THE Murray Valley Bowls region have had a strong showing at regional finals, hosted at Murray Downs last weekend.
Drawing bowlers from across the region, the Murray Mallee region finals brought together competitors from four districts: Murray Valley, Sunraysia, Northern District and Tyrrell.
Murray Valley bowlers started the tournament on the right foot, as they claimed a win in the first category, the inaugural 60-and-over championship.
Four Murray Downs bowlers, Matt O’Bree, Cecelia McCaig, Josie Boyd and Buck Lehman, claimed a narrow win over Sunraysia’s Ron and Kristina Archer, Fred Bacon and Di Smith, 13 shots to 11.
Racecourse bowler Lyndal Taylor added another victory for Murray Valley as she defeated Sunraysia’s Tracie Storer for the ladies’ singles.
Northern District bowlers soon added four team victories to their tally.
Jen Laursen, Lyn Ashton, Roma Opie and Jean Fairchild defeated the team from Sunraysia of Debra Scott, Judy Morris, Glenys Yeowart, 23 shots to 14, in the final of the ladies’ fours.
A close match concluded the men’s fours, as Spike Laursen, Charlie Bagg, Steven Arthur and Brody Harker defeated Murray Valley’s Garry McCaig, John Caldwell, Buck Lehmann and Josh Thornton, 14 shots to 13.
A big 23-13 win the ladies’ triples went to Northern District’s Alison Ainger, Marie Scott and Roma Opie against Sunraysia’s Judy Osborne, Joan Bunney and Shirley Pupillo.
Nick Jarman, Jeff Reade and Bob Maud completed the day with a win in the men’s triples, defeating Sunraysia’s Matt West, Murray Fazulla and Glenn Scott 13-9.
Three more regional champions were crowned the following day, as Murray Valley got themselves back on the winners’ list thanks to Buck Lehmann.
Up against talented young bowler Brody Harker, Lehmann blew the competition away, claiming the win in the men’s singles competition 25-7.
Lehmann would soon add a second title, alongside teammate Matt O’Bree in the men’s pairs, as they defeated Sunraysia’s Lindsay Lynch and John Simpson 24-5.
Murray Valley would wrap up both gendered pairs sections, as Moulamein’s Kerryn Evans and Jess Degne defeated Sunraysia pair Trish Walters and Di Smith 17-10.
The final day was a success for Murray Valley, as Kerryn and Mark Evans put in a dominant performance on their way to a 23-4 win against Sunraysia’s Dinky Nichols and Mick Rhoden in mixed pairs.
Joshua Thornton came up against a tough ask on the final afternoon of the tournament, as he was defeated by Northern District bowler Brody Harker 26-10.
But Lisa Critten finished the event on a high for the locals, as she claimed victory in the Ladies Champion of Champions, a 25-21 shot win against Northen District’s Roma Opie.
