COHUNA GOLF
THANKS to the weather gods, most bowls activities were heavily curtailed this week, although the greens certainly appreciated the extra watering.
Our Monday Hams Tournament was rescheduled for this week, and hopefully was able to proceed.
Tuesday social and Wednesday night bowls were non-events, hoping for better luck this week.
After the skies cleared on Tuesday, members were able to continue with club games, although with our treasurer suffering a nasty medical episode after his game, the mood around the club was pretty subdued.
The good news is that Mick is now well on the way to a full recovery.
Midweek pennant beat the elements as we hosted Kerang in Division 1 and travelled across to Pyramid Hill in the twos.
Team Bibby headed the Hein rink to score points, but our other two sides couldn’t fire up at all, leaving Kerang with a big victory.
At the Hill, the news was much better with both rinks winning, with Ian Morrison’s side on fire at present and Cheryle’s playing very consistently.
With phone calls and enquiries flying around, Saturday pennant was in a state of flux right through the morning, as the rain seemed to be again the controlling factor.
Eventually only two Northern District venues staged matches, they being Barham and Wakool, while the Northern Valley games at Swan Hill were able to be completed.
Our Premier group played at Racecourse for the first time and had a dour struggle against the home side.
‘Bluey’ won the last three ends to force a draw against Mick Holyoak, while both Jarred and Harrison won by single figure margins.
All were very impressed with the new synthetic green and associated surrounds.
Division 1 was the only other club side to play, with Wakool staying dry for most of the day.
Peter Bibby grabbed two points at Ian Main’s expense, while Pat Quinn was most unlucky to lose by one to Guy Treweek, but Gary Easton’s quartet had a forgettable day against Reagan Hamilton, assuring Wakool of the overall victory.
Our classic fours event is scheduled for Sunday from 9.30am, with a very handy field assembled to chase the ClubBarham cash.
The following week we’ll begin our annual renovation program, so be prepared to give a couple of hours here and there where required.
COHUNA
AS of Sunday, December 1, we look back on an extremely wet week with some great work by green keeper Wayne Brooks and his helpers.
Rolling, cutting, re dressing and the like, despite the weather, continued keeping everything tip top, with the greens playing beautifully and grounds looking post card perfect.
Christmas has arrived in the clubhouse with stunning decorations in place thanks to the decorating team of Michael Hofman, Corale Jones and Sue Burgess.
Also a big thank you to Heather and her Cohuna Gifts and Things, where you truly can find almost anything.
Tuesday, December 10 is our social bowls break up, with normal time for bowls and names to be in by.
Bowlers are asked to bring a plate and a modest $10 wrapped gift for Santa to give away, with the breakup including an equal opportunity for all to sit on Santa’s knee and get a present, but not all at the one time.
Saturday, December 21 will see the club hold our Christmas party and hamper raffle drawing.
The night is catered for by Ben North Catering of Leitchville for just $30.00 per head.
Four huge Christmas hampers will be won thanks to our generous members, sponsors and supporters who have donated goods.
Hamper tickets will still be available on the night and an attendance list is in the club or see Cohuna Bowls Club Facebook page.
Social Bowls last Tuesday looked in jeopardy of being cancelled due to the torrential rain throughout Monday but eventually went ahead.
As sunshine always follows the rain, bowling was a hot and steamy affair that made the cold after bowls refreshments even more appreciated than normal.
22 players enjoyed the day, with congratulations going to the only two game winners being the team of Rhonda Ballard, Rob Wilson, Rodney Bannister and Ursula Kirby.
Cohuna U3A will be holding their Christmas Luncheon in our Club rooms on Friday from 12pm, they are a very important part of our community and we warmly welcome them.
Casual bowling will go on unhindered later in the afternoon, as will our normal Friday Budget Tea and socialising.
Midweek pennant results – played last Wednesday, November 27.
Division 1 – Cohuna 1 (50 shots) defeated Kerang Golf 1 (41 shots).
A fighting win by all, with Frank Tonn’s Team 1 leading the way, winning by 12 shots.
Wayne Brooks’ Team 2 held on to finish on minus 4, as Mike Hofman’s Team 3 finished plus 1, for a spirited nine-shot win overall, well done.
The ladder now has us two games ahead of Kerang 1 and three ahead of Barham 1 and Kerang Golf 1.
Division 2 – Cohuna 2 (30 shots) lost to Barham 2 (36 shots).
Noddy Hosking’s team went down 16-shots to 21 and Barbara Hildebrand’s Team 2 by just one shot, being 14 to 15.
An interesting ladder of 11 teams, while Cohuna 2 is sitting ninth on just one win, Cohuna 3 is eighth with three wins and a draw.
The four teams from fourth to us at eighth all have three wins and a draw, with percentage only being the decider and some interesting rounds ahead.
Saturday pennant results – played Saturday, November 30.
All our teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 were washed out due to the heavy rain event.
Some teams have played more games than others and with a bye also to be shared around, the ladder for our teams is beyond the pay scale of this scribe to work out, apart from saying we sit pretty much the same as last week.
The most uplifting aspect of this unfortunate game cancelling rain event is that democracy wins again, as the game points are awarded evenly and argument is fruitless, which to borrow some soccer parlance, this creates the bowls version of “a friendly”.***
KERANG GOLF BOWLS
A BIG last week at Kerang Golf Bowls with our annual CluBarham Star Day finishing the busy week on Sunday, when the weather changed from the rain-affected games on Saturday.
A great turnout of bowlers from neighbouring clubs as well as from Lake Boga, Quambatook and the “wanderers” from Lockington, with a total of 18 teams participating.
At the conclusion of three games there were three combinations who had won all their games.
The winners with 77 points, was combination team of Les Whittacker, Gavin Free and Jon Henty from Cohuna Golf, who teamed with our own Andrew Charles to take out first place.
In the runners-up spot was the Greg Beck team of cousin, Noel Rawlings from Kyneton, brother Bernie and David Randell who scored 75 points in their three wins.
Third place went to the Kerang combination of Wayne “Tige” Neville, Jason Brown, John “Mouse” Pay and Ashley Peel with 74 points.
The best last-game score was 26 points and was won by Judy and Ron McKerrow, Neil Paul and Jeff “Sore Knees” Anderson. Chocolates were tied with the Wakool team and the Leitchville team happily accepting their sweet treats.
Many thanks from the Kerang Golf Bowls Club were conveyed to cluBarham and the thanks of all bowlers and the general public for their assistance to our sporting clubs as well as our community in general.
Board member Gerard Keane was in attendance and was asked to pass on thanks to CEO Jason and his fellow board members for their continued support of our smaller clubs in the area.
Back to Saturday and our Northern Valley team were to host Barham, but a decision was made to transfer the game to Barham, as the Kerang Golf greens were closed to play. Apparently, this happened because the other Northern Valley teams were playing in Swan Hill and their greens were playable.
Notwithstanding this late decision to play, Barham proved too strong on their home turf and won on all three rinks. Only Ritchie Murray’ s revitalised rink came close with a two shot deficit at the end. Both Frank Ritchie’s and Lloyd Murray’s teams were beaten comprehensively.
Division 2 travelled to all the way to our kindred club Kerang and just before the toss and team exchanges were to take place, the heavens opened and the game was called off, with the greens under water.
Division 3 was the only game played at the venue according to the draw and it was an exciting match against Barham 5 at Barham.
Coming into the last end, total scores were tied and after Golf drew an early shot, Barham countered, only for Golf’s skipper David Randell to draw the shot with his last bowl and a one-shot win overall.
With David in this win, by 18 shots, were Judy McKerrow, Allison Medson and Craig Hicks. As the best winning rink on the day, they are also the recipients of the Royal Hotel vouchers for this week – well done
Both our midweek teams suffered losses last Wednesday with Division 1 travelling to Cohuna to face the top team on greens a bit slower after the rain over the previous days.
Lloyd Murray’s team scraped home with a win 16/12 and Frank Ritchie’s team only lost by a shot. However, Jimmy McLeish and crew could not handle the heavier conditions and lost 11/23. A nine-shot deficit at the finish.
Division 2 played at home against Cohuna 3 and although David Randell had a three shot win, Marlene Rawson’s team succumbed by 12 shots, so a nine shot overall loss as well. Both teams are still in finals contention, with Division 2 on top of the ladder and Division 1 in fourth position.
Twilight Triples played their penultimate game and the winners were Royal Hotel with 31 points, on a countback from Taylor Ashton Painting. As they had been a previous winner, the cards were shuffled and the lucky winner of the Choice Cut Butchers vouchers were the Royal Hotel. The “painters” received the runners-up prize. Chocolates to Betta Electrical. Hayes Real Estate leads the ladder with 181 points, followed by Team Charles on 159, Gray Wilson and Taylor Ashton Painting on 155. The presentation of trophies to both the winners and runners-up, after play this Wednesday, will culminate another successful Twilight Triples series. Our Ian “Squizzy” Taylor Memorial Barefoot Bowls will commence in mid January. If you haven’t played barefoot bowls before and would be interested, give Aldo (0407 310762) or President, Jimmy McLeish (0429 346418) a ring and they will give you all the information you require.
Thursday Social had 23 players and the lone pair of Jim McLeish and Mick Fisher were the big winners, with the triples of Dale Spinks, Rob “Curly” Curtis and Lorraine Ritchie, together with “Tige” Neville, Marlene Rawson and David Randell both having a win and a tied game with 6 shots up, so a dead heat for second. Chocolates to “Fonzy”, Aldo and Barry Theobald.
There are a few more names down for the Christmas Party, but more are needed. This will be a fully catered for two course dinner, with the normal raffles, Santa and Kris Kringle. It is an all-inclusive price of $20, with the club covering the balance, so show your support for the club by putting your name on the sheet on the noticeboard ASAP.
The Ian Westland green will be lasered on Wednesday 11th December, so a working bee is scheduled for the Tuesday afternoon beforehand to get things organised. Many hands make light work, so come out after lunch on the Tuesday to help with this major project. While this green is out of action, new shades will be installed as well, using the income from the cash for cans.
Frank and Lorraine Ritchie travelled to Ouyen to play in the selection trial matches on Sunday and have now been selected in the teams to play at Wycheproof on December 15th. Congratulations to you both, hopefully the next step to playing in the respective regional teams is just this game away.
Also, the Christmas Wheelbarrow competition has been going along well, so please get your tickets sold and returned to Carol. I think she has temporarily run out of tickets, but will have that remedied by the time you read this article.
NORTHERN DISTRICT
RESULTS
Saturday Pennant
Division 1
Barham 3 8/60 d Gunbower 4/59
Wakool 1 10/67 d Cohuna Golf 2 2/46
Kerang 2 0/6 rain Barham 2 0/6
Leitchville 1 0/6 rain Cohuna 1 0/6
Division 2
Pyramid Hill 1 9/57 d Barham 4 3/55
Kerang 3 0/6 rain Kerang Golf 2 0/6
Cohuna Golf 3 0/6 rain Cohuna 2 0/6
Division 3
Gunny Golf 12/10 d Leitchville 2 0/0
Pyramid Hill 2 0/6 rain Cohuna 3 0/6
Kerang Golf 3 8/61 d Barham 5 4/60
Wakool 2 7/57 d Kerang 4 5/57
LADDERS
Division 1
Wakool 1 60 116.85%
Cohuna Golf 2 57 114.94
Cohuna 1 55 108.6
Kerang 2 49 96.98
Gunbower 1 46 92.16
Barham 2 40 96.57
Leitchville 1 39 87.18
Barham 3 38 89.21
Division 2
Cohuna Golf 3 66 111.35%
Cohuna 2 62 112.01
Kerang Golf 2 53 109.07
Pyramid Hill 1 53 107.34
Barham 4 28 87.06
Kerang 3 26 79.57
Division 3
Wakool 2 81 131.16%
Kerang Golf 3 67 138.48
Cohuna 3 52 112.4
Kerang 4 51 109.28
Cohuna Golf 1 47 86.35
Barham 5 40 104.05
Leitchville 2 23 74.79
Pyramid Hill 2 23 61.3
NORTHERN VALLEY
ROUND 8:
RESULTS
Murray Downs 1 12/80 d Kerang 1 0/56
Cohuna Golf 1 11/71 d Racecourse 1 1/62
Barham 1 12/90 d Kerang Golf 1 0/44
LADDER
Cohuna Golf 1 88 140.22%
Kerang 1 60 105/96
Barham 1 49 111.11
Murray Downs 1 42 100.74
Racecourse 1 37 86.57
Kerang Golf 1 12 69.23
