Rich River
Rich River Bowls Club elected a new president at its recent annual general meeting, with Toni Beck taking up the role. Members wish her well for the coming season.
The new women’s and men’s match committees were formed and got to work straight away.
Last Tuesday, the women started their annual winter social program, with the indoor bowls season including three games, one before lunch and other two after lunch.
Members and visitors had an excellent roll-up. All are welcome, especially novices.
Winners of the day were Marg Spinks (triples) Bev Mills and Roma Bowman.
Last Wednesday’s men’s three-bowl pairs saw 22 pairs play three games of 10 ends on the great greens which were running a very nice 14 seconds.
The top three teams were all tied on 28 points and places were decided by shots up.
Winners were Moama’s Stan Barker and Keith Young with 78 points, 27 shots up, while in second place was Tim Noar and Peter Moon with 28 points, 16 shots up.
Third place went to Barry Brown and Bill McEwan with 28 points, 15 shots up.
The weekly jackpot was re-introduced with a twist from previous years — drawing the winning rink out of the hat.
The new format now makes the winning pair of the day play for the jackpot.
The match committee sets the kitty on the T of the rink of their choice, and the players place the mat at a legal length.
They are then required to bowl two bowls each and to win the jackpot their four bowls must be within the yard arm of the kitty.
Stan and Keith were unsuccessful in their attempt to take out the $50 jackpot, so it will increase to $60.
Rich River greens are not available this Wednesday due to Moama May Carnival having full use of the greens.
The next men’s three-bowl pairs will be on Wednesday, May 18.
In Saturday open social bowls, members were joined by 12 visiting bowlers from Toora Bowls Club in South Gippsland, who enjoyed the greens so much they won the day.
The next Saturday social bowls will be played on May 21 from 1pm.
Come along on Tuesdays for ladies indoor bowls and on Wednesdays for men’s three-bowl pairs at Rich River. Book via the bowls office on 5481 3390 for a game. Single entries are accepted.
Moama RSL
Monday, May 9
Twenty-three players played three games of nine ends.
The winners on 44 points were D. Lee (skip), M. Barkham (third), P. Joyce (second) and S. McKinnon (lead).
Runners-up with 35.5 points were V. Gaylor (skip), J. Van Lee (third), B. Cosgriff (second) and C. O’Callaghan (lead).
Consolation prizes went to N. Hardy, E. Morgan, NIL and M. Hardy.
Mathoura
Cadell County Open Two-Bowl Triples
The tournament was sponsored by Tarragon Lodge.
This is the first of the club’s winter tournaments and it was very pleasing to have 26 teams competing on the greens.
There were teams from various country clubs, including Rosedale, Stanhope, Ky Valley View and metro club Lalor. Thank you to you all for supporting the club.
Five games of 16 ends were played over two days and Saturday night there were three three-game winners and one with a draw and two wins.
Two teams ended up with five games, meaning a play-off was needed to decide the winner and runner-up.
Finalists from Mathoura were Mark Quor (skip), Wal McConchie and Garry Hulm, and from Lalor it was Gavin Niclasen (skip), Andrew Vanderhorst and Donny Passas.
The winner of the Cadell County Tarragon Lodge Two-Bowl Triples was the Lalor team.
Third place was Al Callow's team from Ballarat, while in fourth place was Adam from Rosedale's team.
There were also some lucky card draws which went over well.
Thanks to Deb and Mick Humphreys of Tarragon Lodge for sponsoring the tournament.
Thank you to all at the club for making the visitors feel most welcome, and well done to green keeper Peter Wilson.
Thanks also to Dave Murray for his assistance and John Dean for selling raffle tickets.
When at the club, check the bowls office notice boards for upcoming events.
Echuca
Day eight of the May carnival saw 22 teams competing in mixed fours in cool and cloudy conditions.
After three games, there were only two teams who won all three games.
Overall winners were Ron Payne, Roma Opie, June Clifford (Echuca) and Les Dyson (Whittlesey) with 77 points (2.6 per cent) on a countback from Geoff and Jenni Sutcliffe (Numurkah) and Keith and Lorraine Sanderson (Lara) also on 77 points (1.95 per cent).
Best first game went to Merv Harvey, Elise Bennett, Laurie Campbell and Sandra Harvey with +12.
Best second game was won by Col and Pat Hayes (Rich River) and John and Marita Beames (Buninyong).
Best third game went to Stan and Pam Limbrick (Mathoura) and Peter and Lynda Harris (Numurkah).
Day nine on Tuesday was men’s and women’s pairs with 32 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams.
Women’s winners were Kristy Gillingham and Wilma Curnow (Echuca), who were the only three-game winners, from runners-up Joan Moss (Mathoura) and Ros Neil.
The men’s event went to Echuca’s Jim Ferrier and Eddie Blampied from Bruce O’Neale (Rich River) and Ashley French (Echuca).
Wednesday was a mixed triples event with 22 teams competing in sunny and cool conditions.
Winners were Graham and Dawn Blackman and Ian McLean (Stawell Golf) from Brian Trengove (Rochester), Bev Trengove and Peggy Bell (Moama).
Best first game was won by John and Maree Davies, along with Bruce Glover of Chirnside Park.
Best second game went to H. Jansen, N. Carothers and R. Neely (White Hills), while the best last game was won by Ivan Hicks and June Clifford (Echuca) with Gayle Kerr (Mathoura).
Thursday was again men’s and women’s pairs with the winners being Leica Roney and partner in the women’s event from D. Skillern and partner from Chirnside Park, while in the men’s event Phillip Thorn and partner were the winners from Laurie Roach and partner from Palm Lake.
The final day of the 12-day event was mixed pairs, with 56 bowlers competing.
After 27 ends the winners were Max Bennett (Echuca) and Janet Smith (Strathmore) with 80 points from runners-up P. and D. Dodman of Yarrawonga with 77 points.
Best first game was won by Sue Proctor and Chris Campbell of Echuca with +23.
Best second game went to Cec and Joan Moss of Mathoura with +16, while best last game saw Echuca’s Ian Page and Kristy Gillingham take home the goodies with +15.
The carnival is a huge event and could not occur without sponsors and the contribution from a multitude of club volunteers who did a magnificent job.
Two people who have put in much more than just 12 days’ work were Don Hicks and tournament director Rhonda Gallagher, who took all the entries, did the draws and were on deck every day to ensure the smooth running of the event. A huge thank you to all.
Members are reminded that Echuca Bowls Club’s annual general meeting is to be held in the club rooms at 7pm on Wednesday, May 18, following a special general meeting.
The bowls committee will hold a meeting after the AGM. All members are invited to attend these meetings to ensure the smooth operation of the club continues.
The meetings will be preceded by a Heart Health presentation by paramedic Anita Sperling at 6pm which will include signs and symptoms of heart attack followed by questions. Please place your name on the list in the club rooms as soon as possible.