RACECOURSE
CONGRATULATIONS to all our pennant teams, both Saturday and Midweek.
We have four teams contesting the grand finals tomorrow at Murray Downs, and teams three and four will play off in the grand final of Midweek Pennant at Swan Hill.
Our Wednesday Jackpot bowls was played in hot conditions. The winners, with two wins and +25 shots, were Graeme Bennett and Ernie Russell.
Runners-up with one win and +5 shots, were Bruce Horsburgh, Kylie Bailey and Bob McIntosh. Play starts at 9.30am. Names need to be in by 8.45am.
Night bowls did not play due to the heat.
There are lots of other club events which must be played by early April, so get on with them please.
The club has a great night of entertainment planned for Friday, March 22, the Hoffmans will be at the club. Bookings to Kaye Roberts.
Weekend Pennant – Saturday teams
Division 1: Racecourse 1 v Murray Downs 1, grand final at Murray Downs – G. McKissack, R. Hayes, P. Loughran, Nev Smith. M. Holyoak, D.J. Weaver, S. Domaille, G. Bennett. N. Smith (manager), G. McIntosh, K. Gardner, R. Wolfe. Emergency: I. Lockhart.
Division 2: Racecourse 2 v Murray Downs 2 grand final at Murray Downs – B. Bice, N. Roberts, A. Lindsay, J. Beard. T. Wiseman, R. Doran, A. Threadgold, J. Ford. B. Horsburgh (manager), G. Bailey, K. Vivian, D. McCarron. Emergency: T. Evans.
Division 3: Racecourse 4 v Lake Boga 2, grand final at Murray Downs – C. Smith (manager), M. Hooper. H. Frame, B. Mason. R. Schack, D. Doran, H. Vander Veen, K. Roberts. A. Taylor, F. Devereux, V. Lindsay, B. McIntosh. Emergency: M. Smith.
Division 4: Racecourse 5 v Manangatang 2, grand final at Murray Downs – L. Loats (manager), B. Warren, G. Maher, K. Foott. K. Bailey, G. Harwood, L. McKay, R. Harrop. Emergency: E. Renney.
Midweek Pennant – Tuesday teams
Division 2: Racecourse 3 v Racecourse 4, grand final at Swan Hill – L. Loats (manager), K. Vivian, J. Threadgold, C. Power. E. Lawry, P. Loughran, I. Lockhart, M. Smith.
Division 2: Racecourse 4 v Racecourse 3, grand final at Swan Hill – L. Taylor, D. Weaver, E. Renney, K. Bailey. A. Taylor, R. Rust, L. McKay (manager), T. Evans.
LAKE BOGA
WELL done to our Division 3 team for making the grand final which will be played at Murray Downs tomorrow against Racecourse 2.
We are confident we can make it back-to-back wins having won last year against Racecourse 2, though we are sure they will be trying to win the title back from us.
Last week’s final saw Lake Boga lead quite comfortably until the lunch break but Racecourse 3 changed the momentum after lunch and came within a few shots.
Fortunately, Lake Boga were able to hold the lead and win two rinks and win overall. Team 1, skippered by David Condy, won by four shots. Team 2, skippered by Peter Snell, won by seven shots. Team 3, skippered by Greg Davis, lost by two shots – his team fought hard as they were 15/4 down at the break and fought back holding the Racecourse team, skippered by Ian Lockhart, to only two shots after lunch, with a final score of 19/17 to Racecourse 3.
The grand final team: Peter Snell, Max Lord, Sally Meehan, Max Parsons. Terry Haw, Greg Davis, Janet Hamill, Noel Hender. David Condy, Marie O’ Meara, Kane Kendall, Kieth Anderson. Emergencies: Leigh Kingsbury, Robyn Jolley, Laurel Dewhurst.
Club members come along and support our team and we wish them the best of bowling.
Thursday, March 7 will see the first of our three charity nights it will be the Red Cross night. Cost $8 with a delicious homemade supper.
Names can be left on the club phone or to Janet Hamill 0408 591 256. The Red Cross night will be followed by the annual fire brigade night then MND charity nights which will see the last of the barefoot bowls for the season.
MURRAY DOWNS
SOCIAL bowls last Thursday was not played competitively as it was an extremely hot morning and some members who were keen had a practice among themselves.
Duty members next week are Garry McCaig and Keith Burrage. The jackpot is mounting again for a lucky winner.
Barefoot bowls is going along nicely with 20 teams participating. Well done to Shorty, Dawne and their band of workers who assist in the running of this fun night.
Good luck to Division 1 and Division 2 Team 1 on winning through to the grand final tomorrow. Wonderful achievement and great effort. The grand finals are being played at Murray Downs. Come along and witness some excellent bowling.
Also playing in a grand final are our two Midweek teams in Division 1. These matches are being played at Swan Hill Bowls Club. Another superb accomplishment by our club to have these teams playing off against each other. Good luck to both teams.
The social committee is organising an evening to celebrate the season on Saturday after bowls. Please put your name on the noticeboard if attending.
Midweek Pennant – Tuesday teams
Division 1: Murray Downs 1 v Murray Downs 2, grand final at Swan Hill – L.Critten (skip/manager), M. O’Bree, K.Roive, J.Boyd. J. Wilson (skip), G. McCaig, C. Rovere, R. Wilson.
Division 1: Murray Downs 2 v Murray Downs 1, grand final at Swan Hill – T. Furnell (skip/manager), D. Fisher, N. Weir, P. Furnell. C McCaig (skip), H. Whitford, D. Griffin, D. Holland.
Emergencies: D. Scown, D. Deighton, D. Barry and K. O’Bree.
SWAN HILL
SWAN Hill Bowls Classic on the Murray was held on Wednesday and Thursday last week despite the heat.
Thursday’s games were shortened to 12 ends instead of 14. An earlier start was made, playing two games, with a 15-minute break, then the third game was played prior to ending the day with lunch at 1pm.
Seven games were played in total over the two days, with 24 teams entered. Clubs represented were Coughlin Park – Horsham, Cohuna Golf, Moama, Kangaroo Flat, Maryborough, Bendigo East, Wycheproof, Barham, Euston, Irymple, Donald, Inglewood, Murray Downs, Nyah, Racecourse and Swan Hill.
At the end of the first day’s play, Ron Eckhardt’s Cohuna team were in the lead, being the only team to have won four games. By the end of the seven games played, the Racecourse-Swan Hill combination team of Glen McIntosh, Brian Quaife and Graeme Bennett came out on top with six-and-a-half games. Another combination team came in as a close second with six games, this being Glen Scott (Euston), Brian Mansbridge (Barham) and Matt West (Irymple).
Ron Eckhart’s Cohuna Golf team were third, also with six wins but a few points less than the second placegetters. Fourth prize was taken out by Todd Matthews’ Bendigo East team.
Best game winners to receive their entry money back were: Game 1 – P. Beveridge – Kangaroo Flat, Game 2 – A. Leyonhjen – Coughlan Park, Game 3 – R. Crawley – Maryborough, Game 4 – B. Brennan – Moama, Game 5 – G. Wilson – Inglewood, Game 6 – A. Coatsworth and Game 7 – L. Hardingham – Kangaroo Flat.
Thanks to all Swan Hill members that worked outdoors and indoors to make the classic a successful event.
Friday Frolic will be on today and is open to anyone who would like to play a game of 10 ends. Enter by 2.30pm for a 3pm start. Entry fee of $5 ensures you a chance in the jackpot draw.
V. Plumridge and N. Green cracked it open two weeks ago, taking home the tidy sum of $100 each. Socialise in the clubhouse after the game.
Contact S. Tompsett (0429 008 386) if you would like to give bowls a try at 6.15pm today.
Swan Hill Bowls will host the Midweek Pennant grand finals on Tuesday commencing at 9.30am. Come along and witness some competitive bowling.
Easter is not far away and Swan Hill Bowls will be holding bowls on Friday, March 29, Saturday, March 30 and Monday, April 1.
All games start at 12.30pm. Contact Bill King on 0428 324 083 for details or pick up an entry form from the club.
MVPA
SATURDAY Pennant finals conclude with the season finishing at Murray Downs tomorrow. All players are expected to be at the greens by 12.15pm for the opening ceremony.
Division 1 is a replay of the 2023 finale, which pits Murray Downs 1 with Racecourse 1. These two sides have been top of the ladder all year, and deserve their chance at the top title.
Murray Downs’ Josh Thornton has drawn to play Racecourse’s Glenn McKissack. Murray Downs won in the semi-final. However, McKissack’s rink did well last week, and may be coming into top form just at the right time.
Racecourse’s Norm Smith will contest with John Caldwell (Murray Downs). These two have only played once, way back in November, when Smith won by three shots.
Mick Holyoak (Racecourse) and Buck Lehmann (Murray Downs) have also only tangled once, with Holyoak getting the upper hand.
Murray Downs was clearly better in the semi-final, but Racecourse has all to play for, and the final should be a really good contest.
In Division 2, Murray Downs 2 matches up with Racecourse 2. Murray Downs 2 beat the Racecourse combination by seven shots in the semi-final.
However, the blind draw has matched up the rinks differently for tomorrow.
Ray Wilson (Murray Downs) plays Bryan Bice (Racecourse), David Uebergang (Murray Downs) fronts Bruce Horsburgh (Racecourse) and Ken O’Bree (Murray Downs) contests against Trevor Wiseman (Racecourse).
In four head-to-head games this season, Murray Downs have won three – by one, 23 and seven shots, while Racecourse claimed one win by five shots.
Division 3 sees Racecourse 4 take on Lake Boga 2.
Carol Smith (Racecourse) plays David Condy (Lake Boga). In the semi-final Smith lost by five shots to the Condy combo.
Ros Schack (Racecourse) scored a five-shot win over her opponent in the semi, but the Lake Boga combination of Peter Snel’s will be a stern test tomorrow.
Alannah Taylor (Racecourse), one of the young guns of the competition, will be backed up by Faye Devereux, Val Lindsay and Bob McIntosh. She tackles Terry Haw. Haw was out for the semi final, and could give Boga a boost in this match.
Division 4 sees Racecourse 4 up against a revved up Manangatang 2.
After sharing the points in the home and away matches, Racecourse scored a one-shot win in the semi final. This should be a mighty game, with the result in doubt till the last bowl.
Lorraine Loats (Racecourse) plays Hazel Grant (Manangatang) and Kylie Bailey (Racecourse) is pitted against Peter Oliver (Manangatang).
In the Midweek grand finals, only two clubs will be involved. Matches will be at Swan Hill Bowls Club on Tuesday, March 6.
Division 1 sees Murray Downs 1 play Murray Downs 2.
Murray Downs 1 scored a 17 shot win in the semi-final. Judy Wilson (Murray Downs 1) won by eight from Cecilia McCaig (Murray Downs 2) and Lisa Critten (Murray Downs 1) defeated Teresa Furnell (Murray Downs 2) by nine shots.
Team 1 will go into this match firm favourites, despite Team 2 scoring a win in their November encounter. Murray Downs is going for its second title in a row.
In Division 2, Racecourse 4 plays Racecourse 3.
Team 4 takes a 2-1 advantage into this match-up.
In the semi-final Team 4 was too good, with a 22-shot winning margin.
In the head-to-head encounters, Lyndal Taylor and Elaine Lawry have one win each, with Tuesday to separate them. The same scenario holds for Alannah Taylor and Lorraine Loats.
Even though Racecourse will be title holder in Division 2 whichever side wins, Team 3 will hope to add to its 2021-22 and 23 efforts with a fourth victory.
