Sebas hosts Great Southern as city prepares for Region Sides

SEBASTOPOL Bowling Club celebrated the start of the new year hosting its major Great Southern annual tournament – one of the marque tournaments in the Ballarat bowling calendar.

A total of 136 bowlers took to the Sebastopol greens representing 52 participating teams. Interstate entrants participating included New South Wales, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania together with state clubs as far as Wangaratta, Heathmont, Mooroolbark, Dunkeld and Koroit travelling for the weekend to Sebastopol.

The Prelude Pairs started the competition on the Friday together with the $1000 Singles on the Friday evening. The Great Southern ($12,000) Fours tournament was held over both Saturday and Sunday.

Winners were… Pairs – John Cameron and Paul Lovell; runners up Josh Walker-Davis (Tasmania) and Lauchlin Davies. Singles – Haig Varco with the runner up Lauchlin Davies. Fours winners were Mick Gardner Bruce Carter, Nathan Lynch & Brayden Ellis with the runners up being the team of Josh Walker – Davis (Tasmania), Jack Ellis, Lauchlin Davies and Joshua Tyrrell.

The trip to Sebastopol by Mick Gardner was doubly successful as not only was he part of the winning fours team but he also took home the major raffle prize of the weekend.

This coming weekend Ballarat will be hosting the State’s Region Sides Championships for the second year. There are four sections in the competition with the Ballarat Highlands Region Men’s team competing in the Silver Section 1 competition whilst the Women’s compete in Gold Section 2. The Section winners will go through to play in the Final to be played at Sebastopol Bowling Club on Sunday morning.

This weekend’s competition is being managed by Bowls Victoria with selected games being streamed through the Bowls Victoria website.

The good work done last weekend by Sebastopol’s bowls manager Rob Baker and greens keeper Scott Roberts ensuring the success of the Great Southern tournament will need to be replicated as the Sebastopol Bowling Club greens and venue will be used to host some of this coming weekends State Region Sides team matches including the finals to be played on Sunday morning.

The Ballarat Highland team games are:

MEN’S – Friday afternoon starting 2pm playing Geelong Bowls Region to be played at Victoria Bowling Club.

Saturday morning starting 9am playing West Coast Bowls Region at BMS.

Saturday afternoon starting 1.45pm playing Strzelecki Bowls Region at BMS.

The teams are:

Tim Beacham, Ryan Bedggood, Mick Sloper & Ben McArthur (skipper).

Luke Spargo, Ben Morris, Anthony Mathison & John O’Donnell (S).

Heath Fumberger, Will Matthews, Rob Baker and Scott Roberts (S).

Emergencies – Matthew Blackburn & Glen Gascoyne.

WOMEN’S – Friday afternoon starting 2pm playing Sandbelt Bowls Region at Sebastopol Bowling Club.

Saturday morning starting 9am playing Eastern Ranges Bowls Region at Webbcona Bowling Club.

Saturday afternoon starting 1.45pm playing Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Region at Webbcona Bowling Club.

The teams are:

Donna Leeson, Suzanne Cassells, Elizabeth Kierce & Leah McArthur (skipper).

Jenny Cameron, Michelle Tait, Debbie Gorrin & Anne Draffen (S).

Christine Hawken, Debbie Stanaway, Amy Newman & Sarah Braybrook (S).

Emergencies – Heather Hopkinson & Lynette Lock.