Bowls Notes and Club Blog

Parkes Bowling & Sports Club notes.
By Johnny Perella.
Thursday bowls.
A change of format for Thursday social bowls proved popular with players and produced some very tight contests.
Players were placed into pairs and after the first game of 13 ends; winners were pitted against each other and losing teams against losing teams for another 13 ends.
There were eight winners at the end of round one and at the finish there were just four to share the spoils.
Of the winners play offs the most exciting was a 10all tie between Steve Ryan and John Keogh against Kevin Hynds and Greig Ball, Steve and John winning seven ends to six.
The other close game was an 18-13 win for Warren Bevan and Mike Valentine over Graham Barby and John Hodge.
The other two winner’s clashes both turned out to be fizzers as both produced big winning margins.
John Ward and Mike Parkes were just too strong for Tony Byrne and Tom Cole running out comfortable 18-4 winners.
Colin Hayward and Ron Hornery came up with the biggest win a whopping 22-3 romp against Colin Mudie and Greg Fisher.
The day was a positive step in making social bowls a little more interesting let’s hope it will continue and maybe attract more players to play social bowls.
This week’s mufti social bowls will be run by Graham Barby and John Hodge.
Saturday Bowls.
Two major triples matches and the final of the ladies open triples headed the day’s program.
In the major triples matches Keith MacRae, Terry Hetherington and Dave Johnson just held off the very fast finishing Tony Bright, Ben Townsend and Paul Townsend 18-16.
Despite the difference in the scores the other match was a lot closer than the 30-22 result suggested.
Jim Buckley, John Davies and Mark Dwyer were made to work hard by a very determined Phil Collins, Craig Henry and Mick Craft.
In the ladies final Liz Byrne, Brenda Davies and Betsy Johnstone pulled off a major upset defeating favourites Rhona Went, Cherie Frame and Gwenda Carty 28-8.
There was six games of social pairs played as well, with the best being a thrilling 20all draw between Ray Jones and Steve Turner against John Hodge and Gordon Dickson, Ray and Steve winning on ends,
Also providing a tight finish was the game between George Boatswain and Max
Tomkins up against Geoff Freeman and Bill Wyatt, George and Max hanging on for a narrow 17-16 win.
In other games Ryan McLuckie and Tom Cole won 31-16 over John Carr and Bernie Mitchell, and Wally Austin and Don Littlewood def John Ward and Mike Valentine 25-21.
Kevin Hynds and John Dunn won 19-11 against Noel Nicholson and Ron Murray and on the next rink Greig Ball and Mike Parkes defeated Bruce Orr and Bill Skinner 24-13.
This Saturday will see the start of the handicap pairs, with round games continuing for the next three weeks, looks to be a well contested event with several handy sides nominating.
Starters for the day will be Tony Byrne and Max Tomkins.
Sunday Bowls.
One game of triples and three of pairs made up Sunday morning bowls and closest result was a15-12 win to Mick Craft and Craig Henry over Mike Parkes and Mick Holland.
In other games Lorraine Heald and June Burgess won 14-9against Rose Mitchell and Elaine Burgess; George Boatswain and Dave Johnson def Kevin Hynds and John Dunn 16-12.
The triples were a triumph for Chris Dunn, Callam Job and Tom Cole over Ted Wright, Bernie Mitchell and Gordon Dickson 14-6.
Good Bowling.

Player Profile.
Name: Graham Barby.
Age: 71.
Town of Origin: Euabalong.
Occupation: Retired school teacher.
Started playing bowls: 1991.
Achievements playing: Winning the State Gold Cup for No1 pennant players in 2009.
A member of the winning State No2 Pennant side in 2004.
Graham has won 49 Club, District and Zone championships.

Achievements Administration: Fourteen years on Bowls Committee including three years as president and two as secretary.

Graham would arguably be our most winning bowler and in 1992 he won all four minor championships, the only bowler in our club to achieve this rare feat.