KERANG GOLF
Our final night of the Ian ‘Squizzy’ Taylor memorial barefoot bowls was completed last Wednesday evening in very warm conditions.
After seven nights and 14 games, Hirdy’s Buslines had opened up a break on the other teams and although they lost their last game to Hayes Real Estate, they had enough points up their sleeve to win the ‘Squizzy’ Shield for this year.
Well done to Alan Hird, Hayley Hird, Scott Bremner and Erin Byrne on their win.
The runners-up were past winners, Hayes Real Estate, with Graeme Hayes, Travis Hipworth, David Wood and Craig Davis, with the final ladder ending with Hirdy’s on 209, Hayes on 191, Royal Hotel on 185 and Ian’s Allstars on 165 rounding out the top four.
The eight-week season was enjoyed by all participants, with thanks going to local business houses, Gray’s Bakery, Hall’s Hardware and Choice Cut Butchers for their continued support of our barefoot bowls competition.
Special thanks to our volunteers who managed the bar and manned the barbecue, Frank Ritchie and Laurie Gray and all others who lent a hand during the series.
Our next barefoot bowls series commences in October and there are teams already entered for this triples event.
Winners on the night were the Taylor Ashton Painting Team 2, comprising of Andy Jeffs, Tony Newstead, Darren Troy and John ‘Digger’ Peck, who scored 31 points, including a win against the Taylor Ashton team 1, while the runners-up were the Kerang Truck Repairs team of Shane Waddingham, Heath O’Brien, Mick Fisher and Les Gibson with 30 points. The chocolates went to Taylor Ashton team 1.
On the tournament front, congratulations to Frank and Lorraine Ritchie who travelled to Lockington on the Monday public holiday and came home winners of their mixed pairs tournament. They also paired up with Jim and Sonia McLeish last Thursday and won the Murray Downs medley tournament.
There were also representatives who travelled to Quambatook, but haven’t reported any successes.
There is plenty of bowls still on the calendar, with Cohuna’s Autumn tournament coming up this weekend and Kerang’s Easter tournament in April, including their Star Day on Easter Monday.
Thursday Social was supported by only nine members, as the heat keep a few away.
Again, three games of pairs were played and there were no three game winners, with Laurie Gray and Les Gibson coming out on top with 14 shots up in their two wins, while the chocolates went to Bryce McLeish and Marlene Rawson.
Social Bowls will continue on Thursday’s, with names in by 12.45pm for a 1pm start, while weekend social bowls will be discussed this coming Thursday.
The men’s pairs championship was played last Friday evening, again in very warm conditions, with the Frank Ritchie and Jimmy McLeish combination proving too consistent for their opponents Richie Murray and Rob Fisher – congratulations to Frank and Jimmy.
The only club game still to be completed is the men’s 100 up final, which is being played this afternoon from about 4pm, between Frank Ritchie and Rob Fisher.
Members are encouraged to come and watch.
The presentation day and annual general meeting will be held on Sunday, April 13, so mark that day in your calendar, as well as our Anzac Day triples event on Friday, April 25.
KERANG
With a temperature forecast of over 40, we headed off to Mildura for the regional finals of weekend pennant.
The games were reduced from 15 to 12 ends per game, with two matches in the morning and a break until the evening, when the temperature had dropped and the third and deciding match would be played.
Tyrrell representatives Birchip played a draw against bowls Sunraysia representatives Mildura, which meant the second match between Northern District representatives Kerang would be very important for us.
The lead see-sawed throughout but Kerang came up four shots short, which meant Birchip had one and a half games.
After an afternoon in the pool for some and others in air-conditioned comfort in accommodation rooms, Kerang took to the greens to play against Mildura.
Needing to show that we were worthwhile contenders, we took to the greens with purpose to record a win by 10 shots, meaning Birchip finished on top, with Kerang runner’s up and Mildura in third position.
Congratulations to all of our players Jason.L, Mark, Jason.B, Kerry, Jason.W, Kim, Kevin, Alyne, Dale, Brian, Trevor and Damien under the capable management of Don – well done everyone, we live to fight another day.
The midweek competition was played out in much improved conditions on Sunday, with Murray Downs finishing as the overall winners and our Northern District representatives Barham, finishing in second place.
Well done to the Mildura Workers Club for conducting the competition and showing us great hospitality.
Black Duck continues on Tuesday afternoons, with the jackpot continuing to rise when unclaimed.
We are still taking entries for our Easter Carnival, which commences on Friday, April 18th.
COHUNA GOLF
Tuesday social bowls began this week’s activities with ladies playing fours, with the winners being Noelene Brown, Rhonda Bibby, Elaine Bartram and Corrie Murchie.
The continual hot weather didn’t help Thursday’s pairs, with all present opting to just play a few ends, then get into the pizza and drinks provided by the social committee.
This week will wind the pairs up for the year, with the popular pie and soup series commencing on the Thursday, March 27.
Jean still has room for more entrants, with triples and casual clothes.
Two finals were played during the week, with ‘Bluey’ and Jarred taking out the pairs championship from Peter and Frank, while congratulations also goes to Ron and Yvonne Eckhardt, who won the club mixed pairs title for the fourth time.
Commiserations to runner-ups Peter and Rhonda, who were not quite good enough on the day.
Further congratulations are in order to Harrison Keely, who has been chosen to play in the Vic Country team against metropolitan’s best in mid-April.
Congratulations also to ‘Bluey’ Fletcher, who turned the big Seven Oh over the weekend and now must surely be heading into retirement mode.
Two Golf sides headed to Bendigo for the country week series of matches this week and if past form is any indication, will feature in the final few somewhere along the way.
Good luck to you all and remember that none of you are 50 or 60 any longer.
The Cohuna Autumn tournament follows straight after and should be a great finale for the local bowls season, with lots of visitors hitting town as well as good local participation.
While talking tournaments, Pat Quinn skipped a runner’s up side comprising Gwen Campbell, with Yvonne and Ron Eckhardt at the Leitchville early morning consistency event, while doubling up again on Sunday to claim third prize with Ian Morrison and Jason Heard.
Heroes on the day however were Len Mathers who scooped the pool with a bevy of beauties, Mary Rodwell, Jean Sutherland and Noelene Brown.
Coming up at the end of the month is our presentation night, with $27 getting you an excellent two-course meal and a chance to acknowledge those from our ranks who have done well in events during the year.
There are still a couple of spots left, with meals to be prepaid before the night.
Our annual meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, April 8, with the usual plea for members to fill out a nomination form for one of the many roles required to run a club.
The regional pennant finals were played out in Mildura at the weekend, with a few big upsets.
Birchip won the Saturday pennant section, tipping out Mildura and our Northern Valley winners Kerang, while the midweek title was a shootout between Barham and Murray Downs, with both having won a game each.
Murray Downs came up trumps courtesy of one strong rink after an exciting final, with both winners heading to the state titles at Moama in early May.
