Clunes takes out women’s bowls title

JODIE Lythgo, Eileen Spong and Valerie Jackson (skipper) won through to take out this season’s Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region Women’s Triples title hosted by the Central Wendouree Bowling Club last Sunday.

Taking the lead in the early stages of the game, the composite side of Jill Hopper, Debbie Gorin and Leah McArthur then faced a battle from the Clunes trio as they fought back and gained the lead as they entered the second half of the game.

A decisive three and four shots scored consecutively on the 11th and 12th ends saw Clunes draw away from their opponents, enabling them to take out the game 23 shots to 15.

“I would like to thank Jodie and Eileen for your support and good bowling during our games,” Clunes’s Val Jackson said.

“We encountered good bowls played throughout the tournament and I would thank everyone for their keen participation.

“Our finals played today saw great bowls played throughout the day which I am sure was appreciated by those who came along to support the bowlers.

“I thank the Central Wendouree Bowling Club for their hospitality and preparing a good green to play today’s finals after the recent weather we had.”

The Men’s Region Triples championship was won by the Victoria club entry of Kane Silbereisen, Wayne Lynch and skipper Jarrod Burt, representing the Ballarat playing area, 20 shots to 16 over the Highlands composite entry of Nick Williamson, Greg Taylor and Wayne Taylor. The win was set up by the Victoria team taking a 15-to-1-shot lead in the first half of the game.

Both the men’s and women’s winners now go through to play in the State Championships at Bendigo in mid-April 2026.

Meanwhile, Ballarat East Bowling Club is looking forward to moving into the second half of this season’s bowls competition with an opportunity to make the finals.

While Midlands heads up the ladder in Division 7, it remains a relatively tight competition for the other positions in the four, with East currently in sixth place with three wins recorded to date.

“This Saturday our Division 7 side will travel to play fourth-placed Victoria, who are just one win ahead of us, so we are looking for a good afternoon,” Ballarat East secretary Owen Dunne said.

“We take each game as it comes and our game results are pretty close, and we are improving as the season progresses.

“In Tuesday Pennant we have a team playing in Division 6.

“The side is just out of the four at present but it is a tight race for third and fourth place – and depending how the side goes in the final stages of the season will see if the side plays finals.

“Our Saturday Division 1 side lost four players from last season so we are going through a rebuilding phase this time and look forward to the future.”

The side will host third-placed City Oval, who have just come off a win at BMS and will challenge East.