Big day out for Beaufort

BEAUFORT Bowls Club celebrated one hundred years recently with the opening of their new greens with about 100 bowlers and dignitaries in attendance.

After the official ribbon cutting was done by Pyrenees Shire mayor Cr Ron Eason, and was followed by a short game of six ends.

After that local bowler Lockie Crick was presented with his super veterans’ badge by Bowls Victoria president Peter Inglis.

“The new green with the new synthetic surface will allow our bowlers the opportunity to experience a consistent set of conditions to further hone in and develop their bowling skills which should bring us more success in the coming years ahead,” said club president Rohan Quinton.

“The Club has also been active in the past couple of years improving the amenity of the surroundings with much improved shading and storage shedding.

“We will promote these new facilities together to encourage more in the community to take up bowls as well as the social side that goes with playing the game and being part of a local club”.

“We look forward to a fresh start next season and the opportunity to settle in and develop our club success from the benefit of these improved facilities.”

In Ballarat-Highlands Bowls Region Saturday Pennant Division action on the green, Beaufort’s division 1 side played away at North Ballarat narrowly lost out with each side two rinks up.

North’s rink skippered by William Hodgetts had a decisive 24-shot victory which helped the win, aided by Scott Plater’s foursome.

Beaufort skippers Stefan Wereszuk and Brian Hayes got wins on their rinks but were unable to offset the deficit.

With only one game to be played in the regular round of home and away matches Ballarat North, Beaufort and Ballarat East are down the ladder and look forward to next year’s competition in anticipation of improved success.

Interestingly, either side could influence the team qualifying for fourth, with Beaufort to host Webbcona on their new green and North travelling to Midlands, with the latter only slightly ahead of the former on the ladder.

Beaufort’s Division 5 side hosted Ballarat on their new green and showed off their prowess on mastering the new surface by winning in all rinks and scoring the maximum 18 points.

Heading into the final round of regular season action, Beaufort will head back to North albeit Division 5, who will be keen to have a strong win and gain the required points to challenge Smeaton for the last post-season place.

A strong win by Beaufort may allow the team to creep into fifth spot at the expense of North, but not the opportunity to go further up the ladder to play finals.

The fate for Ballarat North playing finals could rest on whether City Oval have a strong win away at Smeaton.

The top three Division 5 positions are held by BMS, City Oval and Bungaree who are all assured of playing finals regardless of the results.

– BY ANTHONY McCABE