Bowls Notes and Club Blog

Here's the latest from the Bowlie.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
These events got under way on Saturday, January 16 with two Major Fours matches played.
The team of Michael Went, Tom Casey, Tom Furey and Warwick Parker (Substituting for Matt Parker) proved too good on the day defeating Ron Hornery, John Carr, John Hodge and Geoff Freeman by 27 – 14.
The other match was a very close game between the teams of John Corcoran, Garry Went, Mike Valentine and Max Tonkins and Keith MacRae, John Ward, George Boatswain and Noel Nicholson. The team skipped by John Corcoran played steadily to go out to a 15 – 6 lead after thirteen ends. Keith’s team then gradually fought back and at the start of the last end the score was 20 -15 in favour of Michael’s team. Needing five shots to take the match into an extra end, Keith’s team were holding four shots, with the jack in the ditch, and only Keith’s last bowl to be played. He played a great shot that looked like it was going to count to force the draw but unluckily (for him – luckily for Michael’s team ) the shot took one roll too many and finished in the ditch.
PENNANTS
The Club has teams in Grades 2, 5 and 7 with the season starting on Saturday, March 13.
Teams have been selected and are displayed on the notice board at the club. Congratulations to all players selected and best of luck for a successful season
Many thanks to our selectors Flip Fliedner, Col Hayward and John O’Malley who volunteered for this very difficult job.
TWILIGHT BOWLS
THURSDAY, January 14
In spite of strong winds and the threat of rain ten teams turned up for the first night of Twilight Bowls and the adverse weather didn’t dampen anybody’s spirit and a fun night was enjoyed by everyone.
Tom Furey kept everyone fed, delivering sausages on bread rolls to all of the players during the matches and he and Bob Riseborough provided a sausage sizzle after the games.
Two of the games were very close with Central West Glass beating Casey Surveying 13 – 11 and the game between Loopy Loppers No. 1 and Loopy Loppers No. 2 finishing at 15 – 12.
In the other games We Wreck ‘M N’ We Fix ‘M defeated Purple People, Bowlbros were too good for Super Bees and Three Amigos beat Elle.
It was a great start to the season and we look forward to the start of competition next week – 6.00 for 6.30 start.
Australia Day - Mini Carnival.
Final day for nominations of teams of four for this annual event is Saturday, January 23. The event is sponsored by Littlewood Smash Repairs and Parkes Auto Wreckers and features $1000 prize money. The cost is $20 per player which includes a BBQ lunch. All bowlers are welcome and your team can be all men, all women or mixed and the dress is mufti.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Thursday, January 7.
The very high winds not only made it very difficult to play bowls but also restricted the number of players and only two games of Pairs and one of Triples were played.
After losing the first end to John Corcoran and Craig Henry, the team of Keith MacRae and John Ward won the next two ends to lead 9 – 1. John and Craig came back steadily to take the lead 13 – 12 after the thirteenth end. From then on the lead changed hands a few times before Keith and John won the last two ends to level the scores at twenty all at the end of the game. The victory went to John and Craig who had won twelve of the twenty one ends played.
In the other Pairs match Shaun Ellery (a visitor) teamed with his father Guy to defeat Col Hayward and Ron Hornery and the Triples match went to Lee Hetherington, John Keogh and Les Kent over Col Mudie, John Dunn and Bob Freeman.
Prize winners on the day were the Triples team of Lee, John and Les.
Saturday, January 16.
The cooler weather and a great roll up of 42 bowlers in all (including the 16 playing Club Championships) meant a great days bowling. In addition to the club Championship matches five games of Pairs and one of Triples were played.
Three very close Pairs matches saw the scores finish with one even and a single shot difference in two other matches.
John Dunn and Graham Turner lead all the way to be in front of Ray Jones and Col Woods 16 – 11 with one end to play. Against all the odds Ray and Col scored five shots on the last end to level the scores, however, John and Graham had won twelve of the 21 ends played to claim the match.
After being down by 12 – 1starting the tenth end Col Mudie and Graham Barby fought back strongly against the team of John Davies and Steve Ryan to lead 18 – 15, having scored five shots on the eighteenth end. John and Steve dropped a shot on the nineteenth end but, not to be outdone, they scored five shots on the last two ends to win the match 20 – 19.
The other close match was Dave Johnson and Greg Townsend against Arthur Corbett and Rob Irving. After losing the first end by 3 shots Dave’s team came back to level the scores at ten all starting the eleventh end. They then pulled away and lead by nine shots after the eighteenth end. Arthur and Rob played some great bowls to score nine shots to one over the last three ends but just failed to catch Dave and Greg who took the match 22- 21.
Other winners were Paul Henry and Mark Dwyer over Liz Byrne and Ron Fisher, Flip Fliedner and Joe Crowley over Warren Bevan and Gordon Dickson and the Triples team of Steve Turner, Nimo Mills and Les Kent over Ron Blake (visiting from Helensvale in Queensland), Wally Austin and Jim Blake.
Prizes on the day went to the triples team of Steve, Nimo and Les with the runners up being John Dunn and Graham Turner.
Sunday, January 17.
Fourteen bowlers turned out in what were the best weather conditions for bowls that we had all week. Two Pairs matches were played. Nimo Mills and Guy Ellery proved too good on the day for Keith MacRae and Rob Irving and in the other match Tom Furey and Brenda Davies led all the way to defeated Dave Johnson and Eileen Bradley by 16-10.
The Triples match went to Ted Wright, John Taylor and Bob Freeman over Ron Blake (visiting from Helensvale in Queensland), Jim Blake and Gladrin Sun. Final score in that match was 14 -9.
Prize winners were Brenda Davies and Jim Blake.
Visit by Bowlers from Werris Creek.
A team of 26 bowlers from Werris Creek will be visiting the Club to play a men’s event on the afternoon of Saturday, January 30 and a mixed event on the morning of Sunday January 31. Both events will be mufti and we are hoping for a strong representation of club members for these days. If you are not going to play in Condobolin, please turn up for these events.
UPCOMING BOWLS EVENTS
Australia Day Mini Carnival – Tuesday, January 26.
District Triples at Condobolin – Saturday and Sunday, January 30 – 31.
Weekend with the visiting team from Werris Creek - Saturday and Sunday, January 30 – 31.
STARTERS
Thursday, January 21 – John Ward and John Watson.
Saturday, January 23 – Tom Furey and Steve Mills
GENERAL
Friday Night.
The usual “early bird” meat tray raffle will be drawn about 6.30pm followed by the major raffle with prizes of meat trays, Vouchers and Cash which will be drawn at about 8 o’clock.
Great Pub style meals are available at reasonable prices from Mel’s Café.
The Members badge draw was not won and is $1,300 this week.
Euchre Competition.
The Euchre competition starts on Wednesday, January 20 at 7.00 pm. Entry fee will be $5 per week and there are weekly prizes to be won, as well as a prize for the overall winner at the end of the Competition. All are welcome – love to see you there.