Bowls Notes and Club Blog

AUSTRALIA DAY MINI CARNIVAL
Nominations (which close on Saturday, January 23) of teams of four are now being taken for this annual event which is being held on Tuesday, January 26. 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.
The first game will be one Singles (first to 25 shots) and one Triples (15 ends).The second game will be 2 Pairs matches (15 ends).The final game will be Fours (10 ends)
TWILIGHT BOWLS
The new season will start with a free non-competition night on Thursday, January 17. Hope to see you there.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Sunday, December 20.
10 Bowlers turned out and the pairs match was between the young guns Sara Aspinal and Ben Townsend and the old fogies Eileen and George Bradley. The Oldies won the first end but then Sara and Ben played some great bowls and the oldies ran out of steam and it became a case of beauty before age. The youngsters triumphed by 21 – 13.
In the other match Tom Casey, Craig Henry and Bob Freeman were too good for Dave Johnson, Mick Blunt and Rob Irving. Prize winners on the day were Eileen Bradley & Bob Freeman.
Thursday, December 24.
A field of 21 Bowlers turned out to play 4 games of Pairs and one of Triples.
The triples game was a see-sawing event. Dave Johnson, Mike Valentine and Chris Dunn took on Tom Casey and Matt Parker with Matt playing the dual role of Lead and Second. After 6 ends Dave’s team lead 8 – 3 before Tom’s team won the next 6 ends to lead 13 – 8.The next 7 ends were dominated by Dave’s team and they lead 19 – 15 after 19 ends. From there on the ends were pretty evenly divided with the game going to Tom’s team 28 – 25 after a marathon 30 ends.
Ron and Col Hornery defeated Geoff and Bob Freeman 21 – 13. John Ward and Ray Jones had a 23 – 19 win over John Hodge and Les Kent. In the other games Lee Hetherington and Gordon Dickson defeated Clive Stibbard and John Watson while Col Hayward and Rob Irving were too good for Pat Cooney and Wally Grant.
Thanks to donations by Ron Hornery, John Dunn, Bill Skinner, Gwenda Carty, Colin Hayward, Colin Woods and Maureen Stone, 12 of the bowlers went home with a prize of a Xmas Ham or a Xmas Pudding or a Xmas Cake and the donations are greatly appreciated.
Sunday, December 27.
12 Bowlers turned out to play 3 games of pairs.
In a very close game Craig Henry and Rhonda Mason defeated Dave Johnson and Lyn Henry by one shot – 15 to 14.Craig and Rhonda played well early in the game to lead 8 - 5 after 6 ends. Dave & Lyn won the next 2 ends to level the score at 8 all. Over the last 8 ends Craig and Rhonda outscored Dave and Lyn by one shot to run out winners 15 – 14.
Liz Byrne and Guy Ellery were too strong for Rhona Went and Mick Blunt while the other match went to Jim Blake & John Dunn over Bob Freeman& Rob Irving
Prize winners on the day were Guy Ellery and Craig Henry.
Thursday, December 31.
22 bowlers took to the green to play what must have been a great day’s bowling. Of the 5 matches played, 2 finished with the scores level and one ended with a single separating the two teams.
John Corcoran and Ray Jones started well against Warren Bevan and Gordon Dickson winning the first 3 ends to lead 4 – 0. From then on the ends were split fairly evenly and John’s team lead by 3 shots (19 – 16) after 18 ends. Warren and Gordon then scored a single shot on each of the last 3 ends to level the scores at 19 all on the last end and, having won 11 of the 21 ends played, claimed the match.
Lee Hetherington and Bill Skinner also started well to lead Col Mudie and Jim Blake 8 - 1 after 4 ends. Col’s team then played some great bowls to level the scores at 12 all after 11 ends. On the next 6 ends Col’s team gained a one shot advantage and scored 3 shots on the 18th end to lead 20 – 16. Not to be outdone, Lee and Bill scored 4 shots on the last 3 ends to level the scores at 20 all. Lee and Bill claimed the victory having won 11 of the 21 ends played.
In another very close game John Ward and Bernie Mitchell scored 3 shots on the last end to defeat John Carr and John Watson by 19- 18.
In other matches Col Hayward and Rob Irving were too good for Arthur Corbett and Mike Valentine, while the triples match went to Clive Stibbard, Steve Turner and Martin Tighe over Ron Hornery, John Hodge and Bob Freeman.
Major prize winners on the day were Col Hayward and Rob Irving and the Minor prizes went to the Triples team of Ron Hornery.
Saturday, January 2
26 starters played 5 Pairs and one Triples match. In spite of a “man of the match” performance by Rob Irving, he and John Carr went down to Geoff Freeman and John Dunn. After chasing Geoff and John for most of the game, Rob and John levelled the scores at 21 all with one end to play. On the last end Rob held the shot for game until Geoff’s last bowl moved the kitty taking the shot and the match 22- 21.
In other close games John Hodge and Dave Buggie defeated John Ward and Ray Jones 17 – 16. Warren Bevan and Col Woods beat Arthur Corbett and Gordon Dickson 20 - 17. Other winners were Brett Frame and Ron Hornery over Tom Furey and Ron Fisher, and Michael Went and Bill Skinner over Col Hayward and Les Kent . The Triples game was won by Keith MacRae, Liz Byrne and Bob Freeman over Col Mudie, Martin Tighe and Jim Blake.
Prize winners were John Dunn and Geoff Freeman and the Runners up prize went to Arthur Corbett and Gordon Dickson.
Sunday, January 3.
In spite of heavy overhead clouds 12 brave souls took to the green to play 3 Pairs matches. Unfortunately, after 6 or 7 ends the rain started and the wind blew forcing them back in to the club house for an early sausage sizzle.
The highlight of the night was the match between the father & son team of Graham Fliedner and his son Connor and John Hodge and Brenda Davies. I am not much good at guessing ages but I would say Connor is only 6 or 7 years old. Not every one of his shots ended in the head but enough of them did to suggest it won’t be too long before Connor is giving his dad a run for his money. John and Brenda lead by 8 – 4 when the rains came.
In the other matches Tom Furey and Eileen Bradley lead Rob Irving and Rhona Went by 9 – 3 and Dave Johnson and Bob Freeman lead Liz Byrne and Rhonda Mason by 12 – 3.
DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS
The District Championship Triples will be played at Condoblin on January 30 and 31. Entries Close on Sunday, January 10. The District Fours will be played at Forbes on February 6 and 7. Entries for this event close on Sunday, January 17.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
The new arrangements for the Club Major Singles, Major Pairs and Major Fours are displayed on the notice board. Nominations for the Fours have closed and I am told that the numbers this year are better than they have been for some time. Nominations for both the Singles and Pairs events close on Saturday, January 9.
UPCOMING BOWLS EVENTS
Twilight Bowls restarts - Thursday January 17.
Australia Day Mini Carnival – Tuesday, January 26.
STARTERS
Thursday, January 7 – Col Hayward & Mike Valentine
Saturday, January 9 – John Hodge & Les Kent
GENERAL
The “Elvis” Festival.
The Club will be hosting four concerts , featuring various artists, during this year’s Elvis festival. The Thursday show is booked out but tickets, at $10 each, are still available for the Friday, Saturday (starting at 7.00 pm) and Sunday (starting at 5.00pm) shows. Tickets will be on sale at the club 2 hours before the start of each show. All are welcome to come along for a great night’s entertainment.
Due to the Elvis Concert, the usual Friday night raffles and Badge draw will not be on but the great Pub Style meals will still be available, for those attending the concert, from Mel’s Café
Euchre Competition.
The club is starting a euchre competition on Wednesday nights. If you like a game of cards come along to the Club at 7.00 PM on Wednesday, January 20 and each subsequent Wednesday. Weekly prizes will be there 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.