Bowlers roll up at regionals

BALLARAT bowlers successfully competed in the Region Championships for the women’s singles, men’s over 60s singles and women’s over 60s titles at Kyneton Bowling Club last Sunday.

Webbcona’s Sarah Braybrook, who won the Ballarat title last month, continued her success and had a comfortable win over Jenny Ryan from the Central Highlands Division in the morning’s semi final, followed up with win in a tight tussle with the Goldfields Division’s Wendy Taylor.

“Sarah bowled well and had consistent line and weight throughout the final and displayed great judgement in managing the tricky wind conditions,” said Kyneton’s Peter Ryan, who marked the game.

It was a successful day for the women with Marilyn Blake and Margaret O’Meara from Central Wendouree being winners of women’s over 60s pairs. With Blake saying the windy conditions challenged the competitors and forced most bowls on the narrow hand to reduce the impact of the gusts.

Sebastopol’s John Garvin gave an excellent display of master draw bowling in his game against Kyneton’s Mark Smoljo from Central Highlands Division.

Game marker Ian Ball said both players bowled well and it was superb display from Garvin to earn the title.

In accepting the award Garvin said he had bowled on the Kyneton green about 40 years ago. This time round he, “Enjoyed the game and although the gusty winds did throw up the occasional challenge I compliment the club for the condition in which they presented the green for the finals.”

In the final of the men’s over 60s pairs the Victoria bowling club duo of Barry Clark and Noel Verlinden, took a while to get a feel for the green and allowed to their opponents from Lancefield to race to a 11-1 lead.

The BDBD pair drove on numerous occasions in an attempt to upset the head with limited success.

Although the duo came back in the final stages to be within two shots the four mark that the Lancefield Pair got on the 14th end, for a six-shot lead leading into the final end of the game.

The mixed pairs championships saw Jenny Shepherd and Rob Edwards win in the morning semi-final against a Central Highlands Division pair from Diggers Rest Bowling Club.

In the afternoon’s final were unable to get over the good bowling of the Talbot duo of Sheryl Howard and Matt Vernon representing the Goldfieds Division.

The Creswick men’s Pair of Allan Annear and Travis Hedger lost their morning’s semi-final to a Goldfield’s Division duo.

The Region Championship matches will continue with the Ladies Champion of Champions to be played at Daylesford on Friday where City Oval’s Janine Roberts will represent Ballarat in the afternoon final.

Meanwhile, rain on the weekend meant Maryborough Highlands Bowling Club wont host a range of events until the weekend starting 26 March.

Those games include the men’s triples with Fred Reuss, John Garvin and Paul Lovell in action, women’s triples of Sandy Grano, Elizabeth Kierce and Jenny Harman, Men’s Champion of Champions with Wayne Roberts and women’s pairs where Dianne Leeson and Helene Stenning will roll representing the Ballarat District Bowls Division.

The region winners will go on to compete in the State championships set for Bendigo East Bowling Club between 4 and 12 May.

 

– BY ANTHONY McCABE