Last Wednesday we crowned two new champions when the finals were played in the men’s and women's 21-up events.
The application of handicaps is designed to even out these singles games.
The men’s event saw current club champion Glenn Murphy take on last year’s champion Ron Dougherty and the game did not disappoint.
Both bowlers prefer to play their games with draw bowls. While Dougherty got away to a healthy lead – at one stage leading 20 to 9 - Murphy kept Dougherty scoreless until it was 20-all.
But it was Dougherty who scored the final winning shot. Congratulations Dougherty.
In the women's event, Carol Doherty and Glenda Mann battled for the title.
Doherty was too strong all game with her accurate draw bowling.
Doherty got to 20-shots and Mann made her wait another four ends before she was able to score that winning shot with a lovely conversion shot. Congratulations Doherty.
Only the men’s triples is to be finalised before the presentation dinner on Friday, May 28. Bookings and payment of $15 a head required before May 20.
Still looking for bowlers to play against a visiting group from Mulgrave Country Club on May 11 and 12. Happy for people to nominate half-day availability. Names by Friday, May 7, please.
And members, beginners and visitors are welcome to come to social bowls each Wednesday at 1 pm.
Names on list at the club by 5 pm Tuesday or call Glenda on 0407 040 208.
All members are reminded that the annual meeting is on tonight (Wednesday, May 5) at 7 pm.
● Meanwhile, the 35th Peaches and Cream men’s two-bowl triples tournament was run by the Cobram Bowling Club and Barooga Sport Bowls Club on May 1-2.
The field of 44 teams came from all across Victoria, including Gippsland, Portland, metropolitan Melbourne, as well as a couple of teams from Wagga.
They all enjoyed the magnificent weather at the weekend as they played for generous prize money sponsored by RACV, Sporties and Edgar Insurance brokers.
An additional incentive to enter this year was the fact that the event was registered as a Bowls Australia Ranking event.
The tournament kicked off on Friday at Barooga with a new concept – a one-bowl shoot out singles competition – with an RACV accommodation voucher up for grabs. This was followed by a barbecue. The winner was local bowler Ray Parks.
On Saturday morning, all players arrived at Cobram bright and early for the open draw.
This set the scene with half of the players staying at Cobram and the others heading over to Barooga for three games of 15 ends on Saturday.
On Sunday, players swapped to the other venue for the remaining three games.
Behind the scenes there was plenty of work being done to keep a master scoresheet up to date at both venues, so that after each game, players could see where they stood in the overall rankings.
At the end of play on day one, there were seven teams which had won all three games with only 18 shots separating the top six teams.
Players were treated to a barbecue at each venue on Saturday afternoon as they caught up with friends old and new.
Given that this time last year we were all in lockdown, it has been a while since some players have had the opportunity to travel to tournaments.
With such high standards of bowls being played, it was not surprising that each game resulted in changes on the leader board.
Four teams went into the last game with five wins under their belts, but at the end of the day, only one of these finished the tournament with six wins.
Congratulations go to the Clayton team of Alex Sims (s), Chris Owen and John Occhipinti with a winning score of 12 plus 43 shots.
Runners-up with 10 plus 48 were Barooga locals Brett Wright(s) and Ray Emerson, with Rob George.
With 10 plus 46 was third placed Michael Szabo (s), Wayne Lowrie and Larry Seely, followed by Phil Godkin (s), Dennis McHarry and Barry Ansett with 10 plus 42.
The final two prize-winning teams were Jordan Yates (s), Dane Gade and Jay Bye-Norris (10 plus 33) and a Timboon team skipped by Dale Wiggins (10 plus 28).
The organising committee comprising members from both Cobram Bowling Club and Barooga Sports Bowls Clubs are to be commended for the way the event was organised and run, and of course all the club members who volunteered in ways small or large are essential to the success of such tournaments.