Ballarat Bowls marks Australia Day

AUSTRALIA Day was celebrated by the Ballarat bowling community with Clunes holding its Australia Day all day Fours Tournament with a total of 18 team entries.

“We have teams travelling as far as Lake Boga, Bacchus Marsh, Diggers Rest, Maryborough and Talbot together with local clubs Beaufort, BMS, Creswick, Learmonth, Linton, Smeaton, Waubra, Webbcona and our local club bowlers all taking to the green” said Clunes tournament organiser Peter Brough.

“It’s our Club’s major tournament for the season and the weather has been good today for bowls with everybody having enjoyed their day’s game of bowls.”

The tournament consisted of four games of eight ends with the winners from Geoff Annear’s rink consisting A. Annear, S.Hepworth and G.Antonio. Runners up were Rob Edwards team including Ken Frost, Spike Barton and Ross Boag. Third place was Smeaton’s Jim Taylor’s rink.

Over at Victoria Bowling Club…

Victoria Bowling Club set the bowls standard with their fun themed afternoon of social bowls to celebrate the day with participants encouraged to dress up for the occasion.

The afternoon consisted of three games of seven ends followed by an afternoon tea and Australia trivia quiz.

Winners were: Wendy Wilson, Geoff Wilson, Robert Chapman and Arthur David. Runners up: Billie Lennecke, Lauren Morris, Marc Oswin and Micah Oswin. 3rd place: Tom Atkins, Peter Muller, Darryl Quinlan and Barry Davis.

Ballarat Juniors “Gold Diggers” participate in Flapper Provincial Shield.

Ballarat hosted the State’s 2025 Junior Provincial (Flapper) Shield played at Sebastopol Bowling Club this month.

“This has been our biggest number of entries in the annual Shield competition with a total of 14 sides representing 10 regions throughout the State taking part” said Gerry Flapper.

“It is the nineteenth year the Shield has been played for and the second year that Sebastopol Bowling Club has kindly offer to host the tournament, previously this was held at the Daylesford Bowling Club.

“With the total number of teams competing we were able to make use of all the three of Sebastopol’s greens throughout the day.”

Ballarat squad coach Marc Oswin praised the team’s effort.

“Our Ballarat junior Gold Diggers bowled well throughout the tournament having strongly won their match against the Western Warriors and narrowly losing a second match by a single shot and just missing out from the opportunity to play off in the finals,” he said.

“Nevertheless, being one of the younger teams competing in the tournament our players will benefit from their participation and this will help us in the years ahead.”

The final of the Flapper Family Shield was won by Geelong Giants Gold who defeated the Bendigo Dragons.