August 2014

August 2014 Print Post Approved PP 400063/0010

SILVER FOXES Aussie girls salvage Triples Silver at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

ALSO INSIDE: DUNN CUP WORLD RECORDS & PROPERLY PUMPED

IT'S BACK!

APL RETURNS TO PINE RIVERS FIND OUT MORE ON PAGE 14

AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER LAWN BOWLS MAGAZINE Volume 37/8

CONTENTS

Volume 37

Issue 8

06

Cover Story 06 Commonwealth Games Australian bowlers struggled to find their feet on the heavy Glasgow greens at the 2014 Comm Games, finishing up sixth in the bowls medal tally.

Cover picture: Karen Murphy and Lynsey Armitage, who teamed up with Kelsey Cottrell in the women’s triples to win Australia’s only silver medal. Image courtesy of Getty Images and Bowls Australia.

News 12 Dunn Cup Thuringowa take out North Queensland’s most prestigious title, with a finals win over defending champs Cutheringa.

14 APL Live-TV bowling extravaganza Australian Premier League returns to Club Pine Rivers in November.

28

16 Out of the shadows

20

Gold Coast mum Wendy Wilson has emerged from the shadows of her bowls star kids with a big singles win.

25 World Record Rivals

26

A bitter rivalry has erupted between two bowlers hoping to become the record-holder for most bowls clubs played at in a year.

34 Are you aroused?

In bowls (as elsewhere!) arousal levels can help or hinder your performance, says coaching guru Ian ‘Shuey’ Schuback.

Editor: Wayne Griffin Reporters: Naomi Cescotto Madeline Muir Published by: Bowls Queensland Editorial: Queensland Bowler PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051 Ph: (07) 3355 9988 E: news@bowls-queensland.org

4 | queensland bowler

Advertising: Wayne Griffin Ph: (07) 3355 9988 E: advert@bowls-queensland.org Subscriptions: To subscribe, fill out the form on page 34 and post it, together with a cheque for $28.60 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.

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STERLING PERFORMANCE Aussies find silver lining at gloomy Glasgow Games

Kelsey Cottrell, Karen Murphy & Lynsey Clarke. Photo courtesy of Getty Images & Bowls Australia 6 | queensland bowler

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Australia’s lawn bowlers went to Glasgow full of hope as reigning world champions, but shadowed by trepidation over how they would fare on the comparatively slow and heavy Scottish greens.

Their worst fears were realised, as they found it more difficult than anticipated to adapt.

There were 10 gold medals up for grabs but Australia had to be content with one silver and three bronze.

Of course there was disappointment, but also jubilation to have at least brought home some medals for Australia.

And the five women, five men, and five disability bowlers (plus two directors for the blind bowlers) are already plotting their revenge, with Comm Games 2018 Gold Coast just around the corner.

“Wahooo, can’t wait for the Games to come to our home town, bring it on,” silver medallist Lynsey Clarke tweeted after the women’s triples second place.

“Four years will fly, Gold Coast rocks, GOLD RUSH!”

In Glasgow 2014 lawn bowls, Australia had to settle for sixth place overall, behind South Africa, Scotland, England, New Zealand and Malaysia.

Five Queenslanders will come home with medals, a trio from Club Helensvale, Lynsey Clarke, Brett Wilkie and Nathan Rice, as well as vision-impaired bowler Joy Forster from Chermside and director Bruce Jones from Enoggera Bowls Club.

WOMEN’S TRIPLES The women’s triples team were the bestperformed Australian bowlers, scoring the side’s only silver medal, in a tough finals match against England.

Despite their ability to play world class bowls, the Australian Jackaroos captain Lynsey Clarke from Queensland, along with NSW stars Karen Murphy (Cabramatta) and Kelsey Cottrell (St Johns Park), never looked close to snatching the gold off England, going down in the play off to be the best women’s triple in the Commonwealth 2014 in a whitewash, 22-4.

They knew it would be tough against the English, with their life-time of experience on heavier, slower greens, compared to the much faster-paced greens on which reigning world champions Australia won seven out of 10 titles in December 2012 (Adelaide).

“Our greens are very much like playing on a carpet, we’re at a very

big disadvantage over here, but to get a silver medal, I’m over the moon,” Karen Murphy said.

Australia was emphatically beaten by England for the gold, but certainly silver is nothing to sneeze at.

The Aussies had to wait until the fourth end to score their first shot, and wait another seven ends to get their next, sitting at 2-20 after 11 ends.

Over the next four ends, both teams picked up a couple of shots, ending 22-4 to England after 15 ends.

“They (England) played fantastic bowls,” national coach Steve Glasson said.

“They were on song from the get go and we just seemed to have no answers.

“It was still a great effort by our girls though, because to win a Commonwealth Games silver medal is a remarkable achievement.”

In winning silver in Glasgow, Karen Murphy became a four-time Commonwealth Games medallist, having won silver in Kuala Lumpur (fours) in 1998, silver in Manchester (singles) in 2002, and gold in Melbourne (pairs) in 2006 with Lynsey Clarke.

Clarke and Cottrell are now proud winners of a second Comm Games medal, with Clarke’s first medal coming alongside Murphy in the women’s pairs in Melbourne (2006) when they won gold, and Cottrell’s first courtesy of a singles bronze medal in Delhi four years ago.

The English gold medal triple was Sophie Tolchard, Ellen Falkner and Sian Gordon, who contributed to a third place overall for England in the lawn bowls.

OTHER WOMEN’S RESULTS In the Women’s Pairs, Australia won its section but lost to eventual bronze medallist Jersey in the quarter-finals, 16-11.

The gold medal went to South Africa, silver to England, 20-17.

In the Women’s Singles, Kelsey Cottrell for Australia finished third in her section, with only the top two going through to the quarter-finals.

Gold went to New Zealand’s Jo Edwards, silver to England and bronze to South Africa.

Gold Coast resident Carmen Anderson made it through to the quarter-finals for Norfolk Island, where she was beaten by Jo Edwards 21-17.

In the Women’s Fours, Australia failed to make the top eight for the quarter finals, coming third in its section behind section winner Scotland.

The medals went to South Africa (gold), Malaysia (silver) and New Zealand (bronze), with Scotland in fourth place.

GLASGOW 2014 COMM GAMES BOWLS MEDAL TALLY 1. SOUTH AFRICA Open Triples (PARA) - Gold Open mixed pairs - Gold Women’s fours - Gold Men’s triples - Gold Women’s pairs - Gold Women’s Triples - Bronze Women’s singles - Bronze 2. SCOTLAND Men’s fours - Gold Men’s pairs - Gold Men’s singles - Gold

Open mixed pairs (PARA) - Silver 3. ENGLAND Women’s triples - Gold Men’s fours - Silver Women’s pairs- Silver Women’s singles - Silver Open Triples (PARA) - Bronze Men’s pairs - Bronze

4. NEW ZEALAND Women’s singles - Gold Open Triples (PARA) - Silver Women’s Fours - Bronze 5. MALAYSIA Women’s fours - Silver Men’s pairs - Silver

6. AUSTRALIA Women’s triples - Silver Men’s fours - Bronze Men’s singles - Bronze

Open mixed pairs (PARA) - Bronze 7. NORTHERN IRELAND Men’s Triples - Silver Women’s Pairs - Bronze 8. CANADA Men’s Singles - Silver 9. WALES Men’s Triples - Bronze

queensland bowler | 7

BRONZED AUSSIES Men bag medals in Comm Games Singles and Fours Australia’s men’s four is coming home with a Bronze medal, two Queenslanders Brett Wilkie and Nathan Rice from Club Helensvale, along with Wayne Ruediger from South Australia, and Matthew Flapper from Victoria.

Top of the table was Scotland (Gold) and England (Silver), with

Matthew Flapper, Nathan Rice, Brett Wilkie & Wayne Ruediger 8 | queensland bowler

Australia having to play off against relative minnows in the sport of lawn bowls, India, for the Bronze.

However, the Indian boys Kamal Kumar Sharma, Chandon Kumar Singh, Samit Molhotra and Dinesh Kumar, were far from intimidated by the wealth of international bowls experience on Australia’s side, never giving an inch, from the first bowl.

It was a rocky start for the Australians, somewhat humbled after losing in the semi to hometown heroes Scotland, and India scooted away, 6-2 after four ends.

Australia added three, India replied, and had the Aussies sweating, five shots behind, from the end of the seventh to the end of the 11th.

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The support we get is amazing - almost as loud as the Scots - we won the medal for us, but we won it for them (friends and family) as well

bronze Bullet Sherriff shoots down Kiwi in singles medal match

Australia managed to string together the next three ends, now only one shot behind, 13-14, the bronze medal to be decided on the next end.

There were one, possibly two, Australian bowls looking good.

The Indian skip’s effort to clear the Aussie bowls out of the way failed.

Neither the commentators nor the crowd were certain of whether the Australian team

held one or two, it was certainly one, and a close measure for two, with the outcome meaning either an extra sudden-death end, or an outright win for Australia and the bronze.

The marker signalled two shots and the Aussies in the crowd erupted, medal to Australia, 15-14.

Although India finished out of the medals, they impressed with their ability to seize the day and hold the Australians accountable to the end.

“We scratched around a bit today but got there in the end,” national coach Steve Glasson said.

“I’m really pleased for the boys to have won a Commonwealth bronze medal, they thoroughly deserve it.”

The players were jubilant after their win and hugged family and friends who had made the long trip to Glasgow.

“It was intense. We had to rebound after yesterday. India played exceptionally well but we scratched our way through,” skip Matthew Flapper said, celebrating his maiden Commonwealth Games medal.

“The support we get is amazing - almost as loud as the Scots - we won the medal for us, but we won it for them (friends and family) as well.”

OTHER MEN’S RESULTS In the Men’s Triples, Australia ended its Comm Games campaign in the most unforgiving spot, fourth, after losing the bronze medal play off to Wales, 13-16.

The gold went to Northern Ireland and silver to South Africa, 19-10.

In Men’s Pairs, Australia won its section, ahead of Namibia, but Namibia turned the tables when the top two in each section went through to the quarter-finals, booting Australia out of contention, 19-12.

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Photos courtesy of Getty Images & Bowls Australia

Australian Jackaroos vice captain Aron Sherriff from NSW won Australia’s fourth team medal in Glasgow, in the men’s singles, becoming the 12th individual Australian bowler to receive a Comm Games medal on the champion’s dais.

It was a maiden Commonwealth Games medal for Sherriff, won by defeating New Zealand’s Shannon McIlroy 21-8 in an allAustralasian showdown for the final medal spot.

It might have looked like a bit of a onesided match on the scoreboard, but it was entertaining for the spectators.

National coach Steve Glasson said he felt like a very proud “dad” of Aron’s achievement.

“Aron played great bowls today, he’s played really well all week, and he deserved to win today.,” Glasson said.

“Take nothing away from Shannon though, he played well too.”

Fittingly, both players embraced at the end of the match, but it was clear this was to be Sherriff’s day.

“I left my best performance to last, I really felt confident today,” Sherriff said post-match.

“The bowls were really coming out well and my first bowl was a strength today.”

Also in the men’s singles in Glasgow, Aussie resident and Broadbeach Bowls Club bowls coordinator Ryan Bester went one better than Aron Sherriff.

Bester (pictured below) won the Silver medal for his home country Canada, in the men’s singles final against Scotland’s Darren Burnett, 21-9.

Bester’s progress was closely followed by his fans on the Gold Coast.

Namibia then lost to eventual silver medallist Malaysia, 23-15, with the other medal places going to Scotland (gold) and England (bronze).

queensland bowler | 9

MAKING US PROUD Joy and Bruce grab bronze in vision-impaired Games Queensland’s own vision-impaired bowler Joy Forster, 64 and her director Bruce Jones, 75, won Bronze in the ParaSport Mixed Pairs B2/B3, tipping New Zealand out of the medals, 14-11.

Winning a Bronze medal at a Commonwealth Games is something Forster had never dreamt would be within her possibilities when she started out on her journey in lawn bowls.

“It was magnificent, it was unreal, I’m still floating pretty high,” Forster said of her Games success.

“To see Joy achieve what she has, it’s just been something very special for me,” Bruce Jones said.

As Joy’s director, Bruce essentially acts as Forster’s “eyes” when they are on the green.

When the jack is thrown, a distance is called from the boundary markers, so she knows where to aim.

“Then Bruce tells me where my bowls have finished, where the opposition’s bowls have finished, and what shots I need to play,” Forster explains.

“He’s a very important part of my bowling career.”

mixed pair was Tony Scott from Victoria, directed in Glasgow by his brother Peter Scott.

Tony was also a world championship gold medallist for Australia at the 2014 ABBA world blind bowls championships.

PARA SPORT OPEN TRIPLES B6/B7/B8 In the other para sport bowls event, Queensland’s Tony Bonnell didn’t have luck bringing home a medal for Australia, as part of an Open Triples B6/B7/B8 (physical disability) team with NSW’s James Reynolds and Victoria’s Tim Slater.

The Aussie boys finished third in their section, behind section leader and eventual gold medallist South Africa 9-21 and section runner-up and eventual silver medallist New Zealand 8-11.

“I must admit, he certainly does do a good job!” Joy said.

The bronze went to England, who finished second to Scotland in sectional play, but beat the home side in the medal play off, when it most counted.

The other half of the bronze medal-winning vision impaired

Pictured right: Tony Bonnell and below Bronze medallists Peter and Tony Scott with Bruce Jones and Joy Forster.

(Joy likes to joke sometimes with Bruce that she reckons he might be vision impaired too, when her bowls go awry!)

Jones himself says he is fairly accurate with his calls, measuring only with his eyes, the exact distance Joy has bowled.

Bruce couldn’t be more pleased for Joy, the duo also winning world championship singles gold at the ABBA blind world bowls championships in England earlier this year.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images & Bowls Australia 10 | queensland bowler

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Thuringowa boys savour success The Thuringowa boys are the toast of the Far North after their recent win at the Dunn Cup, snatching the crown back from defending champions Cutheringa.

The Dunn Cup is the most prestigious event in north Queensland with the four best players from 19 bowls clubs around the district competing over four days.

Thuringowa won the cup for the second time in three years beating 72 other worthy players in the fours competition.

Cutheringa Bowls Club President, Glen Atfield said the better team won it on the day.

“We won it at their place last year, and Thuringowa won it at our place this year,” Atfield said.

Results were unpredictable with as many as 10 teams in contention for the final on Sunday afternoon; it eventually came down to a final between Ingham and Thuringowa.

“Everyone played extremely well over the weekend, and it was down to about four or five teams on Monday for the final depending on who beat who,” Atfield said.

Geoff Ryder’s team from Thuringowa held out and beat the Ingham favourites 33-19.

With one of their players, Gary Costigan (2nd) out with an illness, it was Vinnie Morgan who stepped up alongside David Gallagher (lead) and Mark Simpson (3rd).

They defeated Ingham, led by 22-year-old Jamie Donadel, Glen Torrisi (2nd ), Cliff Johnson (3rd), and Frank Polanzza (skip), 33-19.

12 | queensland bowler

Ingham were the firm crowd favourites, mostly because of their underdog status going up against strong club Thuringowa, but also the overwhelming desire from players and spectators for the event to be held outside of Townsville next year.

“Lots of the players want the comp to move out of Townsville, because it’s been here for the last seven or so years, so it would be nice to have the Cup somewhere else in North Queensland,” said Tim Blake, BQ’s North Queensland development officer.

“Up until Sunday afternoon, Thuringowa were the clear favourites to win, but then the competition opened up and about 10 clubs could have won the title,” said Blake, who represented Mystic Sands in the event.

Geoff Ryder was also awarded with the Ren Cantatore Shield for the best player in the final.

“For the last two years there’s been a player of the final award called the Ren Cantatore Shield, which has been running for the last two years,” said Blake.

“Will you be talking about what could have been come Monday or will you take your opportunities and be the team holding the Cup Monday afternoon?” Cantatore said.

Other highlights from the tournament were the return of two clubs to the competition, Townsville and Collinsville.

“The Townsville Club has just celebrated its 100th birthday, and they’re back in the comp after about four or five years and they won a game which is really exciting for them,” Blake said.

“Collinsville came back to the comp after 15-20 years, and in their first game they beat the hosts, Cutheringa,” Blake said.

The North Queensland District Men’s Bowls Association held the annual event on Friday 11 July – Monday 14 July, an event that began 77 years ago in 1937.

Thuringowa will now host the 2015 Dunn

Cantatore, NQDMBA Patron and a 46-time Dunn Cup competitor, opened the event with some wise words.

Cup, where the young team from Ingham

“Dunn Cup is the most prestigious event in North Queensland, so the 76 players here have proven themselves to be the best players at their respective clubs. In the end though there will be one team who enjoys the spoils whilst there will be 72 other players who will be talking about what could have been.

Pictured above: (from left) Winners Thuringowa Bowls Club’s Geoff Ryder (Skip), Mark Simpson (3rd), Vinnie Morgan (2nd and Substitute), David Gallagher (Lead). Not present Gary Costigan played 6 games for the weekend before falling ill.

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APL

It’s back...TV extravaganza Australian Premier League returns to Club Pine Rivers in November.

Grown men cried at the close of APL 2013.

“You’ve witnessed it, a watershed for lawn bowls, the game has changed forever because of what went on here these past four days,” Club Pine Rivers president Ron Howden said.

“It’s the best event I’ve ever played in,” Commonwealth Games 2006 medallist Mark Casey said.

“An awesome experience, we’ll be back,” NZ Blackjack Jo Edwards said.

“Incredible, the highlight of my career,” Brisbane Gold’s Robbie Wild said.

“The whole set up has been amazing,” Sydney Lions and Fox Sports commentator Karen Murphy said.

“It was powerful to be part of this revolution in lawn bowls,” former world champion and Australian national coach Steve Glasson said.

“Exciting, brilliant, out of the box, now we’ve really got something to sell!” Bowls Australia board member Nigel Smith from Tweed Heads said.

For host club and Brisbane Gold franchisee Club Pine Rivers, years of dreaming, plotting, negotiating and coordinating came down to four days of “showtime”, from November 19-22 last year.

“Yes, it’s all been worth it, everything, being involved in this huge step forward for the sport of lawn bowls,” Club Pine Rivers manager Wayne Moffat said.

Brisbane hosted a bowls revolution to silence any doubting Thomas, thoughtfully 14 | queensland bowler

planned, skillfully marketed, spectacularly executed.

“It was perfect, great atmosphere, couldn’t be happier,” was the Fox Sports team’s verdict, delighted with themselves for backing an outside chance that the sport of lawn bowls could put on something to attract the TV viewer and advertising dollar.

Club Pine Rivers (heck not just Club Pine Rivers, but EVERYBODY!) wants APL to be bigger and better in 2014!

“Get behind us, tell all your friends, Club Pine Rivers will be a great place to hang out for four days in November,” Club Pine Rivers operations manager Steve Ratcliffe said.

“Come over and grab a piece of APL!”

The crowd at Club Pine Rivers for the 2013 event ensured the atmosphere was colourful, infectious and fun.

“And just as important, it’s a perfect medium to turn on the Brisbane public and greater Australian television audience to our sport,” Ratcliffe said.

“Our sport is the opposite of what so many people think, and we’d love Queensland bowlers to talk it up, back us all the way, and come and sit in the stands.

“Make it look like we think our own sport is worth watching, because we do!

“APL is a brilliant marketing tool, come and be part of the action!”

Club Pine Rivers CEO Wayne Moffat is the master craftsman behind the scenes of the APL host club’s success.

“It’s hard to believe that some still think of lawn bowlers as old wrinklies, in starched white clothes, shorts and long socks, pants pulled up too high, sticklers for rules that don’t matter anymore, when in fact, we bowlers know the truth is far from the perception,” Moffat said.

“But how do we change that perception?”

“We run APL and invite, cajole, and entice everyone to come on board with us, and we show our sport for what it truly is, in the year 2014.”

All who attended APL last year agree Queenslanders can be confident to bring family and friends to APL 2014, in the knowledge they won’t be bored.

“It’s like 20/20 cricket, even if you’re not a cricket tragic, most people enjoy a few hours watching 20/20, it’s a fast paced, colourful, and exciting version of the traditional game,” Ratcliffe said.

“APL is the 20/20 of lawn bowls.”

“If you think watching lawn bowls would bore anybody rigid, well, some might say the same thing about cricket, but I didn’t hear one complaint of boredom from anybody who came to APL last year!

“We’ll do what it takes to grow the APL experience, and make it the poster-experience of our sport nationally.

“If you went home raving last year, please come back this year, because indeed it will be bigger and better.” v36/8

The Casey Question!

Mark Casey, the man has skill, style and enormous presence on a bowling green.

His youth and striking good looks are as far removed from the traditional image of a little old man in white pants and long white socks as it’s possible to be.

Eyes on the prize Brisbane boys ready to back-up their win Brisbane Gold is defending champion for APL 2014, bagging the lion’s share of the $100,000 prize kitty for winning the inaugural title.

Mark Casey, Robbie Wild, and skip Kelvin Kerkow, with team manager Alex Murtagh, clinched the inaugural title with inspired use of the “powerplay”, managing more often than not to cherry pick the round they would not only win, but do well in, doubling points when they were most needed.

“The boys put me through a bit of stress this week, but we liked the power play, it seemed to do well for us,”Murtagh said, wiping the sweat from his brow and waving his signature wildly over-sized hat to the frantic crowd at the end of APL 2013.

As Brisbane Gold franchise owner, Club Pine Rivers picked up the $40,000 winner’s cheque and immediately doled out $5000 to each of their APL stars, not a bad return for four days work.

“The goal is to win again, of course, but no matter who wins, the sport of lawn bowls is the biggest winner,” Steve Ratcliffe said.

“It was anyone’s game last year and it will be again this year.”

APL will be staged at Club Pine Rivers from Tuesday November 18 – Friday November 21, leading into the Bowls Queensland State Pennant weekend (Nov 22-23) at Tweed Heads.

He has a sweetheart of a wife, he’s an adoring dad to a young son and a new baby daughter, and he’s a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist (Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010).

Case is in demand. Everyone wants him for APL 2014. But where will he go?

Will he stay loyal to the franchise that picked him first, Brisbane Gold, backed by major sponsor XXXX Gold and Club Pine Rivers?

Or will he be tempted away by an exciting new APL franchise, the Gold Coast Hawks, owned by Club Helensvale?

Helensvale is closest to Casey’s home at Pacific Pines and his heart, since he’s been part of the furniture at the Gold Coast powerhouse club for more than a decade.

To whom is a bowler’s greatest loyalty? To the club that grew him up or the club that gave him the bestever fun he ever had playing bowls?

“It’s the best event I’ve ever played in,” Casey said at the end of APL 2013.

Whichever franchise scores the valuable services of Mark Casey, it has to be a front-runner for success in 2014.

He’ll be out to star at APL 2014, backing himself as a contender for Comm Games 2018, on his home turf at the Gold Coast.

A second new franchise for APL 2014 has been awarded to Moama Bowling Club on the border of Victoria and NSW.

Its APL team will be known as the Murray Steamers, and two big names of Comm Games 2014, dual gold medallist pairs and fours Alex Marshall (Scotland) and silver medallist singles Ryan Bester (Canada) will headline the team.

Comedian and star of bowls movie Crackerjack Mick Molloy will return as official ambassador for APL 2014, after the success of his role in 2013.

An APL-style format will be introduced at club level in Australia in 2015, to be known as Jack Attack, lawn bowls played with passion, but in a one-hour format. v36/8

queensland bowler | 15

Lauren, Wendy and Brendan Wilson

Gold Coast mum and Australian Open bowls ambassador Wendy Wilson has finally stepped out of her children’s shadows, winning her first major title at the Tweed Heads Ladies Prestige Singles, (June 29-July 2).

Bowls titles are nothing new for the Wilson kids, Lauren and Brendan, but for mum Wendy, it’s been six years of swinging before she finally landed the knock out punch.

“When I won, the crowd’s cheers were huge, I was getting hugs and high-fives from everyone, it was unbelievable,” Wendy said.

Wendy won the event undefeated in all her games, much to the excitement of the home crowd.

The Tweed Heads local has been knocking on the door of a major title for a while and is finally reaping the rewards and bumping her superstar kids from the limelight.

“It’s huge, it’s a really awesome experience winning a major event on home turf, I’m finally seeing results,” Wendy said.

Lauren and Brendan Wilson both have title wins under their belt, Lauren a successful junior and Australian Sides Queensland player, and Brendan a junior singles champ about to age up to the senior ranks.

Lauren is responsible for the family’s lawn bowls obsession, when six years ago she had a bowl at South Tweed and the sport gelled with her quickly.

Soon after, the whole family was hooked.

“I had never really considered playing bowls until my kids Lauren and Brendan wanted to play and they needed a skip, now I’m just as good if not better than them! I do really feel like I’m coming out from behind their shadows,” Wendy said.

16 | queensland bowler

OUT OF THEIR SHADOWS Mum Wendy catching up with superstar kids A player of only six years, Wendy beat a plethora of talented and experienced bowlers to win Tweed Heads’ Ladies Open Singles.

Lauren was there when her mum went up against Queensland selector, Lolita Treasure in the sectional.

“Carmen is a tough competitor, but I was on a mission to get that title, I was runner-up last year to Lyn Cuthbertson, so I was glad I finally got a win,” Wendy said.

Bowls Club, Wendy said she’s looking forward to raising the bar for upcoming competitions and is gearing up to continue the winning streak.

“When I beat Lolita, Lauren said ‘Mum! You don’t beat the selectors!’ but Lolita really did “When it was down to the final eight give me a run for my money, it was players, everyone else was really basically shot for shot from end to experienced, they were all tough I’D end but I won by seven shots,” competitors, I felt privileged NEVER REALLY Wendy said. to be in that group,” Wendy CONSIDERED PLAYING said.

“Mum’s very competitive BOWLS UNTIL MY KIDS and she really is an Brendan, 17, was very LAUREN AND BRENDAN inspiration,” Lauren said. proud of his mum’s win, WANTED TO PLAY AND THEY and pleased she had Lauren, 20, works NEEDED A SKIP, NOW I’M JUST made it across the line AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER THAN full-time as an interior this time. designer for Metricon THEM! I DO REALLY FEEL Homes, but still wants to “Mum’s definitely LIKE I’M COMING OUT keep playing competitive playing more bowls than FROM BEHIND THEIR bowls. us [Lauren and I] so she’s SHADOWS catching up! But she really has Brendan works full-time as been pushing the last few years and a graphic designer at Inkco Digital she really earned it, especially up against a Printing, and is competing at the Junior tough competitor like Carmen Anderson,” Golden Nugget this month at Tweed Heads Brendan said.

Bowls Club.

A Black Douglas winner this year and “Since Lauren and I are both working fullCommonwealth Games competitor time now, we’re cutting back on bowls, but representing Norfolk Island in Glasgow, we still play in money tournaments,” Brendan Anderson lost to Wendy in a thrilling final, said.

25-15.

The only female director at Tweed Heads

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The Australian Premier Bowls Competition is back at Club Pine Rivers in November.

For those that didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy the games last year, it’s Lawn Bowls answer to 20/20 cricket. Very exciting, fast paced and really entertaining. The night games are Telecast LIVE on Fox Sports Australia & SKYTV New Zealand, 5 hours each night!

This year there will be more teams, more coverage and a bigger and better atmosphere.

Here at Club Pine Rivers, we’re very excited to be hosting this huge event again. We’ll be encouraging our local community to be apart of this too, so if this is you - mark 18th-21st on your calendar for this year’s APL. You won’t want to miss any of the action!

Club Pine Rivers Cnr Sparkes & Francis Rds Bray Park, QLD Ph: 3481 8600

Green Problems?

We’re here to help!

There’s no need for concern if you have a synthetic bowling green surface installed by Australian Bowls Construction, is the message from the product supplier Greengauge Pty Ltd

Paul Leslie the man behind both the Greengauge and Sportcrete brands in Australia said that while ABC, now in liquidation, was one installer of their product, they have many other trained contractors to fill the gap.

Greengauge Managing Director Paul Leslie (centre) with Mt Gravatt’s Ken Peters (left) and Trevor Newdick (right).

Back on a roll Can you hear the howls of delight all over Queensland?

Mt Gravatt Bowls Club is back at the peak of its powers, thanks to an exceptional carpet green refurb by Greengauge.

“Our bowlers are very excited, the bowling green is back to what it was six years ago, we’re very pleased,” greens director Trevor Newdick said.

“The service by Greengauge has been exceptional, we have our premier undercover surface back up and running and it’s perfect!

“Just in time for our annual prestige Men’s Open Pairs tournament on October 18-20, won’t we be able to show off!”

Mt Gravatt has one grass and one synthetic green, which was damaged by repeat floods.

Since then it’s been nothing but heartache for the club, as various repair jobs failed to restore their beloved synthetic surface to its former glory.

When their installer, Australian Bowls Constructions, closed its doors recently, they thought it was all over, and they would be stuck with a sub-standard green forever.

“It’s been a very stressful number of years, people have tried to sort this out, without success, and it’s taken a huge toll, but as soon as we started dealing with Paul Leslie and Greengauge, we’ve had nothing but exceptional service,” Trevor Newdick said.

“We agreed at 2.30pm on a Thursday afternoon on a plan of action, and by Friday lunch time, it was all organised.

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“The quality of the work has been exceptional, Paul Leslie and Ben Sutcliffe from Greengauge couldn’t do enough for us, and the on-site contractor, Chris Tonks was unbelievable, there was nothing he couldn’t do, bob cat driver, laser leveller, screeder, carpet layer, he was brilliant.”

Mt Gravatt Bowls Club has been established for 62 years at 1873 Logan Road, Upper Mt Gravatt.

The club is currently the second largest in Gateway district, with a membership of around 300.

“After 10 years in play, our undercover all-weather green has finally had the full refurbishment it needed, including replacement of base material, underlay and carpet, thanks to Greengauge,” business manager Reg Walls said.

“They really stepped up to listen to us and help us and the surface is now first class again, running true and fast.

“If you haven’t tried it out yet, now would be a good time to come along for a game!”

Mt Gravatt hosts ladies bowls on Tuesday mornings, two comps of self selected men’s pairs on Wednesdays, two mixed triples comps on Wednesday evenings and Thursday afternoons, and men’s bowls on Saturday afternoons (ladies also welcome).

Nomination forms are out for the club’s $5000 Men’s Open Pairs in October.

(Contact games director Malcolm Ferguson 0408 052 702.)

The club bistro is open Wednesday to Friday nights. www.mtgravattbowlsclub.com or phone 07 3349 2367.

“We understand there may be some concern out there, especially at bowls clubs and retirement villages who’ve installed our products in good faith through ABC, and we want to let everyone know we’re here to help in any way we can,” Paul said.

“If you’re an ABC customer, please contact us, on an on-going basis, if you have any queries or concerns about service, maintenance and maintenance products, or warranty.”

Greengauge has already walked the talk at Mt Gravatt Bowls Club in the past month.

The original synthetic green, installed by Greengauge 11 years ago, has just been re-built.

“The Mt Gravatt green had been a showpiece green for us for a long time, but after it was damaged in both the 2009 and 2011 floods, the club needed to have the green rebuilt,” Paul said.

“But as with most bowls clubs, the cost was paramount, and the club tried a contractor not specifically trained in bowls greens first, but it turned out to be a false economy.”

“The Mt Gravatt green didn’t run true after the work, a matter of great frustration for the bowlers, which we were very pleased to be able to resolve for them finally.”

Paul said Mt Gravatt, with its rebuilt Sportcrete base , new carpet and underlay, was now a world class bowling green again , “the best in Brisbane”.

“We don’t want unhappy customers, and we know our Greengauge/ Sportcrete system is perfect for bowling greens,” Paul said.

“The most important thing for bowls clubs to realise is that a synthetic green is an investment, for both them and us,” Paul said.

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Monto Men’s Fours 2014 champs Ashley Harris, Warwick Bellert, Mark Williams and Brendan Harris.

Gayndah guns win Monto shoot-out A Gayndah four skipped by Warwick Bellert won the $10,000 Monto Bowls Club 30th Anniversary Men’s Fours (July 5-6).

Bellert’s team was a surprise winner, going cheaply in the Friday night Calcutta at $100, a far cry from the $900 bid for the four skipped by Queensland rep Kurt Brown, which finished out of the prize money, in fourth place.

“The rest of the form guide and market went close, with the second highest priced team running third, and the next highest, $550, coming second,” junior vice president Jack Muller said, of the record $5182.50 Calcutta pool.

There were 32 teams competing on two full greens, up against heavy fog on the opening Saturday, which turned fine.

“With one round left to play, seven teams had won all four games, and theoretically, all had a chance to win the carnival,” Muller said.

“Three lost their final game, leaving four undefeated teams, the result decided on points for ends won.”

Bellert’s winning team was Ashley and Brendan Harris from Gayndah and Kingaroy’s Mark Williams, taking the glory and $3200 winner’s purse (5 wins, 110 points).

Dad and son Rod and Damien Rideout battled it out in different teams for the second and third prize purses, age coming before beauty by the barest of margins.

Rod (Monto) shared the $2000 runner-up kitty with his composite team,

skipped by Robbie Wild from Pine Rivers, Mick Roy (Maryborough Services) and Gordon Williams (Hervey Bay), 5 wins, 105.5 points.

Damien (Biloela) skipped Eddie Whiteside (Gladstone) and Monto’s Brad Kielly and Brad McInally into third and $1400 winnings (5 wins, 105 points), just half a point behind his dad’s team.

The highly fancied Kurt Brown team from Pine Rivers finished fourth, 5 wins, 102 points, ahead of the other teams who won four games, 5th Mark Gallagher (Emerald), 6th Phil Jackson (Rockhampton), 7th Mick Tobin (Bundaberg), 8th Graham White (Biloela), 9th Barry Woodall (Monto).

Last round winner was Len Farmer’s boys (Bundaberg), with 23 points.

Celebrating a century Townsville Bowls Club turns 100 Townsville Bowls Club celebrated 100 years on July 5.

More than 60 players, volunteers and dignitaries came to mark the centenary of the oldest club in the North Queensland district.

Townsville’s oldest club member on the day was Betty Keily, pictured, with club president Allan Bowen.

Bowen said it had been a great day of bowls to mark a marvellous milestone.

“Having turned 100 years old, what’s left for the Townsville club, what more can we want for our beach front club?” Bowen asked the centenary revellers.

“Well, apart from turning 200, in another 100 years, in the shorter term, we’ve set our hearts on gaining funding for a new green.”

Townsville’s centenary bowls day was won by a visiting team from Cutheringa Daryl Colledge’s team of Chris McCaffrey (lead), Joe Barton (2nd) and Wayne Edwards (3rd).

Past and present presidents from North Queensland district clubs also attended.

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Townsville Betty Keily & Allan Bowen v36/8

Awesome Atherton lift Bendigo Bank Shield Atherton Tablelands was the surprise but very popular winner of the 2014 Bendigo Bank Shield, a five way contest of far north women’s rep bowls sides.

“It’s only the fourth time Atherton Tablelands have won the Shield, in the history of the competition, and this year, we’re celebrating 40 years, 1974 – 2014,” Tully host club organiser Anne Andrews said.

Atherton finished the competition with seven match wins and 15.5 rink wins, an impressive result against the strong and usually dominant Townsville rep side from NQLDB, on five match wins and 14.5 rink wins.

In third place this year was mighty minnow Mackay, also on five match wins, 12 rink wins, and three half-rink wins, only just pipped at the post by Townsville.

Fourth place this year went to Cairns, two match wins, 9 rink wins, two half-rink wins.

The girls from host club Tully were very proud of their one match win and six rink wins, on behalf of the smaller clubs in the FNQ district, being the side that always struggles most to field depth.

“The FNQ side for Bendigo Bank Shield is made up of five small clubs, Babinda, Innisfail, South Johnstone, Silkwood and Tully, and we are delighted if we even get one match win against the other bigger and stronger sides,” Anne said.

“Our last victory for FNQ was in 1978, but all the other clubs have noticed how we’re improving, so watch out next year!

“We had a wonderful competition this year, as always, and it was nice to see Atherton Tableland have a surprise win.

Mackay skips Daphne Offield, Nug Pratt, Dell MacKelvie and Atherton Tablelands skips Yvonne Milevskiy, Liz Plowman and Sue Brady.

“Many new friendships were made and old ones renewed.”

Atherton Tablelands president Yvonne Milevskiy congratulated Tully Bowls Club president Judy Hood on a well run tournament, and thanked FNQ president Norma Murray for the great hospitality.

Special guest for the 40th anniversary of the Bendigo Bank Shield was Eileen Kidner from the victorious Atherton Tablelands side, Eileen having played in the inaugural competition in 1974.

The 2015 Bendigo Bank Shield will be hosted by Suburban Bowls Club, Townsville.

Bendigo Bank’s piggy mascot, Joyce Nash wearing 2014 bowls attire, Bette Dalziel wearing traditional 1974 bowls attire, and special guest for the 40th anniversary milestone competition, Eileen Kidner from Atherton Tablelands.

HOSTS: FNQ’s Val Zamora, Bev Achilles, Anne Andrews, Louise Hoskins, Judy Hood,Rita Pezutto,Denise Charman,Betty Cochrane, Eileen Hamaan, Bette Dalziel, Lucy Catalano, Norma Murray, Jean Messina, Angie Fleming, Maisie Smith. v36/8

queensland bowler | 21

Wynnum 90th Celebrations Wynnum Bowls Club is holding its 90th anniversary celebrations on weekend of September 27-28.

There will be a sponsored afternoon of selected mixed bowls on the Saturday and an official dinner on the Sunday, starting at 11.30am, with special guests, dignitaries, and live entertainment.

Bribie Island Accommodation Located easy walking distance between Bribie Island Bowls Club & Bribie Sports Club Spacious 2 bedroom self-contained units.

www.placidwaters.com.au

Phone: 07 3408 2122

Advertise Here!

Servicing a community of almost 40,000 members at more than 320 across the state, Queensland Bowler is the best way to reach the bowling community. Call us today for a great rate (07) 3355 9988

22 | queensland bowler

v36/8

If you answered YES, you need Pete’s Lotion.

Available in 75g (Roll On), 120g & 230g lotion

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From just $4.96ea +gst Available in maroon, white, gold, navy or royal blue www.doree.com.au 07 - 3391 6044

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Laser Levelling

Top dressing of greens

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Contact Eric & Lyn Ford Ph 07 5494 6618 0418 752 896 or email: lyneric2@bigpond.com queensland bowler | 23

Wangarratta girls lift the standard The fight was on in North Queensland’s premier women’s fours competition, with the ladies fighting tooth and nail for the Standard Cup at Suburban Club Townsville (June 30 – July 2).

Lesley Watson’s Suburban team was Katie Leverton (lead), Lyn Brown (2nd) and Barbie Koch (3rd).

Enid Maltby, 82, skipped the winning side to victory, alongside Penny Warron (lead), Carol Meredith (2nd) and Linda Tickle (3rd).

In the play off for third place, Thuringowa defeated Jubilee.

Wangarratta, up against hosts and defending champs Suburban, came away victorious in the end, 27-16.

“If Wangarratta had dropped their game on the last day, five other teams would have been back in the running, but they didn’t, they held strong and won very close matches up until the final,” Bowls Qld’s man on the ground Tim Blake said.

Pictured from left: Enid, Linda, Carol and Penny.

Monto Magic Historic win for woman skip in Monto Mixed Pairs

Bronwyn Torrens skipped Barry Hampson to victory over Alan Little and Gwen Stubbs, 22-11.

Last Queenslander standing at Tweed Heads’ Prestige Open Mixed Single, Scott De Jongh, said the green was absolutely dominated by the men and there were more than just a few surprise wins.

In an upset match, Gary Pearson (Burleigh Heads) knocked off APL star Mark Casey (Helensvale) in a tight match, 25-22.

It was sweet revenge for Bronwyn because in last year’s competition, she led for her husband Mark, but they went down to Alan and Gwen.

The Open Mixed Pairs title was the cream on a good year for Bronwyn, as she won the club’s championship singles, pairs (with Gwen Stubbs), triples (with Gwen and Heather Price), Consistency Singles, and Jet Pairs with June Loader (Under 70s club draw pairs).

Kris Lehfeldt from Ballina, the wildcard into the event, won the title after a series of close matches but pulled through to win the Prestige title.

Up against 20-year-old Australian team prodigy Dylan Fisher (Fitzroy Victoria), Lehfeldt emerged victorious in the final, 25-19.

At district level, Bronwyn skipped Gwen Stubbs to win the Port Curtis District Pairs, in Monto’s first year playing in Port Curtis District.

Previously Monto played in Burnett District, and Bronwyn also distinguished herself there, winning the Burnett District Pairs last year with Jean Jasch.

24 | queensland bowler

at Prestige Mixed Singles

“It’s fair to say that the men dominated play by the end, it was all men from the quarter finals,” said De Jongh (pictured bottom right).

For the first time in the history of the Monto Bowls Club, a woman has skipped the club’s Open Mixed Pairs champions.

Now everyone around here is asking the question, who will skip when Bronwyn’s husband Mark is on deck again for next year’s championships?

Men Rule

Mixed Pairs champs Barry Hampson and Bronwyn Torrens.

Men dominated the quarterfinals, with Gail Waitai the last woman out, going down to Kelvin Kerkow in Round 3.

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Roving rollers clash over bowls world record attempt Strife between rivals racing to set world record for most bowls clubs played at in a year.

The fight to be the first bowler to set a world record for the most bowls clubs played at in a single year has turned into a serious battle between two bowlers.

Frank Peniguel, 71, first came up with the idea and has been negotiating with Guinness World Records to be eligible to set the record.

Peniguel began his journey on January 10 and has been keeping a blog on his progress.

Little did he know one of his followers would decide to try to beat him at his own game, and he is not impressed!

The challenger Chris Thomas, 43, began his journey on July 3 at Tweed Heads Bowls Club and is vying to beat the record before it has even been set.

It’s not all fun and games as the rivalry is brewing.

“Frank finishes up in January so hopefully I can see his result and beat it by July next year,” Thomas said.

Peniguel said it would be bad for bowls if Thomas were allowed to try and break his as yet unset record.

Straddie 10,000 The $20,000 “Straddie 10,000” annual challenge from August 20-24 will run three major events in five days.

For the first time this year more teams will be able to enter the popular Pairs event, with morning and early evening playing times set to double capacity, from 28 teams to 56. There will also be a Calcutta on the pairs field.

The other change is to the final day Singles event, which will be five hourlong games, finishing by 2.45pm so players can leave the island in daylight.

This is the 15th year of the Straddie 10,000 and top bowlers from around the country enjoy five days of hospitality on Queensland’s stunning Stradbroke Island, playing at Point Lookout Bowls Club. v36/8

“I promised myself when I turned 70 that I’d travel around Australia, but I wanted to leave a legacy for lawn bowls and to propagate and promote lawn bowls,” Peniguel said.

The Canberra bowler, who spent months working with Guinness World Records to get the ball rolling on setting his record, believes it is not in the spirit of the game to have someone else piggy-back the idea.

“I spent 12 months working with Guinness World Records for this…I’ve sent a complaint to them,” Peniguel said. “[Thomas] was asking questions on my website and getting information from me. I think it was wrong.” Peniguel said.

Peniguel questions the legitimacy of Thomas’ quest, but

Thomas is unsure what all the fuss is about.

“Someone will attempt the record sooner or later, so why not me?” he said.

“Frank will well and truly set the record in January, and I’ll be finished in July…there’s no guarantee I’ll even beat it anyway,” Thomas said.

Peniguel’s goal was to travel and play at 900 bowls clubs by next January, but realistically he is aiming to reach over 600.

At the time of print he had played at almost 400 clubs, but is already 35-40 clubs behind schedule due to weather and troubles with his Combi van.

“I can’t plan because the weather will throw you out,” Peniguel said.

He is excited to travel back to Queensland and visit Cooktown and the Tablelands where he used to work in 1961-1962.

Thomas of Cobram, Victoria is travelling the coast road to Noosa before turning back and taking the inland route back through New South Wales.

Thomas is also hoping to raise money for the Cancer Council and Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as promote the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

The 43-year-old has been playing bowls for 21 years and hopes to raise between $5,000 and $10,000.

He will be travelling with his mother Vera in a car and caravan to get around.

Pictured: (top left) Canberra bowler Frank Peniguel set out in January to achieve a world record for most clubs played at in a year.

(Centre): Victorian Chris Thomas is attempting to break Frank’s record before it has even been set, kicking off his own record attempt at Tweed Heads in July. queensland bowler | 25

Life and Soul of Bowls

On a roll at Macleay Island Bowls Club

Gold Coast journo Ross Thompson has published a bowls book many doubted would sell, but he’s been almost bowled over in the rush to get a copy.

“I’ve had such a great response from clubs, I’ve even started to think about a sequel, I’ve already got some new ideas for clubs to feature next time,” Thompson said.

Life and Soul of Bowls Down Under is the result of an idea that had been simmering in Thompson’s head for more than two decades, after a chance encounter with an Ashmore neighbour Garnet Putland OAM at a neighbourhood pool party in 1989.

Putland was the then chairman of Bowls Australia and Thompson was a keen bowler at Benowa Bowls Club and the official bowls writer for the local Gold Coast Bulletin.

“I believe it saved our sport from fading into oblivion!”

(The controversial Coolangatta Master of Masters Singles lined up 12 of Australia’s best bowlers, wearing coloured shirts featuring the logos of a tobacco sponsor.)

Thompson followed the stand-off closely, his sympathies of course with Coolangatta, but he later ended up being employed by “the enemy”, Bowls Australia, to write publicity for such events as the Pacific Bowls Championships in Hong Kong and Australia.

A journalist of 53 years experience, Thompson knows how to sniff out a good story.

Read on ►

“We were talking about a series of books about great golf courses of Australia by Tom Ramsay and saying someone should do something about the great bowls greens of Australia,” Thompson said.

“Sadly Garnet is no longer with us, but not long after our conversation, he gave me a list of bowls clubs he thought might be worth visiting, six hand written pages, and 25 years later, finally, the book we talked about all those years ago is out in print, and people seem keen to get their hands on it, which is fantastic.

“I’m so proud of what I’ve managed to put together, and I’m sure Garnet would be pleased as punch too.”

Life and Soul of Bowls Down Under was mainly researched during a recent marathon two-year motorhome trip around Australia.

Thompson visited more than 50 bowls clubs, before selecting 39 to showcase in his new 220-page book.

“Each club featured had a unique story, some controversial, and others that were unknown outside their own membership, which made it stand out,” Thompson said.

“For example, Coolangatta, was suspended from playing in state and national events for 12 months back in 1985 because it defied state and national bowls organisations’ edicts not to allow players on the greens wearing coloured shirts or sponsors’ logos.

“The Coolangatta Master of Masters singles promotion was similar to World Series Cricket, it created a scandal with its colours and logos, but it changed the look of the sport for the better.

26 | queensland bowler

Ross has a roll on the aptly named “Paddock Green” in Broome. v36/8

Ross Thompson

From the Chair with Ron Chambers AUSTRALIA U/18s CHAMPIONSHIPS The Australian Under 18 Championships will be held this year in Darwin (September 29 – October 2).

Queensland is in good strong hands, with Nic Gosley, Jacob Nelson, Jesse Turnbull, Hayden Vogler and Jake Rynne representing the boys, and ConnieLeigh Rixon, Sophie Young, Taleah Putney, Michaela Bailey-Nelson and Tiffany Murray, representing the girls.

A “knighthood” competition, established in 1776, is still held every year, where bowlers compete dressed in top hats and tails.

The winner is titled “knight of the green” and is addressed as “sir” (lower-case ‘S’) for the remainder of his membership at the club.

The selectors have gone for a mix of experience and up and coming young bowlers, with the goal of short-term results and laying the foundation for the future. ► Want to know which bowls club is Australia’s most eastern, or where the world’s highest bowls green above sea level is located?

You’ll find these facts and many more besides in Life and Soul of Bowls Down Under, available through Amazon Online, or direct from the author, 0421 320 019 or email ross.thompson@internode.on.net Queensland clubs featured include Macleay Island, Russell Island, Mt Isa, South Johnstone, Cardwell, Silkwood, Coolangatta and Thompson’s home club of Benowa, as well as stories and photos from a further 29 clubs from the other Australian states, including Tasmania.

Special congratulations to North Dalby Bowls Club’s Jake ‘Rino’ Rynne, introduced to bowls by his grandfather, who put off playing bowls himself for years, because he thought he was still too young (at 68!), but quickly realised the error of his ways.

Grandpa Jim Rynne, now 74, says he’s “left his run too late”, but he quickly realised young Jake could have “the world at his feet” if he started bowls early.

The club has a solid membership and I’m told it is fully selfsupported by volunteers and members, and expected to remain a viable, competitive bowls club for many more years to come.

Jim’s been in the sport six years, his daughter (and Jake’s mum) Angela plays, and now Jake, at the very young age of 10, will play his first Australian championships, as part of the 2014 Queensland U-18 team, three years after picking up a bowl for the first time.

And finally, the Board of Bowls Queensland is delighted to announce the appointment of a new CEO, Doug Evans from the Sunshine Coast.

It can be done, and it helps if you’re a natural sportsperson (Jake is also a good swimmer!)

At the other end of the age spectrum, Toombul’s Jesse Turnbull, 17, will play his first and last national championships as a junior.

He’s been knocking on the door of the state team for a while and it’s great to hear him say how hard he’s worked for his success, taking nothing for granted.

NEW BOWLS QUEENSLAND CEO

Doug will take over from outgoing CEO of the past five years, Keith Fullerton, who is moving to New Zealand with his young family.

We will have a profile of our new CEO in next month’s issue of Queensland Bowler magazine.

Jesse has also proved himself an outstanding role model at his school, excelling in sports and academics, and as an adored role model for Prep – Year 12 students, as this year’s school captain.

Congratulations to all!

WORLD OLDEST BOWLING CLUB During recent holidays in the United Kingdom, my wife Trish and I were delighted to happen across the “Oldest Bowling Club in the World”.

The club started in 1299 and is still located on the same site at Southampton.

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queensland bowler | 27

with Rino Parrella

If you’ve been around bowls for a while, you may already have come across one of the most admired greenkeepers in the business. Wayne Appleby has run the mower at Banyo Bowls Club for more than 40 years, and in the home run to retirement, I asked him to pass on some of the life lessons he’s learnt around the green.

Life lessons Mapleton-born Wayne Appleby started green keeping on New Year’s Day 1967 at Nambour.

After three years, he moved to Toowong (1970-73), and then on to Banyo, starting on August 1, 1973.

“It was my 41st year at Banyo on Friday (Aug 1), I’ve had a good wife, a lot of green keepers have no family life because you’re basically at the club seven-days-a week,” Wayne said.

“I don’t play bowls myself, about three times a year I roll a bowl, to check the green.”

It was Wayne’s mum who introduced the family to bowls, and she might have shocked a few traditionalists in her day.

“Mum had a game of bowls at a Christmas party in 1949 when she was nine months pregnant, I arrived a few weeks later, and by then, mum had already been asked to fill in for Pennant, so she fed me beside the green,” Wayne said.

“Dad had a hard life, including losing a hand when he was 16, but he just kept going, he played tennis, rugby league and bowls.”

Appleby had been working at Banyo only a few weeks when his dad died, in August 1973.

“It was really tough but the things he’d always tried to teach us, my two brothers and me, I finally understood,” Appleby said.

“Dad always said if you make a promise to a person, and you can’t keep it, be honest, if you lie, it always catches up with you.

Wayne got into the green keeping business through his dad, who looked after the greens in Mapleton on a voluntary basis.

Appleby junior was tossing up whether to do carpentry or plumbing when he left school at 16, but accepted a job as a trainee greenkeeper under Les Gernicke at Nambour.

“When I first started green keeping, I was just a young country kid,” Wayne remembers.

“This city slicker called Johnny Lang, who had worked as a green keeper at Indooroopilly, St Lucia and Jindalee before getting a job as a chemicals rep, helped me a lot.

“He was an impressive, strapping, handsome fellow, black polyester shoes, black narrow pants and a white shirt with a narrow black tie.”

“GREEN KEEPERS HAVE A SAYING THAT WHILE YOUR AR** POINTS TO THE GROUND, YOU’LL NEVER BE A GOOD BOWLER!”

“All the hardships he had, it’s just life, you know, you just keep going, we all have our ups and our downs, that’s life.”

Wayne is content with a life spent tending the same bowls green for four decades.

“I was offered other jobs but I decided to stay put for family stability, I couldn’t have them moving all over Brisbane,” he said.

Wayne and his wife have both had their share of health and financial stresses, and green keeping is an anti-social job, early mornings, and seven days-a-week maintenance, but it worked for the Applebys.

28 | queensland bowler

He brings his wife a cup of tea in bed before he leaves home at 6am every morning, and she sometimes joins him for lunch in his green keeper shed, sharing a home-made corned beef toasted sandwich.

(John Lang went on to be a state player, district selector and Queensland state team manager.)

Wayne said what often happens these days is that people with bowls potential take up green keeping to keep them close to the coal face.

But as they improve their game, they start cutting corners with the green keeping.

He said the best and worst thing about his job is the bowlers...

“Whether it’s a billiard table or a cow paddock, fast or slow, it’s up to the individual bowler with the bowl in his hand,” Appleby said.

“Green keepers have a saying that while your ar** points to the ground, you’ll never be a good bowler!

“You see people make great advances in the first two to three years, but after that, they don’t go anywhere unless they practice.”

Wayne has seen many changes in equipment over four decades on the greens.

“It was a lot more manual when I started out, there wasn’t even a 30 inch mower, now there’s a 24, and it was all single phase, now it’s three-phase,” he said.

“The old scarifiers weighed a ton, the drilling machine weighted half a ton, now most clubs just hire someone to do it for you.

“And the chemicals we used that are banned now, mercury based products, Dieldrin, DDT, chlordanes…”

Read on ► v36/8

Banyo’s Jocelyn O’Donnell, Janine Kehl, Noelene Gordon and Dolly Vagg with club icon Wayne Appleby.

Wayne is deaf in one ear, probably from all the loud machinery he’s used over so many years.

“Deaf in one ear, can’t hear in the other, so I thought I’d better buy myself a little bud, so I can hear people whinge,” he joked.

Wayne played football until he was 19 and cricket until he was in his late 30s, and he lost a few teeth along the way.

If you ask him why he’s stayed at Banyo so long, you get to the heart of the man.

“We lost our home in the floods of ‘74, we were living at Kedron,” Appleby said.

“We moved to Banyo and had another big setback 20 years ago, but with all the ups and downs, we always keep poking our head back up.

“I’ve mowed for millionaires and for free at the local retirement v36/8

village (they’ve even still got a set of wooden bowls there), you meet lots of good people and some hypocrites who are only in it for themselves at bowls clubs and everywhere in life, but you try to give something back.”

The people Wayne Appleby loves the best are his wife Linda (“luv”), his son Michael (“mate”) and his daughter Tracy (“snooks”) and his grandchildren.

“I’ve been bringing my wife a cup of tea in bed at 6 o’clock for 40 years,” Appleby said.

“It feels like yesterday she swept me off my feet for the first time, at ballroom dancing.”

Appleby has slimmed down during his time at Banyo, losing 13 kilos on his old rugby league playing weight.

Continued page 28 ► queensland bowler | 29

Wayne proudly shows off his world-class greens at Banyo.

► They hardly recognised Wayne at a recent Nambour High school reunion, Class of ’67.

“I’ve seen him come back late on a Sunday night to put some water on the greens, if there’s something on the next day.”

“I watch myself, I do a lot of walking as a green keeper, but I like ice cream, and I still smoke...”

“I think it’s great for the Bowler magazine to recognise someone like Wayne, he does such a great job,” the Banyo girls said.

“Another good piece of advice is never to drink where you work.

When Wayne retires, he plans to spend more time in his garden at home, and probably cooking.

“If a bloke has a go at you, you’re much more likely to fire back if you’ve been drinking, it can affect your whole life.”

The bowlers at Banyo know how fortunate they are to have Wayne Appleby looking after their greens.

“He’s the best green keeper in Queensland!,” said club secretary Jocelyn O’Donnell.

“He treats the greens like a baby,” Banyo games director Dolly Vagg said.

“I’ve known him all my life, I grew up across the road from the bowls club, I’m 42 and he’s been here 41 years,” one of the club’s younger bowlers Janine Kehl said.

He and “mum” (wife Linda) make a mean corned meat, a Woolies Taigum low-salt variety, in the slow cooker, with apple cider vinegar and sugar.

Also his Christmas trifle is wolfed down by the grandkids each year.

(Appleby admits to taking a short cut from time to time in the kitchen, but never on a bowls green!)

He’d also like to do some fishing and tour around “our great country” when he finally escaped the lure of the green.

Tips from the Top - Things Wayne Appleby knows for sure ~ Be honest with yourself and other people. ~ Let water run off your back instead of getting all upset by criticism. “All these smart bowlers want greens running at 18 all year round, 24/7, 365 days a year,” Appleby said. “One day I’ll get it right...” ~ Don’t believe bowlers who tell you how to mow a green. ~ Maintain your mowers, keep them sharp. ~ Cut different diagonals every time you mow. ~ Don’t mow your victory lap the same way! (Never go around the edges the same way, always reverse it.) ~ Mow every day or almost every day in summer.

30 | queensland bowler

~ Get a soil analysis. “Grass is a living thing, like a human being, it has DNA, get a soil analysis every second year, depending on the weather. ~ Try to keep the neighbours’ kids off the greens after hours! ~ Grog and bowls don’t mix… ~ Don’t be scared to ask us old greenkeepers questions. ~ Narrow bowls have made the game easier than it used to be. ~ Do some charity work. ~ Read Queensland Bowler magazine! “Rino’s Green Guru columns have been very effective,” Appleby said. “I can remember him running around the greens as a young kid.” v36/8

Umpire with guest columnist Jessie Cannon

Starting point I was once asked why I became an Umpire.

My answer was simple – to learn the Laws of the Sport of Bowls and to give something back to the game.

In doing this I feel a person gets a better insight into the game.

The introduction on Page 7 of the law book reads as follows and should be read by all players: “No laws governing a sport can cope with every situation, and the laws governing the sport of bowls are no exception.

Unusual situations not covered within the laws can often arise.

The Laws of the Sport of Bowls have been drawn up in the spirit of true sportsmanship.

So, if a situation arises that is not covered by these laws, players, markers and umpires should use their common sense and a spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action.”

I have found that the following rules in Section 8 – Play, Players and their Duties – are a good start for new bowlers.

Law 34: Team play

34.1 gives a description of the number of players required for team play.

34.2.1 gives the order of play and 34.2.2 gives the penalties incurred for premature play (delivering your bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest).

34.2.3 states that the position of players within a team should not be changed after the first end has been completed unless the change is necessary because a substitute is introduced as described in DR 4.2.1.

If the player does deliver the bowl prematurely, Law 34.2.2 would come into effect.

Law 36: Position of players 36.1.1 states that at the mat end, players who are not delivering a bowl should stand at least one metre behind the mat.

36.1.2 covers players at the head end.

36.1.3 allows a player who is in control of the head to stand level with or in front of the Jack.

This then goes on to list the penalties for non-compliance of this law.

As soon as the bowl is delivered the player should take their position as described in law 36.1.2.

This law is often overlooked for its importance, as the player or team whose bowl is being played has complete rights on the rink.

36.2 relates to staying within the confines of your own rink.

Law 35: Possession of the Rink

As soon as the bowl has come to rest – allowing time for the marking of a toucher – possession is then transferred to the other player or team.

How often do you see, in timed games especially, the opposition on the mat ready to bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest?

Rex Wilcox and Jean Novak with BQ Umpire Committee member Jessie Cannon

Law 37: Lists all of the players duties These are in depth and full understanding can only come from reading these laws in total.

If you are a new bowler, or an experienced bowler wishing to understand the laws more thoroughly, take the time to read and understand the Laws of the Sport of Bowls.

Enjoy your chosen sport.

Club Law with curt schatz

Approved Managers Licence What is it and is yours up to date?

As most licensees would be aware, certain licensed premises are required to have an individual licensee or Approved Manager present or reasonably available during ordinary trading hours of 10am and 12 midnight and approved extended trading hours between 7am and 10am.

If a venue is approved to trade past 12 midnight, an Approved Manager must be present on duty on the licensed premises.

January 2009 saw a change in requirements for licensees to have an Approved Manager in place of a nominee.

Accordingly licensees were required to nominate an Approved Manager to be in control of the licensed premises.

In the conduct of business on the premises, the Approved Manager is responsible for ensuring that: a) liquor is supplied or possessed on the premises only in accordance with the authority conferred by the licence or permit; and b) for an adult entertainment permit – the conduct of entertainment under the permit is in accordance with the Liquor Act 1992 and the conditions of the permit.

An Approved Manager is ‘present’ at the premises if the Approved Manager is at the premises acting in the capacity of an Approved Manager and is in control of the premises.

An Approved Manager is ‘reasonably available’ if the Approved Manager is readily contactable by each person involved in the service and supply of liquor at the premises and the time reasonably needed for the Approved Manager to travel from any place at which the manager may be present to the premises is not more than one hour.

In order to be granted an Approved Managers Licence the applicant must complete an RSA and Responsible Management of Licensed Venues (RMLV) training course.

RMLV training is mandatory for all licensees, nominees and applicants for an Approved Manager Licence in Queensland.

RMLV training was developed to reduce the negative impact of poor management practices on the community.

The course provides details of the law and liquor licensing requirements as well as a range of management strategies to assist operators in the responsible conduct of their business.

RMLV and RSA courses are available through QHA training.

An Approved Managers Licence is valid for five years, however the training components (RSA and RMLV) need to be redone every three years in order to meet mandatory training requirements.

Accordingly, any licence that was approved in 2009 will be expiring some time in 2014.

It is important that both licensees and Approved Managers are aware of the expiration date of their Approved Managers Licence and have ensured that their RSA and RMLV certificates are up to date and current.

The obligation is on any Approved Manager to ensure the RMLV certificate and Approved Managers Licence are kept current, however, licensees need also be aware of the requirements to have an up to date and licensed Approved Manager on site or reasonably available during the hours mentioned above.

To apply for an Approved Managers Licence the applicant must complete the two training courses (RSA and RMLV) and send a photocopy of both training certificates along with the completed Approved Managers application form (Form 4A) and application fee to the OLGR. Renewing an Approved Managers Licence can be done online through the OLGR website.

If you have any queries in relation to this issue, please contact Ruth Sainsbury on (07) 3224 0382 or myself on (07) 3224 0230.

Hospitality law requires the best heads in the business.

When it comes to legal advice for a club, you need more than just legal advice you need lawyers who know your industry.

With specialist divisions in hospitality and business services, we understand your industry and all its legal requirements.

We minimise your risk and help grow your business.

For more information contact: Curt Schatz, Partner

Level 21, Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 Telephone 07 3224 0230 cschatz@mullinslaw.com.au

32 | queensland bowler

v36/8

Welcome to the Queensland Bowler August edition of Henselite’s Spot the Jack competition.

Simply put an X where you think the missing jack was located in this picture, fill in your details below and send this page to:

Queensland Bowler August Spot the Jack PO Box 476, Alderley 4051 The first correct entry drawn will receive a free set of Henselite bowls.

Winners can choose from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes.

Name..............................................................................................

Address........................................................................................... .......................................................................................................

State.........................................................Postcode........................

Daytime telephone........................................................................... *email.............................................................................................

Entries must be received by August 31. Winner will be announced in the October issue. Multiple entries allowed.

Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.

Shervawn Wilson from Cooloola Cove

v36/8

queensland bowler | 33

Coaching with Ian Schuback

oam

PROPERLY PUMPED? Psych levels have a direct impact on how you perform on the green.

Most champions are either pumped up or quietly confident, but rarely average in terms of their arousal or psych levels.

To help get the correct picture in your mind, compare tennis stars Rafael Nadal with Roger Federer.

Rafa’s always highly pumped up, both mentally and physically, with plenty of fist clenching and positive body language.

Roger on the other hand, even after five gruelling sets, looks like he hasn’t worked up a sweat with his silky smooth movements around the court.

Do you think Rafael Nadal would perform well if he imitated Roger Federer’s style of play?

Obviously not, and vice versa.

It’s a sad fact that most bowlers are unaware of psych levels and the importance it plays in terms of their own performance.

Once understood, you’ll be amazed at just how much improvement you can make to your game.

Let me share an example closer to home.

Top Australian player, Nathan Rice, Commonwealth Game Glasgow 2014 bronze medallist, once asked me for some help to win a Singles title.

When I asked what event he wanted to win, I was absolutely shocked to find out he had never actually won any Singles title.

You see, Rice was one of the best players in Australia at the time, yet he didn’t appear to be able to win at Singles.

As I knew he already had brilliant shotmaking skills and good tactical awareness, I knew there must have been a missing mental skill.

While discussing his arousal levels, I was even more shocked after asking Nathan to give me a number between zero and 100 to describe his preferred psych levels during competition.

You see, ‘Lurch’, as he’s affectionately known, was really laid back and often looked quite lackadaisical and disinterested in the way he played.

But nothing could be further from the truth!

Lurch reckoned he needed to be around 80 - 85 per cent pumped to play at his best.

I was absolutely astonished.

I was expecting to hear him say somewhere around 30 - 40%.

Here was a guy like Rafa acting and looking like Roger!

I know the mind and the body often don’t get along, but this was just plain ridiculous.

You see, Nathan’s body language was just not matching his state of mind.

Following a two-hour session at Mudgeeraba Bowls Club, modifying his body language, Lurch won the Helensvale club singles, Gold Coast District singles, Salisbury Superbowl singles, Queensland State singles and the prestigious Golden Nugget Invitation singles titles, all within the next twelve months.

What a massive turnaround for one of our top-flight players, thanks to a little bit of knowledge about having the right psych for the job at hand.

Why would such a gifted player need to do such a thing?

Simply because he needed to play with high intensity to perform at his best, and “throwing the toys out of the cot” certainly heightened his arousal level.

At the same time, it often had a negative effect on his opponent’s performance, by escalating their psych level to an uncomfortable point, which subsequently sabotaged their performance.

Knowing your own optimal psych level and being able to monitor that excitement throughout a match will give you a distinct advantage over an opponent, who is ignorant of such valuable knowledge.

If you find yourself getting too excited, try some deep breathing and slow the game down slightly. Stay patient and remain calm in the knowledge that you have prepared well for the contest and your technical, tactical and mental skills are superior to your opponent’s.

Similarly, if you feel discouraged or find your mind wandering during a contest, give yourself a stern pep talk and start playing and acting with higher intensity.

Take shorter and quicker steps and get yourself into the contest by feeling and looking like a winner. Just think of Rafa, and voilà!

Your psych level will catapult higher and your performance will improve.

I doubt if there’s a better example of the importance of finding your optimal arousal level during competition.

But first experiment to discover your own ideal psych level, and then simply ensure your mind and body are synchronised.

Other than his remarkable tennis ability, what else was John McEnroe known for?

Master your arousal levels and you’ll go a long way towards mastering your mind and your performance.

Throwing a tantrum!

For all the best news, views and comps make sure you get your copy of the

To: Queensland Bowler Subs PO Box 476 Alderley, Qld 4051 Name.............................................................

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come & try day 2014

get your club involved and help grow the sport of lawn bowls across Queensland all clubs encouraged to participate promote your club within the community raise awareness of the sport boost membership help charity with a gold coin donation

Please help us help bowls!

When: Sunday, October 26, 2014 Where: Your local bowls club

grab life by the bowls for more details or to register visit: www.bowlsqld.org/tryday call: (07) 3355 9988 email: daryl@bowlsqld.org