Big names aplenty as GMBR names regional tournament squads

Dec 13, 2023

Big duties: Shepparton Golf’s John Stokes was a selector for the Goulburn Valley Playing Area representative teams and will shoulder some of the load himself. Photo by Megan Fisher

With the Goulburn Murray Bowls Region squads locked in for an upcoming state tournament there is no shortage of high-end talent.

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Selectors have finalised men’s and women’s teams to represent the Goulburn Murray district ahead of the Bowls Victoria Region Sides Event, which will bring in teams from virtually every reach of Victoria.

The Greater Ballarat area will take on hosting duties for the tournament, which runs from Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 14.

The Silver Section 2 women’s squad, set to be managed by Marj McDonald, includes women as far apart as Tocumwal Golf and Rushworth, with representatives of both clubs ― Leigh Hansen and Lyn Nicholson, respectively ― also acting as selectors.

Shepparton Golf’s Carla Miles, Jean Sprague of Rushworth and Tocumwal Golf’s Loris Houlihan will skip the women’s rinks.

Meanwhile, the Gold Section 1 men’s rinks contain a wealth of familiar names out of the Goulburn Valley Playing Area Allan Matheson Shield, managed by Alan Rogers and selected by Geoff Sutcliffe and John Stokes.

Shepparton Golf’s Brad Orr will skip alongside David Daws of Tallygaroopna and Golf teammate Brett Gunning.

Stokes will also have his hands full as a participant, slotting into the second spot of the Gunning-skipped quartet.

Goulburn Murray Bowls Region - men’s and women’s squads

MEN

Rink 1: Brad Orr (Shepparton Golf), Josh Cartwright (Kyabram), Ray Parks (Cobram), Brent Reiner (Kyabram)

Rink 2: David Daws (Tallygaroopna), David Cartwright (Kyabram), Guy Madigan (Tallygaroopna), Scott Adams (Shepparton Park)

Rink 3: Brett Gunning (Shepparton Golf), Kris Ferguson (Shepparton Golf), John Stokes (Shepparton Golf), Nick Boyd (Tatura)

WOMEN

Rink 1: Carla Miles (Shepparton Golf), Kris Wright (Shepparton Golf), Lidija Patching (Numurkah Golf), Kate Bush (Shepparton Park)

Rink 2: Jean Sprague (Rushworth), Jamie Stokes (Kyabram), Judy Harvie (Tocumwal Golf), Bree Warren (Shepparton Park)

Rink 3: Loris Houlihan (Tocumwal Golf), Jenny O’Connor (Numurkah), Di Hands (Shepparton Park), Kerry Baldacchino (Cobram)

Saturday, January 13 will be the primary competition day in the Bowls Region Event, with the squads set for three games across the morning and afternoon.

The women will be based at Central Wendouree for group competition, first playing Metro West at 9am before afternoon clashes with Ballarat Highlands and Gippsland.

While Sebastopol is the venue for finals on January 14, the men’s sides will compete there all tournament.

The men open their campaign by facing Northern Gateway in the morning and heading into games against Ovens and Murray and West Coast later in the day.

However, selected teams are subject to availability and changes may occur in the month before the tournament starts.