Sport

Echuca Moama and district sports notes

By Contributed

Aug 7, 2026

David Gebbie snagged a hole in one at Rochester Golf Club this week.

Echuca Bowls Club

20 teams competed in last Thursday’s Jackpot Pairs, with temperatures at a cool 13 degrees.

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Five teams won both of their games, commencing with Steve Morgan and Daniel Vella (+7), Gordon Slimmon / Tim Frazer (+8), Danny O’Brien / Noel Thomson (+17), runners up John Reidell / Leigh Polkinghorne (+27), and the winners Trevor Rickard / Max Clifford (+37).

Best one game went to Tony Cantwell and Chris Campbell (+13).

Friday Scroungers, sponsored by Roma Pizza, saw 18 players take to the greens, with the winner Mark Bainbridge, from runner-up Judy Ryan.

Friday night’s social evening saw the mini bingo fail to go off again, and it will be $610 at tonight’s draw.

The member’s draw saw Rose Powsell drawn as the winner, but she was not present, so that jackpots to $80 tonight.

Saturday Social attracted 20 bowlers, with Steve Morgan and Gayle Kerr (77 points) taking home the chocolates, very narrowly from Daniel Vella and Jenny Healy (75 points).

Monday’s social bowls was played on a pleasant winter’s afternoon, with two games of 2x4x2 played, resulting in Jill Young and Rae Hann taking home the spoils.

This weekend sees the ever-popular Spiers Family Memorial Fours being played over Saturday and Sunday, with excellent entries as usual.

Moama Bowling Club

Social Bowls

Tuesday, July 28 – Men’s Triples

Winners: Ian McGregor, Peter Walton, Bill Curnow.

Runner-up: Ken Dunbar, Bernie Cruise, Wally Wadge.

1st Game Winners: Don Campbell, Colin Carrington, Clyde Hillier.

2nd Game Winners: Barry Simmons, Alan Buzza, Stuart Sutton.

Ladies Triples

Winners: Marilyn Stephenson, Maggie Campbell, Anne Lynch.

Runners-Up: Sue Abraham, Liz Doidge, Robyn Thomassen.

1st Game Winners: Mary Kaine, Carmel Simpson, Mia Young.

Thursday, July 30 - Ladies Scroungers

Winner: Marilyn Stephenson.

Runner-Up: Mia Young.

Rink Winners: Pam McCloy, Maggie Campbell, Pam Kerr.

Ditch: Shirley Riters, Pam Limbrick.

Men’s Pairs

Winners: Wally Wadge, Brian Hester.

Runner-up: D Campbell, John Catanese.

1st Game Winners: Peter Campbell, Jock Linehan.

2nd Game Winners: Ian McGregor, Arch Bailey.

Saturday, August 1 - Open Pairs

Winners: Peter Retallick, Jacob Brighton.

Runners-Up: Pam Mcloy, Laurie Campbell.

1st Game Winners: Jock Linehan, Sue Holmes.

2nd Game Winners: Joe Murphy, Denis O’Bryan.

Indoor Bowls - Tuesday, July 28 - Open

Winners: Maurie Jones, Mary McKenzie, John Zealley, Ron Hooper (33).

Runners-up: Pam Kerr, Gwen Hurst, Joy Hooper (7).

Thursday, July 30 - Open

Winners: Pam Kerr, Pam Cater, Harry Burt, Shirley McKinnon, Joy Hooper (21).

Runners-up: Sue Underwood, Mary McKenzie, John Zealley, Bob McKinnon, Ron Hooper (19).

Moama RSL

Indoor Bowls - Monday, August 3

18 players played three games of 10 ends.

The winners on 47 points were Janine Wolfe (Skip), Pam Carter (3rd), (2nd), and Colin Hicks (Lead).

The runners up with 37 points were Carole Glass (Skip), Elle Morgan (3rd), (2nd) and Dulcie Vanderdrift (Lead).

Third place with 23 points were Ken Hooper (Skip), Bev Griffiths (3rd), (2nd) and Sue Underwood (Lead).

New members are welcome.

Rochester Bowls Club

Friday bowls

The weather was much kinder to us last week, enticing 28 bowlers onto the greens for some friendly but competitive bowls on Friday, July 31.

There were 14 drawn pairs on seven rinks.

Three of the pairs managed to win both of their games, with Tim Quinlan and Bev Hetherington taking out the overall win, with 17 shots up.

Congratulations to the pair on a fantastic win.

It's encouraging to note that the majority of bowlers gather in the bar area after the game for some socialising.

Friday bowls will recommence on Friday, August 7 at 1.30 pm.

Names to be entered on the list prior to noon.

Indoor bowls

Winners on Monday, July 27 were Anton Gusak and David Burdett, winning both of their games by five shots up.

The cool weather and holidays for some of our regular bowlers meant that there were only eight bowlers – I think it might have been about quality versus quantity on the mats.

Indoor bowls will be run again on Monday, August 3 – bowlers are asked to be there by 6.45pm, ready for a 7pm start.

If you would like to have a roll before we wind up for the season, you better be quick – only three nights to go.

Footy tips

You know that things are getting to the pointy end when the talk at Friday bowls is all about footy tips.

Once this round is complete, we only have three home and away rounds until finals.

Our standout leader is Sue McGill sitting on 127 points – she wasn’t too happy that she tipped Collingwood on Thursday night.

Gavin Houlihan is a proud Magpies supporter, but he wasn’t too happy that he tipped them either (122).

Hot on his tail is Alan Williams (121) – and no, he didn’t tip the Magpies.

Pat and Kim Wright are next in line, both sitting on 119.

I don’t think they’ll be helping one another with their footy tips in the next few weeks.

Men’s handicaps

The men’s handicaps have been updated for the coming season and a printed copy can be found in the foyer.

New bar rosters are available for collection from the club foyer – there are quite a few still there. Please pick up your copy.

Bar duty

Monday – Thursday 5 – 6.30pm

3 – 6 August- L. Milgate and J Major.

10 – 13- A. Benson and H. Wilson.

17 – 20- G. Houlihan and M. McCardle.

Lockington Bowls Club

Another fine week for bowls as the sun shone on most days for Scrounge attracting top quality fields.

On Wednesday, the bowls were a treat to watch as most rinks were closely contested.

On rink one, Pos Andrea continued her recent top bowling form to amass 46 points and finish ahead of Bruce Haines, 39 followed by Rod Fiedler, 34 and Dona Hart, 21 points.

A huge score was tallied on the next door rink by a rampant John Andrea, 61 points to take the player of the day award.

In second place was Russell Shawcross, 39 points with Neil Haines one point back on 38.

Anthony Westwood scored a thrilling one-point victory on rink three, scoring 47 points and just keeping Ray Hanson at bay on 46.

Steve Peter was not far off the pace with 44 points.

On the final rink John van den Bosch won the chocolates with a tally of 52 points and just shaded Terrill Westwood 50 points.

Peter "Eggsy" Egan battled hard to record 38 points.

On Saturday, all bowlers were greeted with ideal conditions - true greens and "sunscreen" weather.

Close margins were the order of the day.

On the "T.V." rink one Terrill Westwood impressed after scoring 50 points and winning ahead of John Andrea 46 and Peter Egan 41 points.

Russell Shawcoss took home the goodies next door with 40 points and held back Pos Andrea 36 points followed by Allan Sharpe, 28 and Natalie McLaughlin, 26.

Anthony Westwood maintained his winning form from Wednesday to win the rink on 49 points and scrape home from Jon van den Bosch 48.

Frank Chugg collected 22 points while Saron Sharpe tried valiantly in scoring 19 points.

Rink four provided one heck of a game with only four points separating the three bowlers.

Rod Fiedler had a change of fortune to finish on 49 points with just three points ahead of Ashley Dobell, 46 points and Steve Pavone, 45.

A brilliant day of bowls and close heads.

The Lockington Bowls Club Past and Present members are mourning the death of past member Graeme (Doc) Hyden who passed away during the week.

Graeme Hyden was a highly respected member of the club and was Club Treasurer in the years 1992-1994.

On the greens, he was an astute leader in Pennant and featured in Division Four Pennant premiership victories in 2017-2018 against Moama, then in the 2020-21 victory against Rich River.

Condolences are offered to the Hyden and Hamilton families.

The funeral will be held at Tobin Brothers - Echuca on August 11.

Rich River Golf Club

Results

July 30

Men’s 2-Person Ambrose West: 1st – L Curson/A Stevens 59.5, 2nd – M Cox/J Simpson 60.75, 3rd – J Harris/C Trethowan 62.

July 31

18-Hole Medley Stableford East: 1st – G Lolicato 37pts, 2nd – J Halnon 35pts c/b, 3rd – P Richardson 35pts.

9-Hole Medley Stableford East: 1st – S Palling 23pts, 2nd – W Williams 19pts.

August 1

Men’s Stableford Privilege Cup West: A – A Loader 39 c/b, B – C Bronsgeest 41pts, C – C Sipthorp 42pts and Cup.

Women’s Stableford West: 1st – F Douglas 36pts, 2nd – S Hepworth 34pts c/b, 3rd – S Morgan 34pts.

August 2

Medley Stableford East: A – K Lister 40pts, B – M Hendy 39pts, C – A Speight 41pts.

August 3

18-Hole Medley Par West: 1st – P Brennan +5, 2nd – R Turpin +3, 3rd – T O’Callaghan +2 c/b.

Women’s 9-Hole Par West: 1st – A Bacon +4, 2nd – L Rovetto +1, 3rd – M Collins 0.

August 4

Medley Stableford East: A – S Harris 39pts, B – R Kilgour 40pts, C – D Fitzpatrick 40pts.

August 5

Women’s Stroke West: A – D Paterson 70 c/b, B – S Riddington 72, C – A Kennaugh 67.

Rochester Golf Club

David Gebbie had a golf week he will remember for years to come.

Wednesday's 9-hole Stableford event saw him shoot 21 points.

Although he didn't win, running second was still a great effort and more was to come on Saturday.

His great 41 points didn't get him over the line to win, once again coming 2nd; however, his perfect shot to the 3rd hole off the front white markers bounced true for a hole in one, which more than made up for the day's result.

Sunday, now full of confidence, Gebbie fought out the B-grade section in the club's rescheduled Open Championship, this time winning on 87 on a countback from the unlucky Robert Vise.

Back to Wednesday's 9-hole event, Lockington's Ray Brereton made up for a horror round the week previous and showed his true colours, winning on 23 Stableford points on a countback from Murray Schier.

Next best were Gebbie, Les Hedington and Des Hocking.

Once again, multiple Ladies Champion Louise Williams was the leader after the 1st round played last Friday.

Williams leads Leisa Evans by five shots and is 13 shots ahead of Barb McCarty.

Louise Eeles had a good day by winning the best net (71) and nearest the pin on the 8th; Williams on the 3rd and Evans were closest on the 16th.

New golfer Karen Niven is enjoying her first year, taking out the best score in the 9-hole event.

Rochester Golf Club, in conjunction with Golf Central Victoria, ran an 18-hole Men's and Ladies Open Sandgreen Championship.

Regular country champion winner, Helen Leech (Neanger Park), had a good day, shooting a very credible 78, tying with another top golfer, Tristan Wearne.

Leech won the playoff on the first extra hole.

Louise Eeles continued her good form from Friday by winning the best net score with an exceptional 102- 37 net (65); next best were Evans and Wearne, both on 71.

Other good scores were recorded by Ruth Iser, Kirsten Butler, Deb Lomas, Christine Pearce and Karen Carmichael.

Neanger Park also took out top honours in the men's event, with Simon Sheedy shooting one under 70; from Mark Smith 75, the best net score went to another visitor, Michael Patterson, 77 (66).

As mentioned earlier, David Gebbie was the B-grade scratch winner on a countback from Robert Vise and Allan Jones won the B-grade net 93 (66) from Gary Hutchins, Dean Butler, Peter Baker and local Mike Austin.

Ball winners over the day were the following players: Chris Eeles, Adam Neyland, Mark Hannigan, Jared Smith, Bruce Bryant, Joel Williams, Brendan McCarty, Justin Ryan and Shane Bywaters.

Long drives down the 15th were Ben Tatt (A) and Dean Butler (B), Ladies Barb McCarty.

Closest to the pin: Tristan Wearne 5th, Rachael Smith on the 12th, Men: Brendan McCarty 16th and Nick Turner was straightest to the line on the 10th fairway, while Helen Leech won the Ladies straightest.

President Leigh Hicks was thrilled with the turnout, with close to 70 players competing, and all were full of compliments on the great condition of the course and the overall running of this important event.

Lockington Golf Club

July 31 – Stableford

Terrific to have the ladies back on course, playing the full 18 holes, and enjoying some good winter weather.

Jenny Holt was in sparkling form with the day’s best score of 37 points to win the Lockington Foodworks Supermarket Player of the Day.

Jenny’s round was highlighted by an excellent 23 points on the inside 9.

Runner up was Annette Brereton with a solid 33 points, highlighted by a really good 20 points on the outward 9.

The secret 9 event was won by Pauline Humbert with 23, on a countback from Annette Brereton.

August 1- Stableford Aggregate Mystery Partners

The weather was glorious and the scores were almost as good.

The draw for partners was conducted after play with victory to Stuart Newton (40) and Phil Stanford (35), by just one point from Kevin Humbert (35) and Trav Mancer (39).

Best individual score was returned by the red-hot in-form JD Wright with an exceptional 43 points, his round highlighted by a chip in eagle on the 5th from 50 metres.

Nearest the pins: 16th – Jeff Carnie; 2nd shot 11th – Stuart Newton, Neil Maddison, Jeff Carnie; 2nd shot 18th for the 6-pack smack – Stuart Newton.

Spike’s Longest Drive on the 14th, sponsored by Hot ‘n’ Cold Plumbing – Grant Humbert, Trav Mancer, Brad Wakefield.

Brad capitalised on his super drive to get a birdie and score 5 points on that hole.

Neither the Hip Pocket Eagles Nest on the 3rd, nor Captain Grant’s yardstick on the 16th was won.

Handicap Matchplay Quarter Final result: Stuart Newton knocked out the defending champion Jeff Carnie 5 and 4.

Club members extend their sympathies to Bev Muhleisen and family. on the passing of Life Member Don Muhleisen.

Don was an enthusiastic golfer who simply loved the game and contributed to the club as a committee member and greenskeeper.

Among his many achievements in club competitions were winning the Gartside Cup in 1994 (80-19-61) and as an 87-year-old in 2017 with a round of 87-26-61.

He also won the Mixed American Championships (Nett) with Dot Fraser in 1986.

He teamed up with Bev to win in 1998, 2008 and 2010, and they also won the Scratch Championships in 2002 and 2004.

Don especially loved playing pennant and would often share stories from past matches, his memory second-to-none.

Despite his failing health, it was really pleasing that he was able to attend the club’s Centenary Celebration earlier this year, and shared the honour of planting the Centenary Tree.