Rochester and district bowls notes | May 3-10

On Saturday the final of the 100 Up championship was held, with Pavone pitted against Bill Musgrove. The game was played in good spirits, with Pavone gaining the early advantage while Musgrove was having difficulty stemming the tide.

Eventually Musgrove found the pace of the green to make a mini-comeback. However, Pavone was equal to the task and won the title 100-85. Both bowlers were applauded as they left the green.

On Sunday, Pavone was again to the fore in the final of the B-grade championship. Playing John Fisher, the standard of the bowling was a treat to watch.

Fisher was a little astray with the pace of the green and Pavone was quick to adjust and picked up four shots to extend his lead to 13-4 after 10 ends. Fisher grabbed a couple of ends to close the gap and started to reduce the deficit. Pavone was still delivering some scoring bowls and eventually took control to win 25-12.

Both bowlers in their relatively short time in the game of lawn bowls will no doubt learn from the experience. Together with the President’s Trophy 21 Up championship title, Pavone has had a stellar season of bowls to collect the three championship titles along with a Division Three premiership medal.

In the Open championship he was eliminated in the semi-final by Phillip Cunnington 24-25.

Members have attended several local club tournaments, including the Lake Boga Triples. Two teams journeyed to Lake Boga and returned home with a fifty-fifty win-loss ratio, but enjoyed the hospitality. Several members have enjoyed bowling at the Echuca Bowls Club Carnival.

The club will hold the annual presentation evening on Thursday starting at 6.30pm for a 7pm meal. Names to be listed for catering purposes.

The Bowls Victoria State Championships concluded on Saturday at the Bendigo East Bowling Club. Congratulations to Cassandra Millerick (Moama) on winning the State Champion of Champions title against Brooke Edwards 25-16.

Millerick was in superb form to win all four games during the week against some extraordinarily talented bowlers.

In the first round Millerick defeated Mary Trudough 25-20.

Playing against Stacey Collier (Goulburn Valley) in round two, the victory was 25-22. In the semi-final against Robyn Thomassen (West Coast), Millerick exerted extreme pressure to win 25-9 and progress to the final.

The final produced high standard bowling from both bowlers, with Millerick gaining the ascendency to win the title 25-16.

In the State Mixed Pairs championship Millerick and Kevin Anderson (Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields region) won the first round in comfortable fashion 17-7 before crashing out of the championship race 5-23 against Brad Lancaster (Lakes Entrance) in the second round. Ann Miles and Ian Brimblecombe (Ovens and Murray) defeated Brad Lancaster in the final 16-3.

In the final of the State Champion of Champions (men), Jordan Yates (Northern Gateway) defeated Rohan Kelly (Heyfield) 25-23. Kelly is the grandson of the late Ivy and Bill Kelly, who resided in Lockington.

Ovens and Murray won the overall State Championship trophy for the best performing region.

Rochester

Indoor Bias Bowls is on Monday nights. Be there at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. New players welcome, $4 per night.

Ladies

May 3 winners of social bowls were Val Gledhill and Kathy Williams. The raffle winner was Kathy Williams.

May 10 is scrounge for those interested with a 10am start. Please note, no-one in office.

Annual general meeting

The meeting was held on Wednesday, May 4, with 29 present and 10 apologies.

There were no reports from the chairman or Greens Committee, which are to follow at a later date. The treasurer’s and bar reports were received.

Congratulations to outgoing office bearers and board members on a job well done through a difficult time.

The new chairman is Graham Willis. The secretary (until pennant starts) is Leigh Milgate.

Bookkeeper is Katy Wileman with treasurers: Men - Bruce Major; Ladies - Beryl Elliott; and Bar - David Murray.

Board members are Jane McCallum, Beryl Elliott, Kevin Hall, Shane Ryan, with power to add. The sponsorship co-ordinator is Shane Ryan. Bar manager is David Murray with help from Mick, Jenny and Helen.

Membership will now be full $180 or $170 if paid before July 31.

1st year Novice - $100.

Junior - $50.

Social - $30.

Big thanks to Allan and Bev Benson and Kaye Barker for representing Rochester at the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields presentation night on Wednesday, May 4.

Presentation night was on Saturday, May 7. We had a great meal with around 50 members and partners present.

The trophy winners from the 2021-22 season received their respective trophies.

Men

Men’s meeting at the club was be held on Monday, May 2, with 18 present and eight apologies.

President John Boyd thanked all the outgoing club office bearers, club workers and trophy winners on a successful season even with COVID-19 problems.

Congratulations to the new club office bearers and committee members:

President: John Boyd; Secretary: Leigh Milgate; Treasurer: Bruce Major. Men’s Committee: A. Benson, R. Clayton, R. Turner, G. Houlihan. Match Committee: J. Weeks, A. Crilly, R. Knight. Tournament Committee: R. Dennis, R. Clayton, L. Walles, T. Quinlan. Selection Committee: P. Stack, B. Trengove, J. Weeks, (and possibly G. Wiffin, G. Chambers). Media: D. Murray. Bar Manager: G. Willis, with D. Murray to assist.

If any members who were absent wish to help on any of the above committees, please let John or Leigh know, as all help will be much appreciated.

Please put your name on the lists in the foyer regarding availability for the upcoming pennant season. We need to inform the region by June 30 so that competition can be arranged.

Results from pairs competition on Wednesday, May 4.

We had four rinks with eight pairs, none of whom won two games. Three teams had a win and draw and the runners-up were Alan and Kathy Williams, with three shots up, and Anton Gusak and Graham Prince won overall, with 11 shots up. All winners received a dead chicken.

We will run a pairs competition again on Wednesday, May 11, with a 1pm start and names to be in by noon. Pairs can be all men, women or a mixed.

Bar duty will be on Mondays and Fridays from now on.

B. Major and B. Jones are on duty on Monday, May 9 and Friday, May 13, with J. Boyd and R. Clayton on Monday, May 16 and Friday, May 20.

Colbinabbin

Colbinabbin Bowling Club was saddened to hear of the passing of Margaret Brown. Margaret has been a long-time valued member and made a massive contribution to Colbinabbin Bowling Club over a large number of years.

Margaret was secretary of the ladies section of the bowling club for 13 years from 1998-99 through to 2010-11, and has been very active in other positions at the club.

Margaret was always willing to help out wherever needed at the club and a lot of times people would not know what she did at the club, as she never wanted recognition of the work she did and often did a lot of things in background.

Margaret won the Ladies Championship in 2002-2003 Season. Margaret was thrilled to attend and see the Weekend Pennant team win the final of bowls for season 2021-2022.

Colbinabbin Lawn Bowling Club would like to thank all our wonderful sponsors for season 2021-22. Without sponsorship, clubs would struggle to survive.

Thanks to Bendigo Tyrepower, Chris Morgan Bulk Transport, Mawsons, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Price-Morgan, Reid Stockfeeds, Rushworth and District Community Bank, Toolleen Store and Hotel, VMG Accounting, West Farm Supplies.

Colbinabbin Bowls Club are looking at some projects (some which will be completed during the off-season and some which will be done in seasons ahead), to try to improve the green and surrounds.

The season that was

This season, once again, COVID played a part in the year.

Colbinabbin made the final of the Midweek Pennant and won the Saturday Pennant in their respective divisions. Congratulations to all involved with these wins and also to the supporters on the day of the finals. This is a wonderful achievement.

Colbinabbin continues to travel to as many tournaments as possible during the year, but it is not always easy given the number of members. We also recruited players from other clubs to help us out to attend some of these tournaments, so thank you to them for helping out.

60 & Over continues to enjoy attending all the different venues and the friendships created with this competition.

$10 fee for wrong bias continues to raise good money for the RSL. Thank you to all members who lose concentration for a moment when others are watching to catch them when they slip up.

Winners of the events for 2021-22 were:

Men’s Champion - Greg Chandler. Runner-up - Ramon Rathjen. Ladies Champion - Barbara Cheatley. Runner up - Shayla Watts.

100 Up Mens Winner - Shane Ryan. Runner up - Bob McLean. 100 Up Ladies Winner - Shayla Watts. Runner-up - Rosemary McIntosh.

Pairs event winners - Bob McLean and Rosemary Mcintosh. Runners-up - Shane Ryan and Frank Oliver.

Well done to all winners and runners-up.

Thank you to John and Lynne Brown for helping Midweek over a number of seasons; sadly this was their last season.

Thank you to the committee for the season and wishing the new incoming committee all the best for next season. The annual meeting is Monday, May 16, when the new committee will be elected.

Tournaments attended recently were: Hill Top, with Ramon Rathjen, Glenn Young, Rick Humphries and Greg Chandler attending, winning one game, losing one game and a draw in the other game.

John Brown, Shayla Watts and Greg Chandler headed to Echuca, lost the first game and then won the next two games.

Just a reminder to everyone if they wish to play some bowls before next season, Rushworth is commencing on May 12: every Thursday 11am start, $15 lunch with three games of bowls. Names to Chris Garvey 0455 339 810 if interested.

Heathcote has social bowls on Wednesdays and Saturdays and are happy for Colbo to attend — names in by 12.30pm on the day you are going, and play starts at 1pm. Heathcote are also having their normal Winter Tournaments – first Sunday of June, July and August. Starts at 10am. If wanting to play these please let Greg or Di know.