Echuca-Moama and district bowls notes | January 19-26

Ladies’ pairs:

Pairs winners: Lorna Jones, Susan Abraham.

Two-game runner-up: Lois Barbary, Beryl Eddy.

First-game winners: Elaine Thomas, Sharyn Reed.

Second-game winners: Sandra Nugent, Rhonda Solomon.

Men:

Triples winners: Peter Cecil, Keith Young, Alan Cook, Alan Jones.

Runners-up: John Shaw, Rob Wastell, Barry Barbary, Russell Kelly.

Best 1st-game winners: John Kiely, Alan Buzza, Barry Brennan.

Wednesday, January 19:

Open winners: Jayde Campbell, Laurie Campbell; runners-up: Peter Cecil, Roy Jackson.

Best 1st-game Winner: Geoff Reed, John Shaw.

Best 2nd-game winner: Tony Hawley, Stu Sutton.

Thursday, January 20:

Ladies’ Scroungers winner: Sandy Harvey; runner-up: Susan Abraham.

Rink 1 winner: Val Cosway.

Rink 2 winner: Lorna Jones.

Rink 3 Winner: Yvonne Hinsley.

Ditch – Ditch: Mary Kaine, Sharyn Reed.

Men’s Nominated Pairs winners: Laurie Campbell, Garth Wiffen; runners-up: Arch Bailey, Russell Kelly.

Best 1st-game winners: Tony Hawley, Rob Wastell.

Best 2nd-game winners: Peter Cecil, Roy Jackson.

Echuca

Monday’s Pastoral Hotel sponsored social bowls saw 30 bowlers compete for the booty.

Three teams won their two games with the winners being Dick North (s), Bob Pratt and Chris Campbell with plus 15 from Steve Nolan (s), Gary Denman and Ray McDonnell plus 8.

The unlucky third team was Roger Kirchhofer (s), Tom Maher and J McLauren with plus 6.

The Ladies Consistency Breakfast Fours tournament was conducted on Wednesday with 18 teams from around the district gathering for breakfast before firing up the rivalry on the greens.

Runaway winner with 102 points was the Mathoura team of Joan Moss, Chris Taylor, Marilyn Murphy and Katie McCormack. Second place went to the Echuca team of Leica Roney, Pat Schram, Wilma Curnow and Di Payne with 62 points.

Thursday’s Jackpot Pairs saw 24 teams take to the greens in perfect weather.

With eight two-game winners there was huge interest in the overall outcome, starting with John Blair and Bill Toll (+4), Toby Egan and Eugene Xodo (+6), Peter and Chooka Tinning (+7), John Dinsdale and Bill Cook (+12), Geoff Tinning and Ian Parkinson (+13), Keith Robertson and Kevin McAsey (+16) with Maurie Hateley and John Brown runners-up on (+19), and the eventual winners Merv Harvey and Alan Clement (+28).

Best one game went to Ashley French and Daryl LaVelle with plus 17.

The jackpot of $240 was won by the very lucky John Brown and Maurie Hately.

Midweek Pennant saw division one host Mathoura and romp home by 39 shots.

All three rinks were successful with the best performance coming from Roma Opie (s), Joan Fairchild, Michelle Cunnington and Di Payne, winners by 18 shots.

Division two hosted Elmore and won two rinks out of the three to have a comfortable 26-shot victory.

Best performance went to Wilma Curnow (s), John Brown, June Clifford and Norma Hall with plus 19. Division three had the bye.

In Weekend Pennant, division one travelled across the river to Moama and had a solid 16-shot victory over its fierce rival.

Denis Compton’s rink of Ivan Hicks, Jerome Shaw and Ashley French set the pace with a 13-shot margin, with both other rinks winning by narrow margins.

Division two continued its good season with a strong performance against the visiting Deniliquin team, managing to win all rinks in the 25-shot victory.

Best performance went to Steve McCartney (s), Pat Schram, Frank Gumbleton and Col Berryman who won 28 to 15.

Division three travelled to Rochester and came home with its tail between its legs, losing all three rinks and down by 39 shots overall.

Division 4A Echuca Blue travelled to Kyvalley View and had a resounding win by 36 shots. Both rinks won well with the best being Max Clifford (s), Kevin Bursill, Bluey Charman and John Kelly on plus 26.

Division 4B Echuca White travelled to Deniliquin and lost both rinks in a disappointing 20-shot loss.

The Chemist Warehouse-sponsored Drawn Triples is the next tournament on Monday, February 14 at 5pm with a two-course meal included. Singles entries to Rhonda Gallagher on 0448 400 051.

Midweek Pennant:

Division one v Rich River away.

K Evans (s), P Thorn, R Gallagher, L Dean.

R Opie (s), J Fairchild, M Cunnington, D Payne.

L Roney (s), P Schram, R Tooley, S Proctor.

Division two v Kyvalley View away.

W Curnow (s), J Brown, J Clifford, N Hall.

H Trotter (s), B Curnow, B Johns, R Neil.

M Malone (s), B Chong, L Opthoog, L Brown.

Division three v Mathoura at home.

K Gillingham (s), L Ormando, A Vanderkley, J Armstrong.

J Young (s), M Hoelter, M Shearer, J Millar.

Emerg: C Campion.

Weekend Pennant:

Division one v Mathoura at home on Friday night. Note, there will be a barbecue operating from 5pm for players and spectators.

I Page (s), S Cunnington, J Dinsdale, M Brighton.

D Compton (s), I Hicks, J Shaw, G Armstrong.

J Ferrier (s), P Thorn, T Liddell, L Roney.

Division two v Rich River at home.

S McCartney (s), P Schram, M Cunnington, C Berryman.

I Whiting (s), E Blampied, R Taylor, J Blair.

W Fehring (s), A Clark, A French, M Thorn.

Division three v Lockington away.

M Bennett (s), W Curnow, B Curnow, B Toll.

G Clymo (s), L Whyte, S Campion, B Cook.

D Hicks (s), T Deenen, K McAsey, C Taylor.

Division 4A v Rochester at home.

T Rickard (s), M Clifford, K Bursill, J Kelly.

R Payne (s), T McColl, D North, J Werner.

Division 4B v Lockington away

J Hollowood (s), S Nolan, J Cowan, C Campbell.

K Robertson (s), P Leach, D LaVelle, B Pratt.

Emergencies: D Ricketts, B Charman, B Haines.

Mathoura

Friday's night game was a great success and we had quite a few spectators watching; it really is a great sight with the lights on.

Please check the bowls office notice board for Club Championships still to be played.

Names as soon as possible for Mixed Pairs, Men's 100 Up Handicap, Men's B-grade 21 Up Singles.

Lockington

It was a huge weekend of bowls at Lockington with the Campaspe Area Pennant on Saturday followed by the Annual Waterwheel Classic Fours on Sunday.

To start the week on Monday, the final of the women's Club Championship was held between Leanne McInnes and Phylis MacFarlane, and with mild weather and overhead cloud cover, the conditions were ideal for bowls.

The final began with both bowlers trading ends with scores at a close footing.

McInnes managed to break the shackles and picked up a couple of maximum four shots to lead 14 to 5. MacFarlane was trying desperately to bridge the gap, but McInnes was in demolition mode as she grabbed two more maximum shots to break away and record a 25-12 victory, recording a third Club Championship title.

MacFarlane was far from disgraced and could take something out of the game and the domination by her opponent. Congratulations to both bowlers.

Sunday, January 23:

The club held the annual Waterwheel Classic Fours, attracting a quality field of 112 bowlers from Bendigo, Calivil, Dingee, Echuca, Elmore, Ky Valley View, Lockington, Marong, Mathoura, Moama, Pyramid Hill, Rich River, Rochester, Serpentine, Stanhope, Tongala and White Hills.

At the completion of the four games of 10 ends, there were only three undefeated teams to contest the five-end play-offs.

In the first play-off, the Moama rink comprising Tony Hawley, Arch Bailey, Russell Kelly and George Thornley (s) played the Echuca four of Ian Page, Ashley French, John Dinsdale and Steve Cunnington (s).

The Echuca team picked up a four on the third end to win 5-3 and win a berth in the final against another Echuca rink, June Clifford, Max Clifford, Gael Kerr and Ivan Hicks (s).

The final produced some quality bowls as both teams battled to gain the edge. However, in the final stanza it was the Ivan Hicks-skipped rink that gained the victory and will have their names etched on the coveted honour board.

In fact, it was a rather historic moment as it is the very first time in the 52-year history of the Waterwheel Classic Fours that the names of two women have been added to the board.

The team of June Clifford, Max Clifford, Gael Kerr, Ivan Hicks (s) was successful in defeating the Cunnington-skipped rink 5-3 in the play-off. At the presentations, club president Ray Hanson congratulated the winners and runners-up on their fine display of bowling.

Hanson thanked sponsors Northern Livestock and Property Services for its ongoing support. Further acknowledgement was extended to the greens staff of Kevin Humbert and Les Brereton for the immaculate presentation of the greens.

The ladies’ committee was thanked for the magnificent presentation of meals during the day and the efficient method in the split-lunch time to observe the COVID-19 protocols and density limits.

Tournament secretary Chris Stewart thanked all bowlers for their support and acknowledged the input from Russell Shawcross in gaining so many visitors, while Lorraine Appleby was thanked for her many hours in organising the tournament schedule.

Four local members were thanked for standing out of the competition when an unannounced team arrived.

The final of the BCG Regional Novice Singles was held at the Golden Square Bowling Club.

Our Lockington member Sue Harris was pitted against Susan Flint in the final. The game played out to be an almost unbelievable contest, as Flint produced some telling bowls from the very first bowl to have Harris on the defensive as the lead ballooned out to an astonishing 20-2 advantage.

However, Harris suddenly found the green and proceeded to win several ends, reducing the deficit to trail 16-20.

Holding a close bowl for shot, Harris was close to winning the end before Flint had the ability to trail the kitty and gain that elusive shot to take the final 21-16. Both bowlers were congratulated on their display and sporting spirit.

Tuesday, January 18:

The women held their social bowls and played pairs. The winning team was Sue Harris and Leanne McInnes (s) with one-and-a-half wins.

Tuesday evening sports-barefoot bowls attracted 20 players. The winners were Milli D’Angri, Andy Harris and Russell Shawcross (s), two wins plus 22 shots ahead of Jack Morris-Lloyd Buchanan (s) +9 and Peter Staindl-Jeff Carnie (s) + 5 shots. Thanks to Denise Gilmore and Mary Thomas for organising the teams and also to Brian Kinnane and Steve Peter for the barbecue.

On the local Pennant scene, the women lost the clash with Rich River with all rinks down in the 54-89 defeat. Annette Brereton lost to N King 13-24; Pauline Humbert lt. P Sehestedt 19-36; Leanne McInnes lt. P Hayes 22-29.

In the weekend pennant both our division three and division 4B won their respective clashes against the top sides Moama and Deniliquin RSL. Division three had two rinks up in the 64-38 victory. Ian Johnson d. R Jackson 22-12; Graheme Turner lost to B Cuttriss 11-17; Leanne McInnes d. S Sutton 31-9. Division 4B shared the rinks with Deniliquin RSL to win 41-36. Bill Musgrove lt. J Jennings 15-20; Frank Chugg d. J Wilson 26-16.

The Friday evening barbecue and practice session was well attended with the missing member Lorraine Appleby featuring in the lucky members’ draw.

The next tournament on the agenda is the popular Mixed Pairs on Sunday, February 6 starting at 1pm. Work on the big green is under way and the field for the mixed pairs will be a maximum of 32 teams. Contact Chris Stewart on 0439 834 207 (text only) or Annie Haines on 5486 8220 for details.

On Tuesday evening February 15 the annual Mixed Fours tournament will be held commencing at 5pm. Contact Lorraine Appleby on 0427 502 569 or Annie Haines on 5486 8220 for entries.

The finals of the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Regional State Fours were held at the Golden Square Bowling Club on Sunday. Congratulations to the Moama rink comprising Colleen Maslen, Merrilyn Rehe, Marilyn Stephenson and Mary Spizer (s) on winning the title. The rink defeated another Moama team of Cheryl Doherty, Mia Young, Kath Wastell and Sandra Connolly (s), 19-12 in the final. Both teams won their semi-final in convincing fashion.