Cohuna
WHAT an amazing feat by the Cohuna bowlers. To win both Midweek and Saturday Division 1 premierships in the one season is truly unbelievable.
There has been so much celebrating after last Saturday (a 43 year drought), things were just starting to settle and now we are off again. Nobody seems to know if Cohuna has ever done this before, but who cares, we have now.
This was a joint effort by all players who played during the season. Even if you were not in the team on the day you still contributed to the win. Also to the selectors, what an exhausting job finding players each week and keeping everyone smiling. Congratulations to each and everyone of you.
Lastly but by no means least, our fantastic supporters. They’re at every game, riding every bowl, it was truly inspirational just to know you were all cheering for Cohuna. Well done to everyone but its not over yet. Regionals at Barham on March 18-19 so keep those bowls rolling.
Tuesday winners this week were Ros, Ray and Rodney (again). Look out skippers, Rodney is after your job.
We had a little celebration after bowls on Tuesday which seemed to cover all the things that happened this past week.
List in clubhouse for presentation night.
Saturday was the inaugural Loris Bradley Triples. Twelve teams participated in this event. After three games of 10 ends, the top four played off. Trevor Dehne defeated Judy Hipwell and Frank Tonn defeated Rick Parr. The final was a very close affair with Trevor’s team coming over the top of Frank. Congratulations to Trevor, Rhonda and Cliff. First names to appear on the Shield. Thanks to Rick, Jeff and Brian who helped put this event together.
Still plenty of tournaments on if you are looking for a game of bowls.
Cohuna Golf
ALTHOUGH the official part of the bowls season has just about come to an end, members will be enjoying the better weather and good greens that autumn brings, for a good while yet.
All our club games have been wound up in readiness for presentation night on March 9, but the ladies comp and our Thursday pairs will continue.
Last Tuesday, 15 ladies combined hundred up games with pickup triples, with Kath, Lucy and Linda claiming the day’s trophies with a good team performance. The final of the hundred up takes place this week with Rhonda taking on Yvonne.
A big turnout set the stage for Wednesday night’s grand final matches, with the two standout teams drawn to play. In somewhat of a turnaround the team of Ron Farrant, Mal Appleby and Dave McNamara tipped out Gary Valentine’s trio to earn bragging rights for this year.
The second four final saw Max Simmonds, Di Woolhouse and Helen Hall win out to complete a great series. Well done to the weekly organisers, president Tucker and those who assist with items like raffles and suppers. This week there will be pick-up matches organised, which will continue as long as there are bowlers interested.
Thursday pairs players enjoyed the cooler conditions with the Carmody-McLoughlan team declared winners, after two solid victories The consolation awards went to the Gunbower pair of Mal Hogan and Geoff Whiting. No claimant for the jackpot number drawn, so we’re looking at $50 this week.
With the Pie and Soup series due to kick off on April 13 at Leitchville, the pairs hopefully will continue until the end of March.
Kerang
WEDNESDAY Pennant has been played and won – unfortunately it was not to be Kerang’s day last Wednesday at Cohuna Golf Bowls Club.Congratulations to Cohuna in Division 1 and Kerang Golf in Division 2 on their premierships.
In Division 2 Jo Adams had a great battle against Kerang Golf’s Judy McKerrow to lose by only two shots, while Jacqui Jenkins had a good tussle with Lorraine Ritchie to go down by three shots. The Kerang Golf girls were very excited and after a top year, gladly accepted the “Maisie Murphy” trophy.
Division 1 struggled all day, with Mark Hamon the only winning rink against Cohuna, who played too well for the other two rinks of Trevor Pocock and Kevin Teasdale. It was great to see Bev Woods back with Roma Opie to present the Division 1 “Opie-Woods” trophy.
Club events are still in process with Ladies’ Pairs and 100 up draws now up, to be played in your own time as soon as possible please.
The final of the Men’s Championship Pairs was finalised on Saturday with Ed Fenton and Alyne Fagg getting away to a strong start from which Mark Hamon and Ian Roberts could not recover. Those gathered to watch were treated to some fine bowling from all players.
Congratulations to Dale Hancock and Kane Wilson who have been selected in the Murray Mallee Regional Side to play against other regional sides.
There are many tournaments being held over coming weeks so check the notice board and enjoy a game and the hospitality whilst supporting our neighbouring clubs.
Easter quickly approaches so get your entries in now – forms are available outside the office.
Black Duck Triples continues every Tuesday at KBC, please note that with the coming of autumn the event resumes the afternoon time slot with names into Yvonne by 11am for a 12.30pm start. I do hear that the jackpot has been unclaimed for some weeks and would be well worth winning this week!
Club officials are reminded of the Northern District Playing Area meeting to be held at Cohuna Bowling Club tonight at 7.30pm to consider and vote on the suggestions put forward for season 2023-24.
Murray Mallee Bowls Region State Event Finals will be played from Friday, March 10 to Monday, March 13 at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club if you would like to go along to support our Northern Playing Area representatives.
Kerang Golf
CONGRATULATIONS to our Midweek Division 2 team who have taken out the flag and the Maisie Murphy Shield in Division 2 this year.Going through the season undefeated is a tremendous effort for this all-female team.
The two skippers, Lorraine Ritchie and Judy McKerrow, have lead their teams throughout the season with experience and professionalism, and their win over Kerang was only secured on the final ends, with the scores being close all morning. The final score was Kerang Golf 37 to Kerang 32.
Lorraine Ritchie, Sonia McLeish, Marlene Rawson and Allison Medson won 17/14 and Judy McKerrow, Joycey Tuohey, Rosie Laughlin and Lorraine Douglass won 20/18.
A celebration afternoon at Rosie’s was enjoyed by all, including the emergencies. Most needed an Uber to get home. From all accounts, one “out of town” team member had a very big and long celebration – it was still going the next day.
The club is very proud of this team and, after being runner-up the last two seasons, they have now won the coveted premiership. For those historians out there, it is the first Kerang Golf Pennant since the 2012-13 season when the men won the Saturday Division 3 title. For the ladies (or Midweek as it is now known), it is the first title since the 2000-2001 season, when Kerang Golf won the NDLBA Division 3 Pennant flag.
Our Wednesday night Barefoot Bowls had a few of the celebrating premiership team as spectators for a short time, until Joycey wanted to go home.
With only next week to go Lake Charm Boat Club have taken, what looks to be, an unassailable lead for the Ian “Squizzy” Taylor Memorial Shield. However, there are two games next week, so anything could happen.
The Lake Charm Boat Club were again the winners, but had included their “secret” weapon, Greg McNeill this week, and he was ecstatic to win his first prize as a bowler. His team mates were Jim and Bryce McLeish and Trevor Linton. Their 31 points was just enough to leave Lions in second place with 30 points.
The ladder reads, Lake Charm Boat Club 174, Hayes Real estate 153, Lions 149, Royal Hotel 147 as the top four. Presentations of trophies and the shield will be immediately after the games next Wednesday. It would be appreciated if everyone could remain to cheer on the winners at the culmination of the season.
Thursday bowls saw 12 players participate, including some of the premiership team from the previous day. Three bowl pairs was the game and after two games, we only had one unbeaten combination.
John Duckworth and Bryce McLeish took out the major prize, with Rob Malseed and Lorraine Douglass being runners-up with a win and a loss and 15 shots up. Encouragement chocolates to Neil Paul and Craig Hicks. Social bowls will continue on Thursdays as well as Saturdays – names in by 12.45pm for a 1pm start.
The Men’s Pairs final was played last Friday evening and the winners are Frank Ritchie and Jimmy McLeish, who defeated Andy Jeffs and Alan Hird in a quality match. Frank and Jimmy bowled exceptionally well and when Andy and Hirdy needed a little bit of luck, it just eluded them.
Coming events – a bit down the track, but the Anzac Day Triples on April 25 is our next official event, so start organising your teams.
Leitchville
CONGRATULATIONS to the Midweek Pennant grand final winners. Cohuna Division 1, Kerang Golf Division 2.
The Club Championship Men’s Pairs final was won by Kevin Dehne and Tony Cantwell and runners-up Peter Griffiths and John Hipwell, congratulations to both teams.
The presentation night will be on Friday, March 24 at 6.30pm at the club house. List on club house noticeboard or contact Tony Cantwell 0419 369 821or Graham Douglas 0409 567 428.
The club is holding an end of season raffle to be drawn presentation night. All raffle books are to be returned to Ken Dehne.
Ladies Consistency Breakfast Fours Wednesday, March 15 at 8am, entries to Tony Cantwell 0419 369 821.
Dye Brothers Triples Sunday, March 19 at 12.30pm, entries to Tony Cantwell 0419 369 821.
Northern District
RESULTS Midweek Pennant
Grand finals
Division 1: Cohuna 10/78 d Kerang 2/27.
Division 2: Kerang Golf 8/37 d Kerang 2 0/32.
Congratulations to all.
A well attended final pennant day at Cohuna Golf saw Cohuna and Kerang Golf take the honours in their respective divisions.
Cohuna began the match in good touch, and with the Rick Parr rink establishing a big early lead, were soon able to put themselves in a near unbeatable position against their Kerang opponents.
The Frank Tonn-Kevin Teasdale match was well contested, as was that between Mark Amon and Brian Bowles. This game in fact gave Kerang their only rink win for the day, but not by enough to influence the result.
The victory completed an historic pennant double for Cohuna, who now play on both days of the regional championships at Barham on March 18 and 19. With quite a few of their players in both sides, it will be a very testing weekend.
Results: F.Tonn 21 d K.Teasdale 14, R.Parr 40 d T.Pocock 11, B.Bowles 17 lost to M.Harmon 22.
Kerang Golf, the only side in Division 2 with an all female line-up, hung on against a determined Kerang team to snatch a well-earned victory by a very slender margin. With only two rinks, performances must be consistent across all eight players. This was reflected in the scoring, neither club able to break away, with scores locked together until match end.
Kerang could not score the two shots necessary to tie at the finish, losing three in fact to see Kerang Golf win by five, after a very entertaining display by both clubs.
Results: L.Ritchie 17 d J.Jenkinson 14, J.McKerrow 20 d J.Adams 18.
