaston d J. Toomey

Please play your club games as soon as you can. Thank you.

The Cadell County Open Two Bowl Triples tournament will be held on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9.

Sponsored by Tarragon Lodge, Saturday's play will see three games of 16 ends contested with a 10 am start. Saturday May 8: Three Games 16 Ends. 10 am start

On Sunday, it will be two games of 16 ends with a 9.30 am start with the best winning margin on the last two games.

The cost is $60 per team. Players can purchase their own lunch from the bowlers' menu.

Entries close at 6 pm on Thursday, May 6.

Entries to Bowls Co-ordinator Rod Werner on 0408 568 338 or through the club on 5880 3200.

Our presentation night will be on Friday, May 7. A list is on display at the bowls office for names, with more details to follow.