Taking home the crown: Dookie’s Neil Swainston took home the men’s title.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
It was a case of David versus Goliath in the Goulburn Valley Playing Area 2021-22 State Champion of Champions Singles Men competition, as Dookie’s Neil Swainston powered his way through the star-studded field to emerge victorious.
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Coming from a division four team, Swainston had to do it the hard way, being one of just six competitors forced to play in the first round before having to work his way through three tough matches against division one calibre opponents.
Determination: Mooroopna’s Bernadette Nichols.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
He explained his mindset heading into the cut-throat competition.
“I didn’t really have a lot of expectations heading into the tournament, I am just a division four bowler out at Dookie, so thought I’d just go and have some fun,” Swainston said.
Beginning with a crushing 25-10 win over Merrigum’s Colin Capes he then backed up some two hours later with another 25-10 triumph over Rushworth’s Bruce Wooton to win his way through to the quarter-finals.
In what was his third game of the day, Swainston continued his golden form, crushing Alexandra’s Ken Argent to book his place in the final four.
“All those games (on the first day) were pretty tough, playing all those ends on the one day was fairly tiring, but very enjoyable as well,” he said.
Rolling her way to victory: East Shepparton’s Stacey Collier was the women’s winner.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“You can get into a bit of a rhythm and it seems to work a lot, so I found as the day went on I continued to get better and more confident.”
Returning the following week for the semi-finals at Shepparton Golf, Swainston was pitted against Seymour’s Ian Eichfuss and once again showed his class, blitzing the accomplished Lions skip 25-15 to advance to the decider.
The final chapter of the Cinderella story would come in the form of key Tallygaroopna third Matthew Robertson, who after playing a pivotal role in his side’s second-placed Allan Matheson Shield finish appeared destined to add Champion of Champions to his dazzling resume.
Game of inches: Shepparton Golf’s John Stokes.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
But the underdog from Dookie had other plans, taking it right up to Robertson in what quickly became an enthralling final.
A match filled with momentum swings, Swainston would cap his darling run, holding firm in the dying stages to claim a stunning 25-22 victory.
Now carrying the title of Champion of Champions, he said the gravity of his accomplishment was yet to sink in.
“I still don’t really know (how to feel about being the Champion of Champions),” he said.
“I was very happy after the final and it is awesome to win something like this, but at the end of the day it would be a lot nicer to win a division four premiership with the club.”
In the State Champion of Champions women’s singles competition, East Shepparton’s Stacey Collier took home the crown with a dominant campaign.
Also forced to play in the first round, Collier saw off a brave Sally Beach to come away with a tight 25-20 victory before really coming into her own with a comfortable 25-12 win in the second round over Eildon’s Sharon Hall.
A quarter-final showdown with Rushworth’s Sue Moreton would round out the Eagle’s first day of competition, as she romped to a 25-12 win to a punch a ticket to the final four at Shepparton Golf the following week.
Fun day out: The state of the green at Shepparton Golf Bowls club during the finals.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
With two matches separating Collier from glory, she picked up right where she left off the previous week, destroying Shepparton Golf’s Lyn Hawkless 25-8 to set up a final showdown with Mooroopna’s Bernadette Nichols.
In sparkling form, she would put in one last clinical performance in the decider, easily accounting for Nichols with a 25-15 win to take home the title.
