Balls roll for Cooroy Bowls Club

Jumping back into the pony club year

COOROY Horse and Pony Club (CHPC) have kicked off the pony club year with their first muster for 2023.

Club secretary Nikita Pallett said it was wonderful to catch up with all their returning members as well as see a few new faces.

By Peter Holt

THE Cooroy Bowls Club is excited to start the 2023 year with a new landlord. Locals will be aware that the Saw & Mill recently changed ownership and is now operating under a new name.

The friendly Cooroy Bowls Club is always keen to welcome new members. It is an urban myth that lawn bowls are for old people. Australia’s champion bowlers are in their twenties and thirties.

Membership of Cooroy is just $1 per year. An entry fee is paid each time you play in an organized event. The club owns a number of sets of bowls that are free to use.

Mixed teams play at 12:30 pm every Tuesday. The games are sociable and teams are chosen at random on the day. This year Cooroy has entered men’s and women’s teams in the Hinterland Challenge. These games are played on a Saturday and can take on a bit more serious note. The games are still friendly and enjoyable without being cutthroat. Players get to meet like-minded people from nearby clubs.

The Hinterland Challenge comprises teams from Nambour, Nambour Heights, Yandina, Pomona, Woombye, Mapleton, Kenilworth, Palmwoods and Cooroy.

The aim is to make Cooroy proud of their bowlers, but sadly it was a bit of an inglorious start going down to Nambour Heights seven games to nil. The last game decided on the day though was a close tussle. Our girls, Kathy, Eileen and Denise, were even going to the last end but sadly they lost.

The next Hinterland Challenge is against Nambour and everyone is hoping for a better result.

Wednesday nights’ Business Bowls (pictured) has now started. This is an intra-club competition comprising sixteen teams of three. Games are played under lights from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Dress is casual and the emphasis is on having a good time. You can also have a meal or snack from the bar after the game. The winners in round one were Cops & Robbers, Jacobsens Mutineers, Raine & Horne, Cooroy Earthworks, Pages, Bonnells & Wimmers.

Thursday nights’ High Rollers starts on 16 February. It is a similar format to Business Bowls but with fewer teams. The emphasis is still on having an enjoyable time. Players of all ages and abilities play in the nighttime events. In the near future, a Friday night or Sunday afternoon barefoot bowls night/ day will be organised in conjunction with the BowlsPub. Keep an eye on social media for updates and join in the fun. Please contact the club secretary for further information by emailing breece@ bigpond.net.au.

“We are looking forward to a wonderful year of fun and learning as well as a few new projects in the works such as an arena update and improvements to our grounds. Our musters are generally held every first and third Sunday of the month with the option for an extra muster in months that include a fifth Sunday.

“We also hold an annual gymkhana, a competition against other pony club riders, on 20 August. This event is our major fundraiser for the year and we can always use support in seeking sponsorship, prize donations, planning and organisation.”

“These events are held at our beautiful grounds on 17 Mary River Road, Cooroy.”

CHPC is a not-for-profit organisation run by a team of volunteers and has been in the Cooroy community since 1966.

CHPC member jumping at the first muster.

“We aim to encourage and provide the highest of ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship, knowledge and care of horses and riding, in a safe and family-friendly environment. So if you want to see some horses, feel free to pop on down.”