Playing Ditch Weight

The annual Cherry Festival Bowls Carnival was completed on Thursday morning with the fifth game of the Men’s Triples Tournament. The organisers of the tournaments were pleased to have such fine weather throughout the two weeks.

The first event for the carnival was the Women’s Triples played on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th November. By Thursday afternoon there were three of the twenty four teams that had won all four games.

The overall winners were Daphne Jones, Jenny Clark and Leanne Smith with the very big margin of 80 shots.

Kathryn Betcher, Say-Lee Jones and Jan Anlezark were the runners-up with a margin of 74 shots and third place went to Robyn Corby, Mel Blumor and Jocilin Hayman whose margin was 34 shots.

There were 38 teams for the Mixed Pairs tournament played on Saturday and Sunday.

Play consisted of six games of twelve ends and only two teams won all six games.

Stuart Wright and Judith Staunton from Poverty Point were the winners with a 56 shot margin and they finished just in front of Rhona and Michael Went from Parkes whose margin was 50 shots.

The Parkes team of Maureen and Colin Miller were third with five wins and a draw and a margin of 38 shots.

The award for the best performed local team went to Margaret Gailey and Glen Benson who won five of their six games.

A Calcutta for the Men’s Triples was held on Monday night and was enjoyed by those in attendance. Special thanks to Ryan Brown who showed off his auctioneering skills during the evening. Ryan was representing Kevin Miller, Whitty & Lennon who were a major sponsor of this year’s tournaments.

The maximum of forty–two teams played the first of their five games on Tuesday morning.

With the exception of some wind the weather conditions were very good for the three days.

After lunch on Thursday the prizes were presented by Steve McIllhatton – representing Young Services Club, John Gerrard – representing Miller, Whitty and Lennon and Col Chapman representing another major tournament sponsor the Young Bowling Club Fishing Club.

Four teams won all of their games and the winners were Ray Walter, Nick Darius and Blake Bradtke with a margin of 73 shots. This team are regular competitors and were the winners in 2017.

Brett O’Leary, Peter Watts and Warren Turner were the runners-up with a margin of 68 shots and the local team of Ian Schofield, Jonathon Watson and Russell Boyd came third with a margin of 49 shots.

Thanks to the many people who helped ensure the success of the carnival – Mitch and Damien for the condition of the greens and to Damien for his work on the scoreboard and umpiring.

Thanks to all the bar staff, to Belinda, Kimberly and Rebecca from Young Services Club for their assistance, the caterers for lunches and also the Indoor Bowls group for the barbecue.

Particular thanks to Colin Powell for his work in many areas during the three tournaments and to those members of both the men’s and women’s clubs who helped with the raffles.

Thanks to Joe Bargwanna and Ryan Brown for their efforts with the Calcutta and to all those club members who umpired during any of the seven days of play.

To all the club members who have helped with any aspect of tournament – setting up and putting away the shades, setting up mats and jacks, collecting empty glasses, general tidying up.

Special thanks to the local players who helped fill teams for injured or ill visitors.

The club is very appreciative of the great sponsorship support received from many local businesses for the two–week carnival.

A reminder that the Annual General Meeting of the Men’s Bowling Club will be held on Sunday at 11.30 am and that the Fishing Club will be holding their annual Christmas Bowls event on Sunday afternoon.

• Topics:

• Bowls