Double celebration as bowler wins top prize in Summerland Series

SOME of the best lawn bowlers from around the country have shared a $26,500 prize pool with local competitors at the Summerland Series.

The prestigious event has been running for more than 50 years, with Cherry Street Sports Club hosting six days of competition at Ballina.

Australian Jackaroos bowler Corey Wedlock achieved a rare feat by winning both the singles and pairs competitions.

He defeated Irish Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gary Kelly 21-12 in the singles final, pocketing $4000.

The pair had previously won an Australian triples title together. It was the second time Wedlock has won the event, following his impressive victory in 2022.

“I always love coming to Ballina, they have some of the best greens in the world,” Wedlock said.

“I usually have a bit of a break around Christmas and I don’t come here expecting to win anything, so it’s a nice feeling.

“It’s hard playing a mate like Gary in the final, I’d definitely rather that than have to play him in the first round, though.”

There was a local flavour in the pairs final with Wedlock teaming with Byron Bay bowler Michael Anderson.

They proved too strong for Yamba’s Des Johnson and Robert Wetzel with a 21-17 win.

The win was the first for Anderson since he won the singles event in 2011.

It was also the first time he and Wedlock had played together in a competition outside the Bowls Premier League in Queensland.

“We have a really good friendship from when we played together at Burleigh Heads,” Wedlock said.

“He has been hassling me about playing together for a while now and I was finally able to get down here again.

“Mick has won a state singles title and he’s been a top-class bowler on the Northern Rivers for years now, so I knew what to expect from him.”

Meanwhile, Byron Bay bowler Luke Jones fared the best of the local bowlers in the singles by reaching the semi-finals.

He played in the final last year with the likes of national bowler and former champion Ben Twist playing in both events.

Alstonville bowler Peter Taylor continues to impress at the event with a quarter-final appearance in the singles.