Denison BC in Profile

Club in Profile – Denison Bowling Club

Denison survives with volunteer support

The Denison Bowling club as with all business, communities and community sporting facilities have been hit hard with the chain of events that were caused when COVID19 hit the world.

Denison Bowling Club had to make an exceedingly difficult decision to go fully volunteer at the club, this was done to enable the club to continue financially.

The Denison Bowling is well known for its annual carnivals these being: • January Kailis Carnival • May 5 Day Carnival • September Men’s and Ladies Classic • October Kakas 3

These carnivals could not be as successful as they have been without of course our incredible volunteers around the club but also without all of our amazing sponsors Aglime, Lindsay And Val Baskerville , Bernie Clarkson, BP Roadhouse, C & T Hicks Electrical, Carpet Choice, Cockburn Cement, Cr Construction, Deal Freight, Dongara Build & Trade, Dongara Drilling & Electrical, Dongara Funeral Services, Dongara Hotel Motel, Dongara IGA, Dongara Tyrepower, Easy Auto Care, EBM Insurance, Fig Tree Fashion, Geraldton Toyota, Gillam & Watson, Henderson Shearing, I & L Cliff, Jaycam, MG Kailis, Mitchel & Brown, Pannarai, Pat Ryan Landscaping, Port Store, Ray White, Seaside Signs, Shane Love MLA, Southerly’s Tavern, Specs 2-4-1.

Another big decision was changing from our magnificent grass greens to synthetic, purely again to keep our bowling club going, we were hoping to start the change from grass to synthetic after our 2021 Kailis Carnival which was again an extremely successful carnival.

However we decided that it would be best to leave the change from Grass to Synthetic until the completion of our very well supported May carnival. It is a great carnival, and we love what it brings into the community with many visitors from the lower parts of WA and even interstate travellers from time to time.

• Our May Carnival winners.

The Denison Bowling club located approx. 350km North of Perth is an extremely popular destination for those who travel up North to do the bowls circuit or just holiday in the warmth.

The May Carnival is also the start of the Gateway to the North carnivals which see all the major coastal towns including Geraldton, Wonthella, Northampton, Kalbarri, Carnarvon, Broome, Exmouth, Karratha and Dampier.

Whilst things are always changing and the times are different after COVID, our club remains the same, our club has a relaxing and welcoming feel and we pride ourselves on a providing a refreshing cold beverage and delicious meals of a Friday night, our wonderful band of volunteers that look after the club – maintaining our beautiful grass greens and keeping it sparkling clean and tidy inside and out for you to enjoy.

We would love to invite you to come and visit Dongara/ Denison for a break, come and see our club, partake in a roll of bowls, and enjoy all we have to offer.

The Denison Bowling Club looks forward to seeing you and wishes you all good health, happiness, and safe travel through 2021.

Men,s Country Week France and Ford fight out tight final

Men's Country Week Singles

The 2021 Countryweek Singles Final brought together two former Champions with Matthew France (Merredin) winning in 2015 and Michael Ford (Geraldton) in 2016.

Both men had to work hard to make the final. France overcame former Countryweek Fours winner Arthur Crabbe (Gnowangerup) 21-14, while Ford had a hard-fought win over clubmate Joe Cukela (Geraldton) 21-17.

The early running in the final was made by France as he jumped out to a 7-1 with impressive drawing ability. Ford hit back over the next three ends with some great conversion shots to close the gap 6-7.

That hard work looked for nothing as France again skipped away with a full four count and a 12-7 lead. Not to be denied, Ford again dug deep and won the next six ends with a mix of draw and running shots, including five singles to hit the front 14-12 and then edge away to 16-13.

Ford looked to be going the best as France had lost some of his earlier touch and Ford continued to put the pressure on from the first bowl. A single to France on the twentieth end followed by another four seemed to jolt him into action and to take control. Winning the final four ends saw Matthew France close out the game 21-16 and take home his second Countryweek Singles Championship.

Men's Country Week Pairs

The 2021 Countryweek Pairs was a tight contest between two evenly matched teams being father and son combination Rob and Bob Tiller (Comet Bay) and Eaton’s Mark Mills and Neville Woods.

In the Semi Finals, Tiller overcame Northam’s Ian Hill and Phil Becker 19-13. While Mills won a hard-fought contest over previous winners Aaron and Justin Smith 12-6.

Rob Tiller won the first end of the final, but it was Mark Mills that got the early jump with a five on the second end. A three and then a two to Tiller soon erased the big score but with a two to Mills, it was the Eaton pair leading 7-6 after five ends.

Ends 6-9 turned out to be the decisive ends of the match. The Tiller’s grabbed a four to lead 10-6 and then won the next three ends as well, with a two, single and another four to complete the sequence. With a 17-7 lead after 9 ends of the 14-end game, it looked one more score from over. Tiller was again holding shots on the tenth end before Mills trailed the jack for a desperate single and a chance the climb the long road back.

Another single on the eleventh end, followed by a Mark Mills killed twelfth and then a three on the replay and a single on the thirteenth end, put the Mills/Woods combination down by four with one end to play.

A well-constructed last end by Rob and Bob Tiller never gave Mills an opportunity to get the four he needed and when his last bowl drive to kill the end missed, Robert and Bob Tiller became the first Father and Son combination to win the Men’s Countryweek Pairs.

• Matthew France – Country Week Singles Champion

• Robert and Bob Tiller – father and son combination win Men's Pairs.

• Men's Countryweek Fours winners – Phil Jones, Justin Smith, Aaron

Smith and Haydn Smith.

Men's Country Week Fours

The 2021 Countryweek Fours final lined up with two Smith wins Singles powerhouse teams fighting it out. Women's Country Week Singles

Despite their recent dominance of Men’s Countryweek, the Sian Smith (York) has taken out the 2020-21 Women’s Aaron Smith, Haydn Smith, Phil Jones, and Justin Smith Countryweek Singles after leading for all but one end in the combination had not won a fours title as they went up against final up against Kathy Gobbart (Gingin)John Trewhella, Ron Bates, Russell Tyrrell and Matthew In the first Semi Final, Smith had to fight for the whole match Trewhella (Dudley Park). against Paula Reid (Kojonup). First one player would have a

In the Semi Finals, the Smith and Jones team defeated the small lead and then the other player would level it up and go Star Merredin team, including the eventual Singles Champion, ahead. 2 all, 6 all, 10 all and 14 all along with multiple lead of Ashley Sharp, Matthew France, Ben Parker and Ken Preston changes made for an entertaining game before a final end 18-7. The Trewhella team fought hard to defeat Busselton’s three put Sian Smith into the final.Brian Gearing, Gary Rundle, Howard Joyce and Bruce Edgar.

The final was played in increasingly blustery conditions on a very good Manning green, with both teams taking some time to adjust. Trewhella jumped out quickly and led 4-0 after two ends before Smith settled and climbed back even at 5-5 after six ends.

On the seventh end, the Aaron Smith team dealt a big blow when they came away with five shots to take a fiveOver 150 Bowling Greens installed in WAshot margin. John Trewhella hit back with a double but a responding four on the ninth end gave Smith a commanding 14-7 lead.

At this stage both leads had led their respective teams very well and were having a great battle, but it was the rest of the Smith team that combined the best to put their skip in winning positions with Aaron Smith finishing off their work to perfection. Both teams traded shots over the last few ends as the Trewhella team tried to make inroads into the lead. However, at every turn they were answered, and it was Aaron Smith, Haydn Smith, Phil Jones, and Justin Smith that prevailed 21-10.

Bignell Perpetual Memorial Shield

It was the Merredin Club that rose to the top to win the P.S. Bignell Perpetual Memorial Shield.

In what was a close contest, it was Matthew France’s Singles win and the Merredin teams Semi Final efforts that got the club over the line as the Best Club at Men’s Countryweek.

• Sian Smith – Women's Countryweek singles champion for 2020-21.

The second Semi Final saw Gobbart have small leads multiple times only to see her opponent Vicki Spragg (Dudley Park) level it up. At 12-11 to Spragg it was anybody’s game in the race to 17, however two big ends from Gobbart saw her quickly finish the game with first a three and then a four to reach the final.

With Kathy Gobbart a twice winner of the event and Sian Smith chasing her first title it was an intriguing matchup in terms of experience and style. Smith was behind after two ends 1-2 but that was to be the last time. A run of two, three and one, saw Smith move to a 7-2 lead. The players then traded doubles to see Smith still leading 11-6 but a full count of four to Smith on the 11th end saw her stretch out to a 15-7 lead in her chase to get to 21.

Gobbart settled to win six of the next seven ends to close within one at 15-16 and then traded ends to level up at 1818. A two to Smith on the 20th end put her within one of the trophy and although dropping a single put Gobbart within two, a final end single saw Sian Smith close it out to be the 2020-21 Women’s Countryweek Singles Champion.

Women's Country Week Pairs

Busselton’s Jennie Bruce and Kerry Scott claimed their first Women’s Countryweek Pairs trophy by defeating Irene Grout and Tanya Groves (Dudley Park) in the final at Osborne Park.

In the first Semi Final, Bruce had an up and down match against Karlgarin pair Leonie James and Jill Fotheringhame. Bruce jumped to a 6 -0 lead but was rounded up by James and passed to be down 10-12. It was then that Bruce and Scott kicked into another gear to win the last four ends, including two threes to • Countryweek Fours winners – Boulder Bowling Club. win 19-12.

Grout ran into another Busselton pairing of Gail Botting Women's Country Week Fours and Helen Paganoni in her semi final encounter. Grout The Boulder team of Chris Ace-Watson, Irene Leahy, Pauline Rolton and Groves looked to be cruising after building a good and Lorraine Pettit were too strong for Karen Miller, Beryl Cooper, lead at 14-6 with only three ends to play. Christine Radford and Gwen Anning (Composite) in the final of the

However, a late charge by Botting, including a second Women’s Countryweek Fours to claim their first Fours title. last end four made it a last end contest. After only In the first Semi Final, Ace-Watson had to come from behind to dropping a single, Irene Grout held on for a 14-12 beat Paula Reid, Beverley Broom, Sally Carey and Shelley Bilney victory. (Kojonup) 14-11. Over 150 Bowling Greens installed in WAThe Reid team raced to a 6-0 and then an 8-2 lead halfway through the contest. Ace- Watson then strung together four ends in a row The final started as a close contest with the first four ends alternating between the teams. However, that was not to last as the Bruce and Scott pairing started including two doubles and a three to take the lead 10-8. to win consecutive ends. Reid went on to three of the last four ends but could only get singles,

Over the next eleven ends, Bruce won nine of them while the only end that Ace Watson won was a four to keep them in and only drop singles on the ones she lost. At 18-5, front and onto the final. the game finished slightly early with Jennie Bruce and The Miller team took on the Meadow Springs team of Pat Huckson, Kerry Scott as the Champions. Gayle George, Aileen Manderson and Jennifer Forrest in the second semi-final and like Ace-Watson had to work hard to get on top. While Miller won ten of the fifteen ends, Huckson was able to make her wins count by getting both a four and a five during the game. Miller was able to win multiple ends in a row including the last three ends to take the win 16-12. The final started with the Miller team off to a flying start by winning the first five ends and leading 7-0. But once Ace-Watson got on the board, her team was able to put together six ends in a row including a five and two threes to jump away 15-7. A single and double to Miller put them within reach but that was snuffed out quickly with Ace-Watson getting a five on the second last end to make it a 20-10 score line and out of reach of their opposition.

Bowls WA Shield – Women’s Most Outstanding Country Club During Countryweek

A number of clubs had players in multiple disciplines making the overall winner of the shield very tight.

After the final points were tallied, York and Busselton could not be separated, with both clubs awarded the honor of outstanding country club during countryweek.

This was the first time York has won the Bowls WA Shield and the third time for Busselton.

• Countryweek Pairs winners – Jennie Bruce and Kerry Scott.

Country Pennants 2020-21 Consistency gains win for Wagin in Great Southern

If you are a ladies’ pennant bowler in Wagin then there is only one place you are permitted to be on a Tuesday over summer and that is on the bowling green.

Having just enough players to field two teams of four players for the Wagin pennant side, everyone must be there. And they all have been there, most of the time.

Over the season, Wagin has used just nine ladies and has been thankful to two men who filled in when necessary.

The dedication players have shown over the 2020-2021 season has been rewarded with Wagin winning the pennant competition by a clear margin.

Wagin played 10 games, won nine and drew one finishing 10 ½ points clear of Dumbleyung in second place followed by Moodiarrup third.

Wagin plays in the Great Southern League against sides representing Katanning, Kojonup, Moodiarrup and Dumbleyung. Kojonup fields two sides in the competition Kojonup Green and Kojonup Gold.

In the Men’s Competition, Saturday Pennant final, Kojonup Green defeated Darkan 84-80. It was a nail biting finish coming down to the last end for the result.

Dunsborough wins South West Mid-week Pennant

After sneaking into the top four, courtesy of a rink win in the final game of the home and away fixtures, Dunsborough beat all three sides above them to snare the Mens’ Mid Week pennant title for the 2020/21 season.

The first day of the finals saw Dunsborough defeat Brunswick in the first semi-final and after a titanic struggle that went to extra ends Eaton Blue defeated Busselton in the second semifinal.

In the preliminary final battle between Busselton and Dunsborough. After 21 ends Gary Davies’ four had a comfortable win over Brian 'Boomer' Geering’s team and Wayne Coyle and Graham Evans had the scores locked at 17 all. That put Dunsborough into the grand-final, pitted against the unbeaten Eaton Blue at Eaton.

In the final a number of supporters travelled to Eaton and saw Dunsborough produce a fantastic team effort to run out winners on the day. Gary Davies’ team continued their unbeaten streak to beat Rob Bowron’s four 23-17 and Wayne Coyle’s team turned around some indifferent lead up form to defeat Ray Mosele’s four 20-18.

It was a great effort from Dunsborough and has really given the Bowls Section of the Country Club a huge lift.

The win was suitably celebrated on arrival back at the Club.

• The proud Wagin team – winners of the Great Southern Pennant.

• Dunsborough Men's Mid-week team snare pennant title for 2020-21.

Mingenew and Beverley break long drought

Congratulations to the Mingenew Womens bowls team for taking out the North Midlands Bowling League pennant for season 2020/21.

It has apparently been over 30 years since the flag was held by Mingenew. The team was made up of Michelle Bagley, Marguerite Pearce, Sue Greaves, Vikki Criddle and Rhonda Johns.

In the Avon Valley Bowling League the Beverley Bowling and Croquet Club won their first ladies flag in 40 years!

They produced an amazing underdog win against an undefeated York side full of talent in the grand final to cause possibly the upset of the year across all pennant competitions.

Country Pennants 2020-21 Margaret River sweep the Leeuwin League

The Leeuwin League Women’s pennant final was an all Margaret River affair with Margaret River Gold finishing in first place (48 points) and Margaret River Green second (42 points) at the end of the home and away rounds. The final was played at Margaret River Bowling Club on Tuesday 23 February.

The unique competition sees teams of four players, playing 2 rinks of 10 ends of pairs, scoring 1 point a rink win and 1 point for the aggregate (total 3 points). They then combine to play 14 ends of fours with 3 points for a win and 1½ points for a draw, resulting in a combined total of 6 points for the day. Seven teams (3 Dunsborough, 2 Margaret River, 1 Cowaramup and 1 Augusta) competed over 14 rounds.

The Margaret River Gold team (Yvonne Coffey, Jenny Campbell, Val Wyld and Karen Sanday) were the eventual winners, claiming 1 rink win plus the aggregate (total 2 points) in the pairs and a win in the fours (3 points) a total of 5 points to Margaret River Green (Pat Sutton, Dale McGregor, Laura Jelliman and Shirley Coffey) 1 point.

Not to be outdone, the Margaret River men’s first and second division teams won their respective finals, making it a clean sweep of the Leeuwin League pennant competition for Margaret River. One first division men’s rink earning themselves a 50’s badge in the process.

• The Beverley team win AVBL.

Hopetoun Ladies, Classic Hopetoun Bowling Club Classic a success

by PAM COUSINS – Ladies President

The Hopetoun Bowling Club held a very successful two day Ladies Classic on 21st and 22nd January with twenty teams playing from right across WA.

Teams from Albany, Corrigin, Condingup, Dudley Park, Esperance, Emu Point, Gnowangerup, Hopetoun, Halls Head, Joondalup, Kukerin, Kulin, Kalgoorlie, Lake Grace, Middleton Beach, Mt Barker Golf, Newdegate, Narembeen, Ravensthorpe and Westonia played some great bowls over the two days in perfect cool weather.

Our main sponsor for the tournament was Horizon Power Esperance whilst a number of other local business’s supplied round prizemoney and donations. Many thanks to these people as without sponsorship we wouldn’t be able to run these events.

Horizon Powers representative Emily joined us for lunch and presented the prizes to: 5th Gnowangerup May Kiddle, Mary Wellstead, Maureen

Heberle and Karen Dye 12 pts+ 48 4th Albany Di Beecroft, Anne Dejager, Doreen O’Meara,

Nancy Sharpe 15 pts -1. 3rd Middleton Beach Elaine Cooper, Jill Bartholomeusz,

Marilyn Webb and Glenys Hemley 15pts +20 2nd Newdegate/Corrigin Sandy Knill, Michelle Waddell, Trish

Rintoul and Kerry Bell 15pts +38. 1st Mt Barker Golf Marg Silvester, Irene McHardy, Joan

Mathews and Judy Downing 18 pts +33.

A host of volunteers contributed to make the carnival a great success. A big thank you to everyone that contributed and we look forward to seeing everyone again in 2022.

Kevin Heberle awarded Life Membership

• Hopetoun Classic winners: Mt. Barker Golf Bowling Club

The format of play was Thursday 1 game of 12 ends then 3 games of 10 ends and on Friday 2 games of 12 ends with only the first place team going through undefeated.

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Life Membership from Southern Bowling Zone bestowed on Kevin Heberle for his contribution to the Zone over many years, including: • Six years as President, presiding over unification of the Zone and a preparation of a new Constitution. • BWA Country Committee member representing the

SZ for 8 years . • BWA BMC (Bowls Management Committee) for 2 years. • Delegate for Central Great Southern/Central Stirling

League since 1988. • Umpires Representative since 1992. A position still he still holds. • ILRR Tournament Director 1988, 1992 and 1998 when hosted at Gnowangerup.

Club in Profile – Shackelton Bowling Club Little club with big hearts

Shackleton is a small wheatbelt town with an approximate population of just 40 people, it has a general store and is home to Australia's Smallest Bank. It also now hosts a magnificent new Evergreen installed bowling green.

The old grass green is gone (but not forgotten) as the volunteer members and locals dug down a depth of one metre to remove all the clay base and tons of sand was also replaced to help solve later movement and drainage issues.

Once the site area was prepared the Evergreen team arrived for finishing levels and laying of the new surface. They worked fast in sometimes very warm conditions and were extremely efficient. Then all the bowlers and non-bowlers banded together again for busy bee afterwards to complete the reticulation, fencing, concreting, shades seating, and all the surrounds to create their very own little piece of paradise.

A huge thank you to all those who volunteered with too many to list, but we hope you enjoy bowls for many more years.

The Shackleton and Districts Club is alongside the new green and is open six nights a week with meals on Friday nights, this is the gathering place for many surrounding farmers, Shackleton locals and members from others nearby towns, who frequently visit this very friendly place.

The very proud bunch of members have all banded together to work tirelessly to help produce their new great venue which would rival any other country venue around Australia.

Although Shackleton currently are only in Second Division of the East Avon Bowling League on Sunday 21st February the club recorded Best Performing Club at the Super 7's held at the Cunderdin Bowling Club.

They battled against Tammin, Quairading, Doodlakine, Cunderdin and Kellerberrin in a full round robin competition of Singles, Pairs and Fours. The competition was played in a Sets play format with tiebreakers.

Shaun (Sheep) Woodward claimed the clubs first Singles Champ of Champs in over 40 years overcoming some very talented other Singles Champions, narrowly claiming the honour over Maurice Crameri with the same amount of wins but dropping one less set. Maurice as EABL President then graciously awarded the Sheep his shield and prize.

To celebrate the laying of the new green the club held its annual carnival on the new surface on April 10-11 with a full field of 26 teams including 14 travelling across from Perth to play.

The eventual winners were a team from Osborne Park who defeated a Tammin side in the final.

• Shackleton locals at work.

• Evergreen crew adding the final base.

• The new green being rolled out.

• EABL Champion Club 2021. L-R: J.Dumatrache, P.Bradley (pairs),

S.Woodward (Singles), A.Paron, T.Cosgrove, D. McDonald, G.Tippett (fours).

Women,s ILRR Fours Goldfields win first Eastern ILRR

The Eastern Zone Women’s ILRR Fours were held at the Civic Merredin Bowling Club and hosted by South Eastern Bowling League on the 6th and 7th February.

When the zone and competition organizers would be more worried about the heat rule for a February event, this ILRR was the complete opposite and was held in rainy, windy cool conditions. Congratulations and thank you to all players who braved it out for the whole weekend.

The winners for their first ever Eastern Zone Fours was Goldfields Bowling League with 6 points and 6 rink wins. Congratulations to our most eastern league in WA. The next 3 places were fought out by rink wins with Avon

• Goldfields Bowling Club win ILRR.

Men,s IZRR Fours South East Coastal break drought

South East Coastal have won the 46th Southern Zone Inter League Round Robin, held at Gnowangerup Bowling Club, for only the second time since its inception in 1976. Their only other success was 24 years ago at Albany in 1997.

In a thrilling finish, they prevailed in a tense final round to win by half a rink win. The championship was decided in the last game with both South East Costal and Lower Great Southern both finishing level on points.

Both Leagues had to firstly win their respective aggregates, which they did, and then the issue would be decided by rink wins. Both won three of their four games leaving SECBL the victors by half a rink win. Aaron Smith's team of Callum Williams, Ted Young and Scott Willis were the only undefeated team in the entire competition. Valley Bowling League coming 2nd with 4 points 10 rink wins, over 3rd place South Eastern Bowling League 4 points 9 rink wins and 4th place East Avon Bowling League 4 points 8.5 rink wins. Central Wheatbelt Bowling League were 5th with 2 points 6.5 rink wins. Overall a very close competition between all Leagues.

• South East Coastal, winners of the IZRR Fours.

Players from Esperance, Scaddan, Condingup, Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun made up the winning team.

Women,s IZRR Fours Northern Zone win Inter Zone Round Robin

The Ladies Inter Zone Fours were held in the Eastern Zone at Kellerberrin over the weekend of 17th and 18 April. All WA Zones were well represented and we also welcomed Doug Kelly, Kerry Anderson and Linda Warburton from Bowls WA who attended over the weekend.

After a period of 15 years since their last Zone Shield, the Northern Bowling Zone won the event with a supreme bowling effort winning all three games. South West finished second with two wins ahead of Southern with one win and Eastern.

Bowls WA Awards Night Awards finalists announced

The Bowls WA Awards Night Dinner will be held at the Royal Perth Golf Club on Friday 28th May. We are pleased to announce the finalists for the individual player awards for the 2020/2021 season.

A record number of (14) clubs have nominated for the prestigious Metropolitan Club of the Year, with (7) of those also in the running for Metro Small Club of the Year, given they have 125 or less members with playing rights.

The Jim Murray Country Club of the Year will be fought out by Boulder, Tammin and Merredin after each has had a strong year on and off the green with solid representations at various events and a number of infrastructure projects completed.

Other presentations on the night will include the Presidents Medal and Brooch to the respective state singles winners along with Volunteer and Club Coach of the Year.

It is sure to be an exciting night. Winners will also be announced via the Bowls WA Facebook Page as they happen on the night.

Male Bowler of the Year (Rosenthal Medal)

Warren Holt (Wagin) Blake Nairn (Cambridge) Cody Packer (Osborne Park) Corey Bessant (Mt Lawley)

Female Bowler of the Year (Connie Hicks Brooch)

Kristina Krstic (Manning Memorial) Lisa Featherby (Mosman Park) Linda Warburton (Mosman Park)

Male Country Bowler of the Year (Vice Patron’s Award)

Warren Holt (Wagin) Aaron Smith (Esperance) Matt France (Merredin)

Female Country Bowler of the Year (Penny Needham Award)

Sian Smith (York) Chris Ace-Watson (Boulder) Kathy Gobbart (Gingin) Noelene Abe (Corrigin)

Male Over 60s Bowler of the Year (Trevor Barron Award)

Chris Lander (Sorrento) Peter Cole (Halls Head)

Female Over 60s Bowler of the Year (Norma Samuel Award)

Kerry Andersen (Mosman Park) Lee Poletti (Mosman Park) Noelene Abe (Corrigin)

Under 18 Bowler of the Year

Segan Pasalich (Osborne Park) Callum Alberti (South Perth)

• Kaitlin Tyrrell and Connor Biddle win Mixed Pairs title.

Young Guns win

Mixed Pairs

Two of the states rising stars combined to win the Liquor Traders Mixed State Pairs at Rossmoyne Bowling Club on May 9th 2021 with Kaitlin Tyrrell and Connor Biddle from Osborne Park Bowling Club taking the title.

A strong field of 96 teams entered the event which is played in a sets play format. This was just the third time it had been held following a one year hiatus due to the covid 19 outbreak in 2020.

After the first day of sectional play 24 teams remained with several of the states top bowlers progressing to the knockout rounds.

In the semi-finals Tyrrell and Biddle progressed after a hard fought win over Justin Opie and Helen Morss 1-15 10-1 1-0. Lisa Featherby (Mosman Park) and Bill Brandsma (Kalamunda) had to beat the 2019 winner Blake Nairn (Cambridge) with Shari Solly (Osborne Park) 9-4 8-2 in the quarter final before taking on the 2018 winners Lee Poletti (Mosman Park) and Glenn Pauling (South Perth) also winning in straight sets 7-4 8-6.

The final then saw the relatively inexperience Tyrrell, 24yo with Biddle, 25yo both looking for their first big win up against there much more experienced opponents in Featherby and Brandsma who had many major titles to their credit.

However to their credit Kaitlin and Connor both held their nerves and played great bowls in the final to come out on top 6-3 7-3. Brandsma who was battling a dislocated knee cap put in a brave effort with Featherby however they could much match their younger counterparts who proved too good.

Thank you to all the host clubs and match volunteers and once again congratulations to the finalists.