Echuca Bowls Club
Last Thursday’s men’s jackpot pairs saw 20 teams competing in 2x4x2 concept on the first Thursday of the month.
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Five teams won both games, starting with Tim Fraser - Ashley French (+8), Ivan Hicks - Laurie Quinn (+8), John Reidell - Leigh Polkinghorne (Tongala, +16), runners up Steve Morgan - Daniel Vella (+17), and the winners George Thornley - Jerome Shaw (+25).
Best one game went to Norm Hodge - Col Carrington (+14).
On Good Friday the club held a charity day to support the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal, with 25 bowlers in attendance.
Four teams won their games, starting with Erica Mostert, Jim Ferrier, and Kevin Bursill (+10), Toby Egan, Bruce Haines, and Jill Young (+11), Keith Robertson, Robyn Tooley, and Neil Orchard (+13), along with Chris Egan, Bluey Charman, and Andy Humphrys (+15).
The event raised a total of $447.20, added to $187.70 raised earlier from the “wrong bias” tin, giving a total of $634.90, which was a great effort.
Monday’s social bowls were not held due to the Easter break, but will resume on April 13 at the new time of 6pm.
Mini bingo again failed to go off, so jackpots to $1766 next Friday (there is no draw tonight because of the presentation night).
John Exton won the members draw of $90, but was not present, so it’s jackpots to $100 next Friday.
The AGM will be held on Sunday, May 24 at 2pm.
Rochester Bowls Club
Social bowls
Friday, April 10 at 10am start.
Bowlers from Vermont South will be at the Rochester Bowls Club on this particular morning.
The club requires 20-25 bowlers who would like to play with the visitors.
There is a list in the foyer for names.
If you can’t get in to the club to put your name on the list, give the office a ring as usual on the Friday morning to enter your name.
A BBQ lunch will be provided also.
The ladies final is on Wednesday, April 8 at 10am, 100 up – Kaye Barker vs Joan Limbrick .
Mixed pairs final
Congratulations to Kaye Barker and Dick Feuk who took out the win against their opponents, Jane McCallum and Tim Quinlan.
Marg Stewart memorial tournament
This very successful tournament was hosted by the Rochester Bowls Club last weekend.
Sincere thank you to everyone who participated in some way over the weekend and prior to the event – your generosity helped to make the tournament the competitive and joyous success that it was.
Particular shout-out to Jenny Major for her unwavering support of our club.
Winners of the Marg Stewart Memorial trophy was Marilyn Stephenson’s team from Moama.
Runners-up, by one less point, were the team from Harcourt.
AGM
Monday, May 11. Nomination forms can be found in the bar area, along with a list of the vacant positions.
Positions vacant include: Chairperson; Vice-chairperson; Secretary; Treasurer and Board committee members.
Other vacant positions: Midweek pennant selectors; Weekend selectors; Ladies match committee; Men’s match committee; Ladies tournament committee; Men’s tournament committee; Ladies and men’s treasurer; publicity officer; webmaster; bar manager; bar committee; catering committee; funeral convenor; groundskeeper (ex-officio) and greens committee.
Bar duty
Monday – Thursday- 5 – 6.30pm
6 - 9 April: A. Benson and M. MacCraild.
13 - 16 April: G. Houlihan and B. Smolenaars.
19 – 22 April: B. Hetherington and volunteer.
Lockington Bowls Club
What a weekend for Easter, blessed with ideal weather.
At the club, all spectators and members were treated to a flurry of championship titles up for grabs.
On Saturday, Ashley Dobell and Rod Fiedler had a great battle for the 100 Up championship final.
Both bowlers shared the initial ends, with scores 38-37 in favour of Fiedler on the eighth end.
Dobell replied with some excellent bowls to win the following five ends to establish a 61-54 lead.
Then it was Fiedler's turn to grab a couple of eight scores to again lead 70-65.
The game was on, however it was the steady bowling from Ashley Dobell that shone through to win the 100 Up championship title 100-89.
Both players were applauded as they left the green. A momentous moment.
On Sunday, members were back to watch a couple of club championship bouts.
Jeff Carnie was pitted against Ashley Dobell in the final of the B-grade championship.
Carnie a product of the popular barefoot bowls evenings played well to account for Steve McKee in the semi-final after trailing 7-16 earlier in the match, but recovered to win the game 25-21.
In the final, both bowlers traded ends with little between the scores on the scoreboard, as Carnie led 6-5 before picking up shots to lead 12-9 on 13 ends.
Dobell suddenly started bowling within the range to win five ends straight to race to a 14-12 advantage.
Scores were level at 15-all before Carnie again dug deep to take the lead at 20-15 and the game was up for grabs.
Slowly, Dobell fought back to trail 19-21 before claiming six shots over the two following ends to collect the B-grade championship title 25-21.
A magnificent display of championship bowling from both contestants.
On the adjacent rink, Kim Ray and Neil Haines went to head-to-head in a quarter-final of the Presidents Trophy 21 Up championship.
The bowling was very even as both bowlers found the green playing well.
Scores were locked together at 8-all before Ray displayed her true drawing class and picked up ends as Haines tried valiantly to catch up, but to no avail as Kim Ray continued to apply pressure and eventually won the game 21-11.
A splendid display of bowling from both players.
Not to be outdone, both Kim Ray and Ashley Dobell both lined up after a break to play the semi-final of the 21 Up club championship.
Another clash that had the spectators enthralled.
After six ends, Dobell had jumped out to lead 8-2 as Ray was beginning to gain some consistency in her bowling.
Dobell was showing no mercy as he increased his lead to 12-4.
Suddenly, Ray produced some immaculate bowling to level the scores at 12-all on 13 ends.
Three shots to Dobell and a single took it to a 16-14 advantage, but Ray was determined to fight all the way to the wire as she picked two shots to level at 16-all, then casually grabbed five shots over two ends to win the semi-final 21-16.
Kim Ray will meet Ray Hanson in the final.
Tournaments around the corner are the Annual C.M.S. Refrigeration and Electrical (Elmore) Open Fours on Saturday, April 11 commencing at 1pm.
Contact Cindy Felmingham or Ray Hanson for entries.
On Sunday, April 12 the club will hold the presentation night At 6pm.
Names are required for catering purposes. List is at the clubhouse.
The Pie and Soup 2 bowl triples (any combination) will commence on Wednesday, April 22 at 11am.
One game of 12 ends before lunch, then two games of ten ends after.
Contact Brian Kinnane or Shane Felmingham for entries.
Congratulations to former Moama bowler Olivia Cartwright (now Bendigo) on her magnificent bowling in the recent Victorian Open championships.
Gold medals in the State Singles, State Pairs, State Triples and the State Mixed Pairs. Well done.
60 and Over
The Campaspe 60 and Over Bowls Group held their Wednesday weekly bowls at Lockington Bowls Club.
28 teams consisting of 112 bowlers all competing for a chook.
There were four, three game winners.
Eddie Smith’s team from Echuca missed out with one shot near the jack.
Francis Keech’s team from Rochester also missed out with two shots near the jack.
The runner-up was Noel West’s team from Tongala, they also had two bowls near the jack within the metre stick, but were closer.
The team were lead Ken Chapman, second Geoff Tinning, third Noel West, and the skipper was Barry Tinning.
The winner on the day was Ivan Hick’s team from Echuca, they had six bowls near the jack.
They were legend Stevie Campion lead, Tony Deenen second, Toby Egan third, and Ivan Hicks was their skipper.
Members of both teams received a chook each.
The next 60 and over bowls is our last day for this season at Stanhope on April 15, starting at 10am.
Entries to Mal McLean on 0419 797 347 or David Grant on 0412 365 298.
Good bowling and see you all at Stanhope.
Rochester Golf Club
Ideal Autumn weather greeted 60 golfers at the club's 2026 Opening season for a 3-person Ambrose event.
After some great work over the past weeks by our maintenance team, with all fairways watered, recently cut, and sand spread on most scrapes, members and visitors were impressed with the course, and the recently renovated garden areas.
The Eeles team of Chris and Louise, with the great help of Mike Austin, 72 for a net 58.66, were declared the winners from the big hitting team of Jake Wright, Corrie Windridge and Liam Keenan 64 (58.77), closely followed by Lachie Wilson (58.84) and former local Jessie Cuttriss (60).
Other good net scores recorded by Leigh Hartshorne's crew, Bruce Bryant's, Frank Severino and David Gebbie, and Barb, Brendan McCarty, and Julie Leahy, all on net (60.5).
Easter eggs for the nearest-the-pins were awarded to James Anderson and Sam Watkins (3), Severino and Sharelle Riordan (5), Cuttriss and Louise Williams (8), Leo Hayes and Watkins (12), and Chris Eeles and Williams on the 16th scrape.
Although many of the usual Wednesday 9-hole players were down in Tasmania searching for Shane Connelly's lost balls, 14 played in nice conditions over the back 9.
Les Hedington's score of 24 Stableford points was just enough to win from Allan Campbell of Elmore on 23.
Consistent Kevin MacCormack was closest to the 12th hole.
Wednesday assembly is now at 9am, hit off at 9.30am sharp.
Saturday commences from 11.30am to noon.
For those who are likely to arrive late, please ring the captain or the clubrooms to arrange partners.
Lockington Golf Club
Golfers enjoyed a stableford round at Lockington on Saturday.
JD Wright was best on course (on a countback from Grant Humbert) with a fine score of 34 points.
JD’s round was highlighted by some super shots with his driver (including off the fairway) and overall consistent play.
Next best was Jason Wakefield (32), followed by Neil Maddison (31).
Great to have a Bendigo visitor, Ethan Wright (JD’s nephew) having his first ever hit on a sand-scrape course.
Nearest-the-pins: 3rd – Grant Humbert; 2nd shot 11th – Grant Humbert (A), Neil Maddison (B); 2nd shot 18th for the 6-pack smack – Simon Portwine.
Spike’s Longest Drive on the 15th, sponsored by Hot ‘n’ Cold Plumbing was a clean sweep for the Portwines, won by Ash (A), Simon (B) and Ben (C).
Neither the O’Connors Case eagle’s nest on the 3rd, nor Captain Grant’s yardstick on the 16th was won.
Upcoming events: Friday, April 10 – 3-person drop off, 9.30am assembly, 10am start. Bring and share lunch.
Duty: Pauline Humbert, Sue Harris.
Saturday, April 11 – Official Opening Day – 4-person ambrose, any combination, hit off from 11am – visitors welcome.
Saturday, May 9 – Centenary Celebration – 4-person ambrose, shotgun hit off 11am; special afternoon tea 2.30pm – all members and past members warmly invited.
Enquiries and RSVPs to Darren Carnie 0428 862 292.
Echuca Moama Croquet Club
Monday, April 6
Easter Monday, seems like half the members are still celebrating, however they missed a good day's play.
The winner for the day was John Alstin, winning three games +9.
Great play John, especially after being runner-up in the regionals. Well done.
Jump shots for the day, five in total, one each to Greg Brierley, Helen Brierley, Lyn Keillor, Jenny van der Zande, and Peter van der Zande.
Don't forget our Burger Social Day is Monday, April 13.
Rich River Croquet Club
Golf Croquet – Thursday, April 2
11 players competed in singles croquet this morning.
Congratulations goes to winner Steve Potter, who scored three games +8 hoops, the only person to win all three games.
The runner-up was Russell Clarke, who scored two games +5 hoops.
Golf Croquet – Tuesday, April 7
It was a lovely morning playing croquet, with 10 members enjoying doubles croquet.
The win went to Anne Canfield, with Ian Grant being runner-up.