Bowls rolls on national day

THE Ballarat bowls community celebrated Australia Day with tournaments on 26 January held at both Clunes and Victoria bowling clubs.

“Our club’s Australia Day tournament has returned to full capacity after a few quiet years following COVID,” said Clunes tournament organiser Peter Brough.

“We received a great response from the invitations we sent out and had players from 13 clubs including Avoca, Beaufort, BMS, Creswick, City Oval, Diggers Rest, Lake Boga, Learmonth, Linton, Maryborough, Mt Xavier, Smeaton and Waubra, together with our own bowlers taking part.”

The full day event consisted of four games of eight ends.

Winners for the day were Clunes bowler Geoff Annear’s rink along with Creswick’s Stephen Hepworth, Alan Annear and Geoff Antonio.

Runners up were Rod Wickham’s rink from Lake Boga and Clunes John Young’s rink which included bowlers from Mt Xavier and BMS.

Meanwhile, Victoria Bowling Club’s Australia Day afternoon of bowls is well known on the Ballarat bowls calendar for its relaxed and fun theme and played in good spirits celebrating the occasion.

“It was a very pleasant afternoon with the clouds clearing as soon as the event got underway with everyone getting into the spirit of the occasion,” said tournament organiser Robert Chapman

Winners for the afternoon was Ashleigh Norman’s rink which included mother Janet, Lizzie Luckford and Stephen Britt.

Runners up were the team of Kelvin Jarvis, Noel Verlinden, Peter Muller and Barry Davis with third place going to Ballarat’s rink skippered by Lindsay Annear.

– ANTHONY McCABE