IT was double delight for Swan Hill Racecourse Bowls Club in the Murray Valley Bowls Playing Area Singles Championships.
Club president Norm Smith took out the men’s title, while Division 1 teammate Mikaela Evans won the women’s title.
Coincidentally, it was the first MVBPA singles title for both Smith and Evans.
The pair told The Guardian it was a special feeling not just to win but to beat some of the region’s best players.
“It was terrific to defeat Josh (Thornton) with how good of a player he is,” Smith said.
Evans added: “Similar feeling for me, too – beating Judy Wilson, who usually wins everything and is a great bowler, was a nice feeling.”
Evans, who lost to Wilson in the final last year, managed to secure revenge in an eerily similar fashion.
“Judy beat me in the final last year by the exact same scoreline I won by, 25-10, so it was nice to have a pretty good game and see how much I’ve improved in 12 months,” she said.
It was a much closer affair for Smith against Murray Downs Bowls Club gun Thornton.
After Smith’s strong start, Thornton made his way back into the contest to level the scores.
At this moment, Smith thought he had run his race.
“I had a bit of luck and started well, but he came back like the good player he is to make it 17 all and I thought I’d done my dash, but I was lucky enough to keep going and win 25-20,” he said.
Smith has been in career-best form this season, winning tournaments for fun.
He put this down to the trust he now has in his game.
“I definitely feel like this is some of the best bowls I’ve ever played,” he said. “For me, it’s been a confidence thing – I feel I have the belief now if the shot is there, I can do it – positive thinking is massive in this sport.”
By her own admission, the singles game hasn’t always been one Evans has enjoyed.
The mental side of the format has been something she has struggled with in the past.
But hard work goes a long way and, in the space of 12 months, she was able to completely reverse a result.
“It has been a format I’ve not been overly fond of at times,” she said. “I’m used to playing with my partner, but I’ve been working hard at my singles game, and it was good to finally do it for myself against a very accomplished bowler.”
While the pair have been in fantastic singles form, their efforts in SHRBC’s Division 1 Saturday Pennant team have helped them become Murray Downs’ biggest challengers at this point of the season.
They sit second on the ladder and a win against the previously undefeated Murray Downs catapulted them into contention for this season’s title.
The confidence in the group has skyrocketed, according to Smith.
“I believe we’re travelling quite well,” he said. “We even beat Murray Downs the other week, who never lose in the regular season – Josh (Thornton) wasn’t there, to be fair, but we still won every rink, so that’s given us immense confidence.
“As we proved in our singles performances, if we’re all on our game on the day, we can beat anyone.”
Evans echoed those thoughts.
“I think for Racecourse, it is a bit of a mental thing when coming up against Murray Downs, who always win, but now we know we can defeat them, so we’ll take that knowledge that they’re not unstoppable heading into finals,” she said.
The pair will now go into the regional finals against Northern District’s Mildura and Tyrrell in March, when they will compete for the chance to go to the state championships.
