Cohuna
A BIG week of bowls, culminating in Sunday’s opening for the 2023-24 season.
The weather remained fine, sunny and balmy for the week so numbers were excellent on every day of bowls.
On Tuesday, there were 36 players and two teams had two wins each.
Wayne Brook’s team were runners-up with with 51 points. With 53 points, the winning team was Ian Howard, Marianne Maud, Ros Dunne and Rob Wilson.
Great to see Rob back bowling after a long absence nursing a crook shoulder.
Saturday saw very fast greens and 24 players enjoy their bowls.
Winners were Bill Ainger, Wayne Brooks and Mick Carmody, who amassed 53 points.
Runners up, with 52 points, were Ian Howard, visitor Len and Carmen. Great work by the selectors again as the results were so close. Carmen had a great day as she also took home the spin and win prize.
Sixty-four players enjoyed the excellent, fast playing conditions and delightful weather on Sunday for the official opening of the season.
President Bill Ainger welcomed everyone, thanking the sponsors and visitors, as well as hard-working members who made the day possible carrying out various tasks before, during and after Sunday.
There were eight teams of four local players, plus the same number of visitors.
Resting toucher winners were Rodney Bannister, Gavin Hird, Rob Wilson and Marg Reade.
There were three teams with three wins and commiserations went to Pat Quinn’s team who came a close third.
A close second was Dallas Mather’s team which included Barb Hildebrand, Judy Hipwell and Ian Dever.
The winners for the day were Mike Hoffman, Peter van der Zande, and visitors from Lakes Entrance – Anne and Wally.
The lucky lead for the day was Marian Smith, the lucky second was Terri Hancock, the lucky third was Ian Morrison and the lucky skip was Ian Howard.
Kerang Golf
WITH the sun shining, Kerang Golf Bowls held their opening day on Sunday with 38 bowlers taking part.
Opening the season, president Gary Borg welcomed everyone to the new bowls year and invited stalwart club secretary Judy McKerrow to roll the first jack and current ladies’ champion Carol Pay to roll the first bowl.
A game of social two bowl triples was played and Lloyd Murray, Noel Robertson and Dave King were the winners with 17 shots up after two wins, just in front of Lorraine Ritchie, Ian Charles and Brett Hipworth, with two wins as well but only 16 shots up.
Completing the podium finish was third-placed Rob Fisher, Sonia McLeish and Lorraine Douglass. Judy McKerrow, Doug Hawke and Joycey Tuohey were the recipients of the encouragement chocolates.
It was great to see some of our retired members coming out to support the players and enjoy the sunshine and camaraderie.
A sumptuous afternoon tea, prepared by our competent catering crew, was enjoyed by all, prior to the day’s presentations and annual general meeting.
Borg gave his report and was congratulatory to all members for their resilience over his three terms as not only COVID, but floods have impacted our playing area during his leadership.
He also thanked all the member volunteers who work diligently to conduct the events associated with the playing of bowls at Kerang Golf.
Also, the work done by members on and around the greens was complimented, especially this off-season where the ditches and banks have been replaced with new synthetic grass and the finished product enhances the bowling green precinct.
These improvements are completed using funds generated by the numerous fundraising ventures supported by club members.
The outgoing president asked Trevor Linton to chair the meeting for the election of office bearers for the incoming year.
Only one nomination was received for the president position, and Jim McLeish accepted the leadership role for the coming year.
McLeish will be assisted by Graeme Hayes who continues as vice-president, with Judy McKerrow again doing the secretary’s job and Peter Niall looking after the finances.
Committee members are Laurie Gray, Noel Robertson, Howard McClelland, Rob Fisher, Allison Medson, Robert Taylor, Frank Ritchie and Gary Borg.
Last Thursday’s bowls was also played in glorious sunshine and with 23 players, we had a game of triples with one pair also.
And the pair of Lorraine Ritchie and Rob Curtis were the winners with two wins and 23 shots up.
Lorraine and Frank only arrived back from their northern Australian adventure the day before, after 18 weeks away, which included 40 games of bowls.
The runners-up were Rob Fisher, Trevor Burmeister and Dave King, who won both games, but were only 11 shots up.
The chocolates to Rob Malseed, Craig Hicks and Wayne Neville. Social bowls will continue on Thursdays and members, as well as visitors, are encouraged to attend.
On Sunday is the president versus captain’s day, and as usual, there will be keen competition between the two teams. It will be pennant format and teams will be selected to represent each leader.
The captain’s team won easily last year and the new president has already been recruiting to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
The following day we are hosts to a group from Geelong for a game of social bowls after players have a sausage sizzle for lunch.
Again, teams will be selected, so get your names to Aldo or Jimmy if you haven’t already.
The following Friday (the AFL Grand Final public holiday) is our practice match against Lake Boga at Kerang Golf.
Again, selectors will be picking teams to try and win the challenge shield for back-to-back wins after their success in 2022.
Pennant follows on the Wednesday with midweek commencing and Saturday, October 7 is the first day of weekend pennant.
Kerang
LAST Tuesday, jackpot triples attracted 30 players and the grinners were the winners of Ian Roberts, Jacqui Jenkins and Bryce McLeish, winning two games and being 17 shots up for the day.
The smilers were the second-game winners with the highest score of 10 shots up, well done Jeff Jackson, Barry Theobald and David King.
The rest of us crossed our fingers and hoped for our numbers to come up in the jackpot draw but no one had minus 10 for the day.
We will be back again today hoping for lady luck to smile on us for the jackpot of $252.
If you don’t have your name in, ring through on 5452 1194 before 11am and be there for a 12.30pm start.
Swan Hill Racecourse Club joined us for a delicious barbecue lunch before taking to the greens for a practice match on Sunday.
Thanks to Jacqui and her team for a great meal and afternoon tea. With the almost 30-degree heat, players took to the greens which were lightning fast, testing the skills of all. The games were played in fine spirit as we all tried to impress the selectors before the pennant season starts on October 4 for midweek and October 7 for pennant.
Both teams had three wins each and a draw with Kerang being the overall winners on the day with three shots up.
Best performing rink from Racecourse was skippered by Paul Loughron while Kerang’s best performing rink was that of Chelsea Fisher, Kerry Watts, Jason Wilson and Fred Schmidt.
Lucky prize winners in the raffles were Glen McKissack, John Pay and Murray Sutherland.
Thanks to all who attended the annual general meeting on Wednesday night and those who prepared reports for the meeting. Don’t forget the general meeting of all members to be held on Wednesday, October 11 at 7pm.
Greenskeeper Shane keeps leaving the weed lifters out near the front door hoping everyone who goes to the greens through the week will do their bit in removing some of those little weeds that keep popping up. If you haven’t done any yet, how about taking your turn in keeping our greens up to their usual excellent standard.
The ladies’ drawn pairs round robin will be played on Thursday next week. Ladies, please bring your own lunch.
Leitchville
THANKS to Pyramid Hill for the social bowls practice, which Leitchville and Gunbower were in attendance and supplying a barbecue snack which was enjoyed by all.
The club opening day at Leitchville is on Sunday, September 24, with names in by 12.30pm for a 1pm start, and pennant uniform is to be worn. Visitors most welcome. Place names on list on noticeboard or contact president Graham Douglas, 0409 567 428, or selector Ken Dehne, 0438 200 868.
Afternoon tea will be provided followed by a barbecue.
Subs are now due and can be paid to Lawrie Crawford or Heather Crichton.
Pennant practice every Thursday, from 4pm.
