THE best bowls players in the region will be on show from Friday until Monday at Murray Downs.
Players from Murray Valley will take on Sunraysia, Tyrrell and Northern District counterparts in the Murray Mallee region finals.
Winners from the 11 events will go on to the state championships in Bendigo in late April.
Bowls Victoria country manager Josh Thornton said the tournament was a culmination of the whole bowls season in the four playing areas.
“It’s the best in the region coming together and finding out who the premier bowlers are,” he said.
“Anyone that’s any good in our region is playing this weekend.”
One such player Thornton singled out was Brody Harker from Northern Districts, who will be competing in five events.
From Murray Valley, Judy Wilson will carry local hopes with a busy schedule of four events, including mixed pairs, ladies pairs, ladies triples and ladies fours.
In the most prestigious event – the Champion of Champions – Racecourse Bowls Club’s Mary Hooper will attempt to snare glory in the women’s, while Brian Lehmann of Murray Downs Bowls Club is the men’s representative.
Thornton said he was keen to watch pennant season rival Norm Smith compete in the men’s singles.
“I reckon Norm (Smith) has had an incredible year and he is primed to have a good tournament,” he said.
“Judy Wilson is another I expect to go really well, and obviously, I’ve got my own self-interests.
“Murray Valley generally goes alright in these events, so I’m hoping we can get a few to head to state.”
Thornton will compete in the men’s fours with club teammates John Caldwell, Lehmann and Garry McCaig – an event Murray Valley has won four years in a row.
Having the whole finals on the same weekend is a recent innovation, Thornton said.
“This is only the second year we’ve done it over a couple of days at the same venue,” he said.
“It was a huge success last year, and I can see us doing this for a very long time.”
