Saturday bowls gets ready to roll

BALLARAT pennant bowls returns this Saturday with a full season fixture of eighteen home and away games set for both Saturday and Tuesday pennant competitions.

In a big change for this season there’ll be no Premier division with the competition starting at Division 1 progressing through to Division 9 for Saturday and Division 5 for Tuesday pennants.

Games will consist of 21 ends with a 20-minute break midway through.

Saturday Pennant roll up is at 1pm with the game starting 15 minutes later and a break at 3pm.

Tuesday’s roll up is at 10am, with match play underway a quarter-of-an-hour later and the break at 12pm.

To decide season champs there’ll be a three-week final series between the top four sides in each division to find the premiership winners.

“We are looking for an exciting season ahead now that the worst of the COVID restrictions are behind us,” said Ian Guymer, chair of the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region.

“I thank all the clubs for their understanding as we have made the necessary tweaks to competition to fit all the games in on the rinks each club has available from week to week whilst at the same time ensuring each division side has the same number of home and away games.

“We start the season full of optimism with games commencing on 1st October on time for the first time in three seasons with a total of 83 teams in the Ballarat’s Saturday Pennant and 53 teams in Tuesday Pennant taking to the greens.

“I thank all the volunteers at all the clubs who work so hard that we can still play bowls each week.

“Remember to support them and give them the respect that they deserve to ensure that the club operates efficiently and effectively.”

Saturday’s Divisions 7 and 8 sides will have a bye in their draw while Divisions 8 and 9 will play a couple of sides an extra time to make up for the reduced number of teams in the draw.

Tuesday Pennant will see a minimum of two women playing in any position per rink a required for Division 1 and Division 2.

-BY ANTHONY McCABE