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CONTENTS

Volume 37

Issue 6

Cover Story 06 State Championships 2014 All the action from the 2014 Queensland State Championships held on the Gold Coast from May 12-22.

News 16 District Sides Action Gold Coast played host to Queensland’s marquee event, the 2014 District Sides Championships, from May 7-10.

22 Rolling with the times Maryborough Bowls Club has taken the leap to a synthetic green...and members couldn’t be happier.

Columns 24 Myth-busting Resident Greens Guru Rino Parrella tackles green-keeping facts and fiction.

34 Visualisation If you can’t see it in your mind, you can’t play it on the green, explains Queensland Bowler super coach Ian Schuback.

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

6 | 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. v37/6

omen

-W State Champs

SHE’S A FORMIDABLE COMPETITOR, AND YOU CAN NEVER COUNT HER OUT OF A WIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SCORE-LINE SEEMS IMPOSSIBLY STACKED AGAINST HER.

Helensvale star Lynsey Clarke, 30, scored a golden double at the 2014 State Championships, taking out the Singles and Triples titles, and picking up silver in the Pairs, on her home turf on Queensland’s Gold Coast. “Dream, believe, succeed,” is the mantra Clarke swears by, and she’s grateful for unwavering support from husband Brad Clarke, parents Teresa and Gordon Armitage, and high profile, long time friends like fellow Queensland, Australian and Commonwealth Games star Brett Wilkie. “I really wanted these state titles,” Clarke said. “I missed the last two years because of my honeymoon and preparation for last year’s Eight Nations tournament, so I wanted this.”

Singles Final Clarke’s rival for this year’s singles title, the ballsy Maria Rigby, 44, from Wynnum Manly is another player who never backs down from a fight, winning her first state singles crown when Clarke was just 11. So when the Aussie captain put the pressure on early in their final, leading 7-3 after 6 ends, it was no problem for a seasoned campaigner like Rigby. The two-time champ (1995, 2000) came back just as hard, turning the tables with a couple of three-shot ends, to snatch the lead, 7-9. But Clarke was just as hungry for a second singles crown, to back up her 2007 success. The two well drilled gladiators jabbed at each other on the scoreboard, and were all square after 21 ends, 17-17. “It was neck and neck, I couldn’t sleep on any end, I definitely had to be thinking all the time,” Clarke said. Finally she opened up daylight, stringing together 2-1-2 for a 22-17 lead. A quick jab back from Rigby made it 22-18, but Clarke knew it was hers and she eventually wrapped up the title, 25-18. “Maria is such a great player, I managed to get a couple of big shots right at the end to finish the job,” Clarke said. Rigby said she tried to keep placing her shots, but Clarke kept doing it better, “she played awesome!”. Other state singles quarter-finalists were Musgrave Hill’s Yvonne Lovelock and Sammie Wilson, Broadbeach’s Christina Pavlov and Lyn Cuthbertson, South Tweed’s Ann-Maree Peart and Kawana’s Faye Clarke. In two runaway semis, Lynsey Clarke demolished 2011 champ Peart, 25-9 (after Peart beat 2009 winner Cuthbertson 25-19), while Rigby despatched Faye Clarke 25-5, following Faye’s 25-16 victory over Wilson.

“”

I really wanted these state titles, I missed the last two years because of my honeymoon and preparation for last year’s Eight Nations tournament, and I wanted this

Opposition skip Bee Millerick, 20, who played second for Clarke at this year’s Australian Sides Championships in Tasmania, stepped up to her Queensland mentor in the early ends of their title showdown. Her success with short-lived however, with a four-shot drop on the 11th spelling the end for Millerick’s girls. Clarke merrily drove the score up from 9-7 to 13-7, all the way to 23-7, for a well-deserved title win after 22 ends, 26-10. Charlie Harkness, Natasha Jones and Lynsey Clarke

Triples honey for Clarke brood Two days later Lynsey Clarke was back on the podium, this time alongside her “chickies”, Natasha Jones, 18, and Charlie Harkness, 23. The trio defeated Gin Gin twins Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick and teammate Karen Goldsworthy to clinch the 2014 Triples title. “The greens were beautiful to play on, it was a real privilege to be here,” Clarke said, as she accepted her second gold medal of the week from Bowls Queensland Chairman Ron Chambers. “Charlie and Tash played awesome all the way through, hopefully we’ll go back-to-back next year.” 8 | queensland bowler

v37/6

p e r p t c e f r e P

play Linney looks ready for Comm Games after dominant State amps disdisplay te ChChamps nt Sta ina dom er aft s me Ga mm Co for dy rea ks loo Linney

“You can’t afford to let a player like Lynsey get away, once she’s off, you’ll never catch her,” match director Ron Somerville said.

“We wanted three in a row, it’s never been done before at Queensland State Champs,” lead Liza Burgess said.

“Lynsey was on fire, we’re just really happy to make this final,” said Millerick, who won Queensland’s Fours crown early in the week.

The gutted Witton trio declared themselves against the controversial policy of timed finals.

Harkness, from Broadbeach, now has a Triples crown to go with the State Pairs title she won in 2011, with Yvonne Lovelock from Musgrave Hill.

“We had plenty more in the tank, three ends to go, when the bell goes off, robbing us of our chance at history,” Burgess groaned.

Chance at history dashed A giant-slaying performance by Bramble Bay’s Nicky Wilkins, Linda Brack and Clare Hill, thwarted a quest by former Coolum clubmates Liza Burgess, Marilyn Clayton and Louise Witton to make history with a third consecutive Triples crown. Louise Witton, Liza Burgess and Marilyn Clayton

“Back-to-back defending champions out, kicked to the curb.” The defending champs were 16-18 down to Bramble Bay, but holding three, with just one bowl left to be delivered by opposition skip Hill, when the bell rang. All power to Hill, she managed to reduce Witton’s margin to one, just in the nick of time, taking her girls through to the semis 18-17, with a big scalp under their belt. The dramatic quarterfinal took its toll though, with the Bramble Bay girls unable to replicate the same killer touch against Bolivia Millerick, 10-31. In the other triples semi, Clarke sealed the deal only in the final three ends, against a bereft Chrissie Pavlov-skipped side of Anne McClure and Kiani Andersen . It was an anxious game to watch, Pavlov’s girls quiet and controlled, while Clarke’s girls seemed relaxed and chatty, even as the score piled against them. By the16th, Pavlov had opened up a handy lead 12-8, and by the 20th, she was still on the right side of a knife’s edge, 15-14. But in trademark style, Clarke rallied, notching up 3-1-4 over the next three ends and a disbelieving Pavlov trio were done and dusted, 22-15.

Waitai wards off Clarke storm in Pairs Ruth Smith and Gail Waitai

With two state titles in the bag, Clarke was hoping for a hat-trick in the Pairs, but Broadbeach duo Ruth Smith and Gail Waitai had other ideas. Playing on their home green, Smith and Waitai survived an inspired switch of strategy by Clarke and her gun lead Natasha Jones, which threatened to usurp their early domination. The Broadbeach pair streaked to an early 11-4 lead, thanks in part to a five-shot pick-up. Clarke answered, but not hard enough, with Waitai again surging ahead for what looked like a fairy tale ending, 21-9, after 13 ends. It was here Clarke’s skill as a world player came to the fore, realising her favoured long game was failing to find a weak spot. “We had a chat about what we wanted to do, we usually win on long ends, but we weren’t having any luck, so we decided to tighten up and go short,” Clarke said. “It was looking like a big flogging but we still thought we could win.” It took six more ends, but the strategic switch paid off, with the scores locked up at 21-all heading into the 20th. But they were to be denied the crown, as Smith and Waitai clinched a deserving win, 23-21. “We’re over the moon,” said Waitai, a two-time State Singles champ.

v37/6

queensland bowler | 9

- Wom s p m a h C e t a t S

YOU BEE-AUTY!

Leigh Fortington and Johanna Cunningham

Bolivia’s girls defend Queensland Fours crown Rising Queensland star Bolivia ‘Bee’ Millerick has successfully defended her 2013 State Fours title, steering twin sister Cassandra, Cleveland’s Karen Goldsworthy and Pialba’s Lyn Long to victory in this year’s final on May 14.

“It was soaking wet before we went out,” said Emerton, who called an early end to proceedings, much to the relief of everyone involved.

Despite the pouring rain at Broadbeach, Millerick’s girls blitzed the final, clocking up a double-digit win over Marilyn Emerton’s outfit, 28-14.

“We never gave up, but we were never going to come back from 28-14 in three ends.”

“I’m just so proud of my girls,” said the bubbly Caloundra skip. “Back to back Fours titles is pretty amazing.

“The rain was like a waterfall, it was quite uncomfortable.

“The opposition did their job and the Millerick twins are the future of our sport, it’s a wonderful thing they have done winning back to back titles.”

It has been a top 12 months for Bolivia, with the Fortington, Whaites, Crompton & Emerton 20-year-old playing a starring role in Queensland’s Australian Sides campaign Emerton’s side of Gail Crompton, Judy in Tasmania in April. Whaites and Leigh Fortington looked Her consistency, playing second for good in the early ends, jumping out to a Australian captain Lynsey Clarke, earned 5-0 lead. Millerick the Player of the Series medal. But as the cold and wet weather She was also a standout player took its toll, Emerton’s foursome in Sunshine Coast’s 2014 began to fall behind, District Sides paving the way for a win. Millerick resur“The rain made it hard for everyone but we seemed to handle it better.”

gence. Karen Goldsworthy, Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick and Lyn Long

back-to-back Gold for Leigh Mooloolaba’s Leigh Fortington has won back-to-back state titles in the Over 60s Women’s Pairs, with substitute lead Johanna Cunningham from Mermaid Beach delighted she was in the right place at the right time. Fortington’s usual pairs partner, Carol Williams, was unable to help defend their title, but Cunningham proved a worthy substitute. “Carol couldn’t believe the bad timing to get sick, missing out on a state final, but Johanna played so well, it was a great game,” Fortington said. The runners up from Hervey Bay, Wendy Jamieson and Pauline Rose, kept the contest extremely tight, keeping themselves on the upper side of the scorecard for most of the game. “It was just a matter of ones and twos, we had to keep picking up points, and keep their score down,” Fortington said. Rose picked up the only three in the match, on the 17th end, to take the score to 19-16. “It was pressure bowls really, and we came up trumps in the end,” Fortington said. “We went into the final end three shots behind, and then we were holding three, and I remember thinking, we can force a tie here.” Then she snuck in the extra shot that would see her crowned backto-back champion, 20-17. Fortington has had a great championships month, also runner up in the state championships fours, and part of the Sunshine Coast’s winning District Sides team.

10 | queensland bowler

v37/6

State Champs - Men

Pirate Power Hamilton power skip Sean Baker steers Pirate boys to state fours title, before adding pairs gold to become one of Queensland greatest state champions

Hamilton bowler Sean Baker is quickly becoming one of Queensland’s most decorated state champions, with the 28-year-old clocking up two more titles at this year’s event on the Gold Coast. Baker, a former NT and Australian rep and current star of Queensland’s state side, steered Pine Rivers trio Aaron Hewson, Jamie Anderson and Robbie Wild to victory in the men’s Fours, before recapturing the Pairs crown alongside Broadbeach youngster Sean Ingham.

It wasn’t all plain sailing at this year’s championships, with Baker and his pirate boys hitting some choppy waters in the men’s Fours final. Despite going into the title showdown as firm favourites, Baker’s crew quickly fell behind as rival skipper Steve Halmai sailed ahead on the scoreboard. Tweed Heads’ Halmai was skipping a different Pine Rivers trio in Paul Jopson, Richard Strawbridge and Kurt Brown, so bragging rights was a highly motivating factor in the match.

The latest wins take Baker’s State Championship haul to eight titles in seven years, Singles (2008), Pairs (2009/2012/2014), Triples (2009/2010) and Fours (2007/2014), putting him right up there with bowling legends such as Wal Currey, Rob Parrella, Kelvin Kerkow and Steve Glasson.

Leading 20-11 with just four ends to go, it looked like those rights would go to Halmai boys, with Baker’s title hopes rapidly sinking.

“It’s great to win another state title,” Baker said following his Pairs victory.

“I knew as long as we had bowls in our hands we were in with a chance,” Baker said.

“I’ve had a fair bit of success at these championships over the years, but most of the titles I’ve won have been for team events, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates, so a lot of credit has to go to the guys I’ve played with.”

But in swash-buckling style Baker’s pirates fought back, keeping their rivals scoreless for the rest of the match to clinch the title 21-20.

“We felt if we just played our shots, something could go our way. We got fortunate.” It was a nail-biting finale, with Baker picking up three to tie the match, before a measure confirmed a fourth shot, handing them a 21-20 win. “We had three and we crossed one over. We had the measure just to make sure of it.” Read on ►

Fours champs: Sean Baker, Jamie Anderson, Aaron Hewson and Robbie Wild 12 | queensland bowler

v37/6

► The umpire’s tape confirmed Baker, Hewson, Anderson and Wild could celebrate snatching victory from a defeat. Halmai paid tribute to his tormentors. “Very disappointed, but we were playing a class side who played well.” Baker had praise for his team. “I’m playing with great friends of mine and we’ve beaten some very, very strong teams to get here, but to find ourselves behind was very unfortunate.” “The finish we had, you certainly wouldn’t pick it.”

Pair-Fection

The polar opposite of his Fours win, Baker and Ingham blasted Maryborough’s Mick Roy and Anthony WIlliams off the green, 31-1, to reclaim the Pairs title they won in 2012.

Chip off the old block

Fern and Dobinson claim Pairs Gold, as Smith and Jenkins lose three-year stranglehold on Over-60s crown

“There was no one thing, we just played well,” was Baker’s assessment after the match. “When we drew heads, we went and sat on top of it. We often play conservative shots rather than silly shots. It gives our bowls a chance.”

Over-60s Pairs winners: John Fern and Bob Dobinson

To their credit, Roy and Williams kept the Seans under pressure. “We knew they’d be hard to beat. We probably played our best bowls earlier in the day, but they out drew us, they were too good. Much too good,” conceded Roy. The boys from the country just couldn’t get a toehold in the game, despite playing some fantastic bowls. As the score reached 29-0, Roy posed his opposite number a question. “We asked if he’d give us a chance, and he said ‘No.’ So our aim was just to get on the board,” joked Roy. No sooner had they gotten on the board, than Williams conceded with a handshake. “I wanted to do that at 15 down,” Williams joked.

“To get this far was fantastic, it does a lot for the small towns.”

Almost 61 years to the day after his father Johnny Fern was crowned Queensland’s State Pairs champion, John junior has followed in his dad’s footsteps, claiming the 2014 Over-60s Pairs title. “It was something I’d always tried to aim for, he was the level I was trying to achieve, I can finally say I’ve done it,” Fern said. Johnny Fern owned one of only three big sports stores in Brisbane City at the time he won his state title, in 1953, at aged 46. He died two years later and the young age of 48. “Dad ended up in hospital for an unrelated injury and it was a complete shock when they found lung cancer, since he was a non-smoker,” Fern said. “He was one of the first in Queensland to get radium treatment, that was in the days before chemo, but that was it,” Fern said. Fern jnr was only 10 years old when he lost his sports-mad old man, and he always wanted to follow in his footsteps. Finally, his time came, in 2014, with mate Bob Dobinson, another unsung great who’s been a quiet high achiever for many years.

The Seans: Ingham & Baker v37/6

Fern jnr, 68, and Dobinson, 64, won a State Champion of Club Champion Fours title together in 2007, when they both still played at Ferny Grove (the same year Bob also won State Mixed Pairs with club mate Sue Bond). Continued page 12 ► queensland bowler | 13

State Champs - Men

Simply the best More heartache for Big Jimmy as Master Blaster Ryan bester drives home first Queensland State Singles win at Broadbeach

Canadian Comm Games rep Ryan Bester made the most of his home advantage to blow away Pine Rivers’ Jamie Anderson in the 2014 Men’s State Singles final on May 14. The Master Blaster tore through Big Jimmy’s game with a 25-9 victory as the rain tipped down at Broadbeach Bowls Club. “Feels great to win it,” said Broadbeach bowls coordinator Bester. “This is my first Queensland singles title, so it means a lot. “It was a really tough competition, with some outstanding players. To win at my home club here at Broadbeach is great.” It was another heartbreaking loss for 2010 champ Anderson, who was also runner-up in 2008 and 2013. “This is my fourth time in the final,” a disappointed Anderson said after the match. “I’ve won it once, but have been runner-up three times now, so it’s not the best return really. “It’s great to reach the final first time around, but

when it gets to the fourth time, you really just want to win it.” Big Jimmy used up his best bowls en route to the final, knocking over Anthony Fantini in the quarters, 25-17, before exacting revenge on the man who beat him in the 2013 final, Brett Wilkie, 25-15. But his Midas touch deserted him in the final, and standing glumly in the rain he watched as Bester pull away to a 12-1 lead. “Yeah, I just didn’t play quite as well as I did earlier in the day,” a tired and cold Anderson conceded. “Those early wins gave me confidence, but he (Bester) came out on fire. You can’t give those blokes a head start.” But Big Jimmy didn’t going down without a fight. Digging deep, he found his form and started to reel in Bester, but it was too late, the damage was already done. “His previous results meant I couldn’t let him get the upper hand,” said Bester. The Canadian kept his composure, put his foot down and soon stretched his lead with a straight forward plan. “I just had to keep trying to win the next end.” The plan paid off, with Bester joining a long line of bowling stars to bring home the coveted State Singles title. “To be included amongst the names who have won it before, they’re all great names,” beamed Bester. As for Anderson, he didn’t have to wait long for revenge. The very next morning his team of Aaron Hewson, Robbie Wild and Sean Baker dumped Bester’s side from Fours sectionals, before going on to win the title. Singles sensation: Ryan Bester

14 | queensland b

Continued from page 11 ► Fern Jnr and Dobinson clinched the title at Broadbeach Bowls Club on May 22. Fern moved to Wynnum Manly Leagues last year because he wanted to play Premier League but reunited with Dobinson for State Over 60s Pairs. The duo defeated Don Fowler and Wayne Chambers, 20-18 in an attritional final. Their 20-18 victory was only half the story, with their opponents battling to the bitter end. “We were very happy to be in the final, but we didn’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, so we stayed focused on what we were trying to do,” said Fern. With the scores locked at 8-all, fortune favoured Fern and Dobinson, who, after being pegged back by five in the 12th end, struck out for seven unanswered ends. “It’s the finals, it’s a privilege to be there, it’s often one up one down, then someone will get a break, that’s where we were fortunate,” said Fern. With 20-13 on the scoreboard and two ends to play, Fowler and Chambers still weren’t ready to concede, and nerves remained on edge. Fowler’s last gasp was impressive, a four on the last end, but it was not enough to turn the tables. Fern and Dobinson’s victory brought to an end Nigel Smith and Nev Jenkins three-year stranglehold on the title. The South Tweed duo, who have dominated the Over-60s Pairs since 2011, failed to make it through sectionals, winning just one of their three games.

Don Fowler put up a good fight v37/2

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queensland bowler | 15

State Champs - Men

Finally...

11th time’s a charm, as Strawbridge secures first state title

Triples tonic for Kurt Brown, Richard Strawbridge and Paul Jopson.

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, Bribie Island’s Richard Strawbridge has finally shaken the monkey off his back. The painstaking master craftsman teamed up with his (dual membership) buddies from Pine Rivers, Queensland rep Kurt Brown and precision lead Paul Jopson, to win his first State title. “I’ve played in 10 state titles over the past few years, and gone home wanting, I was very keen to win this one,” Strawbridge said. The 2014 Men’s Triples final was an uncharacteristically relaxed affair, with Brown laid back and enjoying the ride as Jopson and Strawbridge rose to the occasion. The new state champions gobbled up a depleted Dean McWhinney side, leading from the start and racking up 12 shots before the McWhinney boys posted their first point, in the 8th end. The Brown boys dropped four shots twice, in the 13th and 20th ends, not usually a good idea in a final, but this time, it hardly mattered. Graeme Shillington, Ian Law and Deano were defeated 28-15 after 22 ends, an anti-climax after an earlier thrilling and outstanding semi against three giants of the sport, Brett Wilkie, Mark Casey and Nathan Rice. The McWhinney trio held the crowd in thrall as they roared to an unexpected 9-1 lead in just five ends, pounding the Aussie 16 | queensland bowler

internationals, until Rice raised the white flag for mercy, four ends short, bowing out at 13-31. “They just played really well, Ian Law especially had a great game, Brett played well for us, but they were just too good today,” Rice said. In the other semi, the Kurt Brown-Damien McGee scoreline was similar, 35-15, but much more fun to play, for both sides. The easy-going Cloncurry skip McGee won the Triples title in 2012, in the same relaxed style he showed this year, even bringing out the playful side of the former Mundubbera boy, the “burning hot” Kurt Brown, as he was dubbed by McGee.

“I agree, it’s been great to see a semi final at a State Championships played in such camaraderie and good fun,” fellow West Cairns spectator Dee-Anne Robertson said. The McGee boys also won a tough, but mutually satisfying quarter final, 21-15, against state championship-first timers Gordon Williams from Hervey Bay and skip Brian Kunde from Kandanga, (brought to their maiden state tournament by 2013 Champion of Club Champion singles runner up John Walker from Hervey Bay).

Men’s Triples defending champions Wayne Masters (skip), lead Neil Peach and second Brett Merkel were disappointed to be beaten by one shot in their first round “Would have been nice to win, but very match 19-18 by eventual winners, Kurt happy to make the semi against Kurt Brown’s boys. “Burning Hot” Tough day at the office for Graeme Shillington, Ian Law and Brown. Nearly Dean McWhinney threw me arm out bowling against them!” McGee growled. Spectator Margaret Wardrop from West Cairns said the game had been “enjoyable and inspiring to watch” and the score didn’t reflect how well both sides played. v37/6

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DISTRICT SIDES - MEN

COAST SIDES DO Queensland’s top bowling districts for 2014 are Gold Coast Tweed (men) and Sunshine Coast (women). The annual four-day District Sides Championships, Bowls Queensland’s marquee event, was hosted this year by Gold Coast Tweed, from May 7-10. More than 550 bowlers from 22 districts battled it out for the honour of being best-in-state (and the all important bragging rights!) “It feels like a different atmosphere this year, it’s more serious,” manager of Brisbane North Helen Lightfoot said on Day 1 at Musgrave Hill. Host clubs were Broadbeach, Musgrave Hill, Southport, Mermaid Beach and Robina. The 2015 District Sides will be hosted by Sunshine Coast district, May 3-6.

Plan comes together for Gold Coast A-Team Touted as the team to beat in the men’s comp, Gold CoastTweed’s A-Team didn’t disappoint and were worthy champions at the 2014 District Sides.

“We know how lucky we are here on the Gold Coast, bringing on a lot of new juniors every year, and we appreciate all of you country teams coming.

Manager Bob Mullens delivered a warm and well-received acceptance speech as he and his boys proudly hoisted the Harry Wright Shield.

“We’ll be back next year and we’d love to see you all again.”

“The winners are all of us, we go away with the Shield, but we are all winners, we enjoyed your company very much,” Mullens said.

The main scrapping was for the runner up spot, with Sunshine Coast taking the medals and cheques, but the other Division 1 contenders Cunningham and Bundaberg both feeling justifiably hard done by. ►

hinGirdler, Ian Law (holding Shield), Dean McW Sean Ingham, Rohan Wilson, Simon Bailey, Paul ns, Gary Mulle Bob Hoey, an Brend Back row from left, Nev Jenkins, Ryan Bester, , White Sam left, Brendan Wilson, Clinton Bailey. Front row from ney, Nigel Smith, Peter Richards, Ethan Lord, Pearson, Graeme Shillington. 18 | queensland bowler

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OMINATE ► Also annoyed to miss out, Brisbane North, in the top two for the past three years, defending champion from 2013, runner up 2012, winner 2011, relegated to the Division 2 final this year (which they won comfortably, ahead of Gateway, Fraser Coast and Downs). The eventual Division 1 runners up, Sunshine Coast, struggled early on, losing to Cunningham 56-60 in the opening round. It was Cunningham who cut the most obvious swathe through the tournament, with skip Des Cann picking up two sevens against Burnett in the second round for a 93-60 win, the side then rampaging through Fraser Coast 76-49, Port Curtis 60-52, Central Queensland 82-74, Leichhardt 77-59, Condamine 73-51, North Queensland 68-50, and surviving their biggest threat from Gateway, 59-56. “We had a good draw, we missed both Gold Coast Tweed sides!” said Cunningham selector and reserve John Lang. On Division One finals day, Cunningham got lucky when it held Bundaberg to a 47-47 draw (Rnd 10), but their luck ran out in the next round, against Sunshine Coast, when finally it was their turn to have their heart ripped out on the last roll. “We should have won against Cunningham,” Bundaberg’s Jim See said. “But what can you do, (Cunningham skip) Jamie Smith moves the kitty back three inches (7.5mm) and Cunningham goes from one down, to four up, after the bell, and we’re stuck with a draw.” The payback for Cunningham came when Sunshine Coast’s Col Pritchard trailed the kitty for five, to pip Cunningham 62-61 for a crucial win, catapulting the Sunshine Coast boys into runner-up spot behind a deserving Gold Coast Tweed A men’s team. Gold Coast Tweed B men were also winners, taking the Division 4 final from Central Queensland. Brisbane men were happy their women joined them to sweep Division 3 titles and in Division 5 North Queensland Thunder took the top honours. It was a District Sides defined by more juniors than ever before, including Cohen Litfin, 17, and Mitchell Mears, 15, stepping up to play their first District Sides for Cunningham.

men’s District Sides 2014 - Order of Finish Division 1

Division 3

Division 5

Gold Coast Tweed A

Brisbane

North Queensland

Sunshine Coast

Mackay

North West

Cunningham

Port Curtis

Southern Downs

Bundaberg

TFN Qld

Leichhardt

Division 2

Division 4

Brisbane North

Gold Coast Tweed B

Gateway

Central Queensland

Fraser Coast

Caboolture

Downs

Condamine

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2014

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT SIDES

DIVISION WINNERS Division 1 Men

Gold Coast-Tweed A

Women

Sunshine Coast

Division 2 Men

Brisbane North

Women Gateway

Division 3 Men

Brisbane

Women Brisbane

Division 4 Men

Gold Coast-Tweed B

Women

Brisbane North

Division 5 Men Women

North Queensland Southern Downs

Burnett Maranoa/Warrego

queensland bowler | 19

DISTRICT SIDES - WOMEN

LAST DITCH WIN

SUNNY COAST GIRLS GO BACK-TO-BACK Sunshine Coast women are District Sides winners for the second consecutive year, turning the tables on competition leaders Bundaberg in the second half of the final round. “Sunshine Coast could go through here,” match director Ron Somerville said. “If Mackay beats Bundaberg by three, and Sunshine Coast can keep a margin of at least three over Cunningham, Sunshine Coast will go through…”

Both winner and runner up had birthday girls in their sides, Sunshine Coast’s Louise Witton and Bundaberg’s Glynss Lock. The twins from Gin Gin, Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick faced off against each other this year, Bolivia taking home a winner’s medal with Sunshine Coast, and Cassandra a runners up medal, Cass playing in her final District Sides for Bundaberg before moving down to Bee’s new club at Caloundra.

And that’s how it happened, Bundaberg falling at the final hurdle, going down unexpectedly to Mackay 41-55, and Sunshine Coast slipping past Cunningham, 42-36, to steal the win. However the runners up proved themselves a mighty presence in their return to District Sides as an independent district, after a recent split from Port Curtis. “We came fourth last year and second this year, let’s see what we can do next year,” Bundaberg’s Cassandra Millerick said. “What a wonderful comeback, these girls deserve it,” said Sunshine Coast team manager Margaret Vincent, her girls thrilled to retain the Val Woodward Perpetual Shield. “It’s unreal, our second District Sides title,” said Emma Brown, No 2 in Marilyn Emerton’s undefeated rink (10 wins, 2 draws, in 12 matches for Sunshine Coast). But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the back-to-back champs, Emerton well aware they were “getting smashed” in the side’s torrid encounter against Mackay (Round 2, Division 1 final), before finally prevailing, 51-41.

Women’s District Sides 2014 - Order of Finish Division 1

Division 3

Division 5

Sunshine Coast

Brisbane

Southern Downs

Bundaberg

North Queensland

Condamine

Mackay

Downs

Maranoa/Warrego

Cunningham

Caboolture

Leichhardt

Division 2

Division 4

Gateway

Brisbane North

TFN Qld

Port Curtis

Gold Coast Tweed

Burnett

Wide Bay/Gympie

Central Queensland

Back row from left, Louise Witton, Mary Geary, Faye Clarke, Emma Brown, Carol Williams, Wendy Ryan front row, Bolivia Millerick, Noelene , Jane Bush, Margaret Vincent, Dutton, Brenda Balchin, Margaret O’Rourke, Leigh Fortington, Marilyn Emerton.

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Mighty Minnows Sometimes it’s difficult for the smaller districts to field a quality team of 12 (women) or 16 (men) to compete effectively against the larger districts, which draw from a bigger talent pool. Nevertheless, a number of smaller districts punched above their weight this year, as in most other years. The most outstanding performance was from Bundaberg men and women, returning to District Sides solo, without the support of Port Curtis. Clockwise from above: Maranoa/ Warrego’s Nancy Parker; Port Curtis skip Jean Jasch; Gateway’s Rob Cresswell; Gateway’s Glenn ‘Bugsy‘ Malone with CQ’s Rod Graff; CQ’s Althea Vaughan and Fraser Coast’s Max Deed.

Both sides were beaten Division One finalists, the women 2nd, the men 4th.

Women

Mackay women showed sensational teamwork to win a top-four spot in the Division 1 playoffs, their final round win 55-41 against Bundaberg scuppering the Bundy girls chances of wresting the District Sides title off defending champs Sunshine Coast. Tropical Far North women were runners-up in Division 2, behind Gateway. TFN president and coach Vene du Rietz said the team had plenty of potential, but took a little bit of time to get used to playing on grass again. “The only grass greens left in the Far North now are at Mareeba Memorial and Gordonvale,” du Rietz said. “Helen Aumuller and Dee Robertson from West Cairns are playing well for us, Sue Brady’s not with us this year because she’s at her daughter’s wedding.” Maranoa/Warrego lead Nancy Parker said she was just glad to be playing in a competition like District Sides. “It’s a first for me, and we’ve got as much chance as everybody else,” Parker said. Central Queensland’s Althea Vaughan from Yeppoon was happy with the side’s opening win against Southern Downs,

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74-43. “We’ve got plenty more in the tank, it’s a great experience to be here, we just don’t get this sort of competition up there,” Vaughan said. Southern Downs skip Judi Holmes said it was always tough for the smaller country districts to get numbers for District Sides. “We won Division 5 last year, we’re hoping to make it into Division 4 this year,” Holmes said. (Southern Downs finished winners of Division 5, for a second consecutive year.)

MEN

Barry Woodall from Monto was happy to be at District Sides this year playing for the first time with Port Curtis district, after the de-merger from Bundaberg. “Monto used to be with Burnett, now we’re with Port Curtis, and it’s great to be here,” Woodall said. Port Curtis skip Rodney Rideout, “Damien’s dad”, enjoyed the Round 2 match against Brisbane, though the city side ended up winning 64-48. Fraser Coast Max Deed was top of the style stakes on Day One of the competition in a striking boater hat, and 2013 state singles runner up John Walker from Hervey Bay was happy with the district’s opening round win against Burnett 91-40. “It’s my first time at District Sides and we’ve had a good start, it’s been fun, it’s not too tough,” said Fraser Coast’s Kevin Collins. (Fraser Coast finished in overall 7th position, behind Brisbane North and Gateway in Division 2.) Stephen Savage, 17, from North Dalby played his first District Sides for Condamine as a 15 year old in 2012, and was back again this year, the Condamine boys delivering some “bloody pearlers”, according to skip Peter Bellgrove from Chinchilla. queensland bowler | 21

From the Chair

with Ron Chambers

VALE CYNTHIA NEEVE On behalf of Queensland bowlers, I’d like to pass on our condolences and warm thoughts to the family of Bowls Queensland’s first and only female chairman, Cynthia Neeve. Cynthia sadly passed away on May 12. Cynthia was a foundation board member of Bowls Queensland, previously serving as vice president of the QLBA in 2003, after many years in various club and district roles and on the executive for Mackay City club and Mackay district. Cynthia served seven years on the BQ board from 2004, including three years as deputy chairman and two years as chairman, before passing the baton on to me in 2011. Cynthia showed great dedication to the sport of lawn bowls over many years and she will be fondly remembered. Our thoughts are with her husband Alan and their family. DISTRICT SIDES The Queensland District Sides Championships was held this year on the Gold Coast, with the men’s competition held at Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach Bowls Clubs. The women played their matches at Musgrave Hill and Southport Bowls clubs, with Robina Bowls club also utilized for the Division 5 play-offs.

Clockwise from above: Gin Gin twins Bolivia and Cassandra Millerick squared up for opposing districts in 2014; Bundaberg super skip Glynss Lock (with Sunshine Coast’s Jane Bush photo-bombing in the background); Downs District rep Jimo Hagan; North Queensland Thunder skip David Whiting.

There was some excellent bowls and close contests played out over the four exciting days of competition, which drew the best and brightest from our far-flung districts together with our city and coastal districts. Old acquaintances were renewed and new friendships struck. Congratulations to Gold Coast Tweed on a magnificent job as host district and on claiming the crown as Division One winners for 2014. In the women’s competition, Sunshine Coast is our number one district side for 2014. STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS The 2014 Queensland State Championships followed on at the Gold Coast after District Sides, in a feast of bowls for the month of May. Bowlers were heard to remark on the excellence of the greens and Bowls Queensland would like to thank all host clubs for their efforts and assistance, including green-keepers, volunteers, officials and umpires, during 10 days of competition. Congratulations to all finalists, especially to the winners, also thanks to all the bowlers who entered the championships this year, to make it such a worthwhile competition to play. We hope everyone had a good time during their stay on the Gold Coast and we look forward to seeing you again competing in 2015 on the Sunshine Coast.

22 | queensland bowler

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Rolling with the times “Absolutely superb” is how Maryborough Bowls Club chairman Ray Breust describes the new synthetic green at Queensland’s second oldest club. “We couldn’t be happier, it drains well and we can get back on to it faster after wet weather.” Maryborough Bowls Club in Kent Street now has the towns first synthetic green under shade. “We’d had a terrible time with weather, with the floods in January 2013, and the drought drying everything up,” president Ray Relton said. “Now we can offer an under-cover, allweather experience, the only club in Maryborough with a combination of carpet green and shade cloth. The members decided to “go for” the $220,000 redevelopment in September 2013. Unlike many clubs, they didn’t have any grants funding in place, but decided to go for it anyway.

carpet was held up in shipping,” Relton said. “We were told we probably saved about $100,000 on the new green because the original grass green, built in 1992, had very good drainage.” “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved.” One of the state’s oldest clubs, Maryborough was founded 112 years ago in 1903, with nearby Doon Villa the oldest club, recently celebrating 120 years. Maryborough’s oldest member is 92-year-old Teddy Crawford, who is still an active bowler. Local State MLA Anne Maddern has also been supportive of the club’s endeavours to get more people being active in the great outdoors, on a bowls green. “We’re in a very happy situation of having two top greens, one grass, and our new synthetic one, which we plan to take good care of,” chairman Breust said.

“We just wanted to get all our members bowling again, all year round, regardless of the weather,” Relton said. Construction began in December last year and the new ABC synthetic green was finished in March, 2014. “It seemed like a long time under construction, but apparently the 24 | queensland bowler

Local State MLA Anne Maddern with club chairman Ray Breust and left with women’s president, Glenda McInnes. v37/6

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Rino Parrella

Myth-busting...green facts vs fiction In this month’s column, I’d like to bust some myths about green speed. What makes a green ‘quick’ or ‘slow’? As a bowler of many years, I’ve heard all sorts of debates about what speed a green is running at on a certain day and what sort of effect it’s going to have on someone’s game. Have you heard what I’ve heard? “The green is very green today, it’ll be slow...” “The green is really brown, it’s going to be really quick...” “It’s been timed at 15 seconds but it feels more like 12...” Everyone’s got an opinion and the green-keeper seems to get the lion’s share of the blame. Which brings us to our first “myth”… Myth Number 1: The green-keeper should drop the cutting height of the mower and shave the green to the dirt, to speed up a “slow” green. (Wrong!) This pressure usually comes from a few well-meaning members who think they know best. Keep in mind that a bowling green is not the same as your back yard, and mowing it requires different techniques than the ones you might use in the back yard. Trust me, it’s not that simple, or we’d all have gun greens with a minimum of sweat and TLC.

26 | queensland bowler

My view about the proper cutting height is somewhere between the thickness of a 20c piece and a 10c piece, but never lower than the height of a 10c piece.

A green-coloured green with a harder firmer top can run quicker than a brown coloured green with a soft spongy surface.

(With a new blade, the mower can’t be set any lower anyway, as the new blade is “10c thick” to begin with.)

Myth Number 3: Modern bowls feel like they run slower than the old widedrawing classic bowls, like the Henselite Classic II.

If you’re any lower, you’ll get “blade drag”. Over time, you’ll end up cutting off all the leaf, and all you’ll be left with is short stubble and “storky” turf. If you look at the green, it will look great, white and slick, until you try to put a bowl down it... The green will actually run slower, which is not what you were aiming for at all. That’s because a bowl runs faster and smoother on leaf than on stalks. We professional green-keepers have tried all these things in the past and they don’t work. If you see this article too late, and you’ve already shaved your club’s green down to dirt, you’ll have to hope you don’t get a wet winter season. Instead of the ‘faster’ green you were hoping to achieve, you’ll end up with a patchy muddy green, like many of us were battling during the last wet summer. (See September 2013 Queensland Bowler Green Guru for tips on how to deal with this situation. You’ll find it online at www.bowlsqld.org) Myth Number 2: You can determine a green’s speed by its colour.

In satisfying myself that this was a myth, I put two sets of bowls, one old-style, one new-style, down a bowls chute. To my surprise, both timed at 16 seconds over 27 metres. The explanation I came up with was that the older bowls take a wider arc and wheel in to come home to the jack sideways, compared to the more modern, narrow-bias bowls, which take a more slow and steady arc. I think modern bowls have made things very hard for green-keepers, as the pressure is on to deliver firmer, harder, more compacted surfaces, to deliver the same sort of outcomes as bowls of the past. In years gone by, we played on couch, which had a narrow draw, even with the older style bowls. (Couch is a narrower-drawing grass compared to today’s modern tiff dwarf, because it’s coarser and not as fine or as flat to the ground as tiff, so in those days, the bowls needed to have more bias to play successfully.) Then we went to tiff dwarf, a finer grass and flatter to the ground, so it usually runs faster than couch.

There is some truth to this “myth” but you wouldn’t bet on it.

Bowlers found the older style bowls went too wide on the new style of green, so bowls became narrower to compensate.

I have played on green-coloured greens, only to find them quick, and browncoloured greens, which were slow.

But now that bowls have become so narrow, bowlers want a cricket-pitch hard surface to be able to play them well.

How can it be that the speed of a green is not always a direct correlation to its colour?

It almost feels like we’ve gone full circle, back to the days of old style bowls on a couch green, when the draw was narrow.

Usually the simplest explanation is the surface variation.

It feels like the more something changes, the more it stays the same. Read on ► v37/6

Vale Cynthia Neeve She brought a stiff broom into the BQ boardroom and helped usher the sport of lawn bowls in Queensland into a new era.

► The good thing about tiff is that it’s hardier and you can get more games in a week without getting worn patches.

If the build up is 30 mm or more above the plinth, it could be time to re-top the green and replant.

Myth Number 4: If a green were cut every day, all day, it would run faster.

Other factors contributing to a slow green can be over-fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers, and over watering.

In summer time, double cutting, and cutting daily, does help green speed, but not when the growth stops.

The over-use of sandy soil when laser-leveling can also cause movement in the surface, which can take while to settle down.

I proved this point when I asked my off-sider to mow a green three times at a slow speed, and roll it four times before a game, and the end result was no different.

Also inadequate or ineffective drainage can cause problems.

It was because we were dealing with an old spongy green with underlying problems. Even a steamroller wouldn’t have fixed this one! Recipe for quicker greens If you want quicker greens, this is the recipe: Usually it’s the newer greens that don’t have a thatch build up yet, so they are firmer. Also, a finer strain of tiff dwarf is a blessing, especially when combined with regular grooming and scarifying, and good green keeping practices. If you don’t have the above combination, there are other helpful tricks, such as using a growth retardant in the summer months. (I try not to depend on it too much, but it can add speed.) Also the use of potassium-based fertilizers, such as potassium silicate or potassium nitrate, will green up the leaf and harden the plant, so the bowls will run smother and quicker on the firmer leaf. So what causes a slow green? We have all heard this dialogue, right? “Why are our greens slower than neighbouring clubs?” Well there can be many factors, but my view is that it would usually come down to different thatch build up. That can be surface thatch, which can be remedied by scarifying and grooming, and then there is also underlying thatch, which is built up over many years. v37/6

Well, we have certainly busted some myths about green speed this month, but keep in mind, greens are different all over, and that’s part of the great challenge in lawn bowls. Slow or fast, like them or hate them, you have to play them all if you want to be a serious winner. (Imagine if we dished up the same dinner every night, life would be boring, wouldn’t it?) Tip of the month Before a game I used to see better bowlers feel the green with their hands and tap the surface with their fingers for firmness, to get a better indication of how fast the green would run. I’ve taken a leaf out of their book and I now test my own greens in this fashion.

DISCLAIMER Rino’s advice is GENERAL IN NATURE. No individual club circumstances have been taken into account. Neither Rino, Bowler magazine staff nor Bowls Queensland will accept responsibility for any damage caused by individuals choosing to act on Rino’s advice or apply Rino’s advice, either correctly or incorrectly. Grass greens are extremely valuable commodities and no actions which affect their viability should be taken based on Rino’s column and without taking individual circumstances into account.

Cynthia Neeve certainly didn’t identify as a “feminist” but she was a trailblazer, and never backed away from a fight if she thought it was the right thing to do, including beating off stiff opposition for the role as Bowls Queensland’s first woman chairman. A passionate bowler from Mackay, Cynthia played at several bowls clubs in the north, before realising administration might be her calling. “She felt there were certain things wrong with the way it was run, and she wanted to make it better,” said Alan, her husband of 58 years. Cynthia served at club, district and state level, including on the executive of the Queensland Ladies Bowls Association (QLBA) in 2003, and was in a prime position to stand up for a role in the newly formed Bowls Queensland in 2004. Cythia was on the board for seven years, including three years as deputy chairman, and two years as chairman (March 2009 – March 2011). Her successor Ron Chambers said Cynthia was “wonderful to work with and well respected at all levels”. “Her goal was to bring bowls into the modern era, she had desire and vision to back reforms, to build a sound future for Bowls Queensland,” Ron said. “Cythia was a driver of governance, a good businesswoman,” Bowls Queensland CEO Keith Fullerton remembers. “Having been brought up with five brothers, she knew how to hold her own in a predominantly male environment.” Cynthia was one of nine children, a country girl, who loved helping bowlers. Her son Jeff, and great-nephew Gary Higgins, both play bowls. Cynthia’s funeral was held on May 15 in Mackay. queensland bowler | 27

New Sherriff

Aero Bowls reps: Kelvin Kerkow, Aron Sherriff and Brett Wilkie

in town Aero Bowls signs Aussie vice-captain Australian vice captain Aron Sherriff has made the switch to AERO bowls. A three-time International Bowler of the Year and 2010 AO singles champ, the Victorian will join fellow Queensland master tacticians like Kelvin Kerkow and Brett Wilkie to roll up with Aero. The Ettalong Memorial bowler, 28, who had been using Greenmaster since he was 15, said he felt the time was right for a change. “I’m thrilled to be joining Walter Jacobs and the Aero Bowls team, who are such great supporters and sponsors of the sport here in Australia,” Sherriff said. “But I’m very grateful to Paul Harper and the Greenmaster team for the past 13 years, we’ve done some outstanding things together.”

Aero Bowls has become the official bowls partner of Bowls Australia, the only bowls manufacturer to sponsor the Australian Open, to be played on the Gold Coast for the next five years, from 2015 – 2019. Young Queenslanders who’ve made the switch to Aero include Braidan Leese, Des Cann jnr and Dean McWhinney, joining previous converts Steve Halmai, Geoff Hawken, Paul O’Brien, Kurt Brown, Jamie Smith, Gail Waitai, Jenny Harrigan, Wendy Wilson and Julie Keegan. “We’re very pleased to welcome Aron to Aero, he’s a credit to the sport and a great example of what a dedicated bowler can achieve,” AERO CEO Walter Jacobs said.

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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 | 29

Changing of the guard...after seven years at the helm, John Finlayson will hand over the reins to new store manager Amanda Erwin

Tully prepares for

BOWLING TORNADO Hot on the heels of Qld’s District Sides Championships, women in the northern half of the state are gearing up for a Sides competition that will be just as fiercely fought. The 2014 Bendigo Bank Shield will be played in Tully from July 15-18, a milestone year, since the competition started 40 years ago. When the challenge began in 1974, it was a five-waydistrict comp, and it still is, with each of the former districts from Mackay north

Fred Fern with a Twist The oldest bowls shop in Brisbane will become the premiere location for great bowls stock and service, as Twisties of Everton Park closes its doors and moves to Fred Fern Woolloongabba.

keep the sport alive for the rest of us,” Erwin said.

“”

“It’s very exciting to be moving into the bigger shop, it’s easier access, and easier to service all of Brisbane, from this central location,” new Fred Fern manager Amanda Erwin said.

Erwin, a bowler at Ferny Grove, is in the driving seat of the Twisties-Fred Fern merger process, as current owners John and Sue Finlayson move on to their next challenge. “It’s a very sad time for us in one way, it’s been a great seven

It’s also been a busy time for Amanda as she organises stock transfers from Everton Park to Woolloongabba. “We’ll organise some end of financial year specials in due course,” Amanda said, “but right now our priority is to make sure the merger goes smoothly for all.”

It’s always exciting when new bowlers come into the sport and we help them get started, we especially need to look after the young ones, that’s how we’ll keep the sport alive for the rest of us.

Club Kawana’s Noelene Dutton, current Australian Open Pairs women’s champion, will also be behind the counter at the newlook Fred Fern. Both are looking forward to being of assistance.

“It’s always exciting when new bowlers come into the sport and we help them get started, we especially need to look after the young ones, that’s how we’ll 30 | queensland bowler

years here, but it’s a six-days-aweek business, and it’s time for a change,” John said. “Time to play more bowls!”

Amanda knows how important it is to get it right. About 15 years ago, there were around a dozen speciality bowls shops in Brisbane. Now there are just two.

Fred Fern is the oldest and biggest, with 54 years in the game, and the former Twisties, set up by local character Bob Twist, had just celebrated 20 years.

John is a bowler at Belmont Services Carindale.

“Bowlers supporting bowls shops will help keep us alive,” Amanda said.

“It’s been hard this last week because everyone’s been coming in to say goodbye,” he said.

“There’s a table here to test the bowls and if we haven’t got it and you want it, we want you to tell us about it!”

Cairns selector and player Dee-Anne Robertson choosing a Side of 12, with three emergencies, for the four-day contest of northern supremacy. The current FNQ district splits into three for the Shield comp, with Atherton Tablelands, Cairns and FNQ (Innisfail).The far northern girls take on NQ district (Townsville) and Mackay district. “The battle this year will be for the FNQ girls to take a match!” organiser Anne Andrews from Tully said. “We got one a couple of years ago, but the Townsville and Cairns girls are very strong.” Special guest this year will be Eileen Kidner, 82, who played in the inaugural event for Atherton Tablelands in 1974. Eileen remains a dual member of Atherton and Cairns bowls clubs. v37/6

Critical situations Clubs can end up in financial trouble for many reasons, but FTI can help. by FTI Senior Director, Brendan Nixon

A bowls club means a lot of things to its members, but ultimately, regardless of its size and structure (or prowess in Pennant) it is a business.

Consulting’s registered liquidators are available to offer guidance on the external administrations options available under Australian corporations law.

Another example may be to quantify the monetary value of a potential damages claim a club may have against, say, a landlord for unfair conduct.

Like all businesses, a club can find itself in financial distress for a multitude of different reasons.

We also offer assistance for accessing capital and re-financing, should a club’s existing operations be hamstrung by a lack of cash-flow, or onerous borrowing terms.

FTI Consulting works regularly with various stakeholders, including lawyers, and has the experience and credibility to continue assisting a club, should litigation proceedings commence.

Example 2: Forensic and Litigation Consulting

Example 3: Strategic Communications

It is an unfortunate reality of life that a club could find itself having to deal with disputes and litigation, whether it initiated it, or has to act as a defendant.

Our strategic communications service line offers an unrivalled depth of expertise, relationships with key influencers, and market reach.

FTI Consulting offers experienced assistance in such instances, irrespective of the business size or scale of the issues faced. FTI Consulting is a professional advisory firm with a variety of specialised departments to assist businesses in distressed, critical situations. This article looks at the expert advice available from FTI Consulting which could assist clubs. Offering solutions advice FTI Consulting is a global firm established in 1982 in the US. Since then, the firm has grown internationally. Australian offices are located in most capital cities, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast. FTI Consulting’s core capability is offering strategic advice to help businesses identify suitable solutions when they are facing an expected, or actual, problem. Our five service divisions include: corporate finance/restructuring, economic consulting, forensic and litigation consulting, strategic communications, and technology. Examples of how these services could provide assistance to clubs is discussed below. Example 1: Corporate Finance/ Restructuring Our restructuring team is available to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a club’s operations with a balanced approach, focused on increasing revenues and cutting costs (while being sensitive to the not-for-profit constitution of clubs). We offer interim management services, which a club may suddenly require if there is an unforeseen exodus of its management personnel, in order to be able to continue trading as per usual. In the event that a club is critically insolvent and has no alternative, FTI v37/6

“”

A bowls club means a lot of things to its members, but ultimately it is a business.

Employee or supplier fraud are two examples of situations that some clubs may experience. FTI Consulting provides a multidisciplinary, independent dispute advisory, investigative, and forensic accounting practice.

We could assist a club by discreetly undertaking a special purpose investigation, if there was suspicion of accounts department fraud.

A club may find our strategic communications consultancy service useful in a number of ways. For instance, a merger with another club may need to be announced in a positive manner to the public, or a club may wish to announce an expansion (or contraction) of its operations, or it may need advice on embracing electronic social media. Example 4: Technology Our technology division specialises in collaborating with its clients to develop and implement strategic solutions for the purpose of discovery prior to, or during, litigation. Club’s facing the prospect of litigation may wish to consult with us (or ask their lawyers to do so) to discuss solutions available for lowering the cost of preparing for litigation. Further information FTI Consulting’s services offer expert and practical assistance to business, and not necessarily only in difficult times. Further information on the abovementioned services is available on our website at www.fticonsulting.com We would be pleased to discuss how we could offer assistance to your club to deal with its critical issues. Please contact Brendan Nixon on 07 3225 4924 [brendan.nixon@fticonsulting. com], or Joanne Dunn on 07 3225 4913 [joanne.dunn@fticonsulting.com] for further information. queensland bowler | 31

Bowl Displacement with

joan brotherton

LAW 28 - BOWLS DISPLACEMENT - IS COMPLEX AND OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT IT’S ESSENTIAL ALL BOWLERS GET TO GRIPS WITH THIS IMPORTANT LAW. This month I would like to look at Law 28 – Bowl Displacement as it is an important and complex law. Law 28 can be found on pages 51-61 of the Laws of the Sport of Lawn Bowls. There is also a special Replacement Chart in Appendix C (pages 98 – 101 ) that can be used as a reference guide to Laws 28.1, 28.2 and 28.3. I will not include the laws in full, as some of them are lengthy and complex. They need to be read carefully and I leave that to you to do when you are ready. The important points regarding these laws are to remember that actions by players and decisions by umpires must be seen to be fair. 32 | queensland bowler

The non-offending player/team must not be disadvantaged. The opposing skip rectifies the mistake that has been made by the opposing player, so please read the options carefully and note the differences. When I am called to make a decision regarding bowl displacement, I always take my law book with me and ask the players to explain in full the order of what happened so that the correct procedure and law decision can take place.

28.1.1.1, 28.1.1.2, 28.1.1.3 and 28.1.1.4 explain the procedures to be carried out and note the differing actions that are to be taken depending on which player displaced the bowl in course. Remember that the original course of a bowl is from its delivery until it comes to rest, no matter how many times it comes into contact with the jack or other bowls before it comes to rest or becomes dead (Law 1.3.15).

Law 28.1 – Bowl displacement by another player.

28.1.2 – Displacement of a bowl in its original course that has disturbed the head before it is displaced: 28.1.2.1, 28.1.2.2 and 28.1.2.3.

28.1.1 - Displacement of a bowl in its original course that has not disturbed the head before it is displaced.

28.1.3 – Displacement of a bowl in motion: 28.1.3.1, and 28.1.3.2 – explains the procedures. Read on ► v37/6

► A bowl in motion is a bowl which is moving during play after it has been at rest as part of the head (Law 1.3.16).

Law 28.3.2 – Displacement of a bowl in its original course that has disturbed the head before it is displaced.: 28.3.2.1, 28.3.2.2 and 28.3.2.3.

28.1.4 – Displacement of a bowl at rest.: 28.1.4.1 and 28.1.4.2.

Law 28.3.3 – Displacement of a bowl in motion: 28.3.3.1 and 28.3.3.2.

Law 28.2 – Bowl displacement by a wheelchair.

Law 28.3.4 – Displacement of a bowl a rest: 28.3.4.1 and 28.3.4.2.

If a bowl is displaced by a wheelchair, the wheelchair should be treated as if it was the wheelchair player for all purposes under Law 28.1.

Law 28.4 – Bowl displacement when being marked as a toucher or during measuring.

Law 28.3 – Bowl displacement by a neutral person or neutral object. 28.3.1 – Displacement by a bowl in its original course that has not disturbed the head before it is displaced. 28.3.1.1, 28.3.1.2, 28.3.1.3, 28.3.1.4 – explains the procedures. A neutral person is someone who is not a player on the rink of play.

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This includes the marker and the umpire. (Law 1.3.23.1).

If a toucher in the ditch is displaced by a dead bowl from the rink of play, an opponent or the marker should put it back to its former position.

An umpire must also exercise extreme care when measuring as you have been called because the players could not come to a decision, which means the measure will be very close.

As you can see, Law 28 is complex and you need to read it carefully .

Law 28.5 – Bowl displacement by a rebounding non-toucher.

28.5.1, 28.5.2 and 28.5.3.

However once you understand the various outcomes within Law 28 and how to address each situation that has occurred on the green during play, it will all fall into place and you can continue to enjoy your game.

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Special care must be taken by the marker or player to avoid moving a bowl in the head when either marking a toucher or measuring.

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Note that any player at the head may lift one bowl and I suggest the player closest to the likely disturbance, but keeping in mind that in doing so it will not affect the result of the end. The marker must stop the bowl.

Law 28.7 – Bowl displacement by a dead bowl.

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28.6.1, 28.6.2 and 28.6.3 explain the procedures.

28.4.1, 28.4.2 and 28.4.3 explain the procedures.

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A neutral object is a jack, bowl or other object not belonging to any player on the rink of play (Law 1.3.23.2.1).

Law 28.6 – Bowl displacement by a bowl from a neighbouring rink.

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queensland bowler | 33

Club Law with curt schatz

Estate Litigation

It might be costly to disinherit the kids! As I have previously advised, everyone needs a Will. In March 2014, Justice Martin of the Supreme Court of Queensland ordered that a son, who had been “disinherited” by his father, was entitled to receive the sum of $3M from his deceased father’s estate. To our knowledge, this is the largest amount awarded in Queensland to date for this type of matter. At the time of his death, the father’s estate had a net worth of around $28M. The father had seven children living at the time of his death and four of those children made an application for further provision from their father’s estate (commonly referred to as “contesting the Will”). Three of the four claims settled before trial, with each of those children receiving between $2.7M and $3.2M. The Court has the power to ensure, upon application, that provision is made from a deceased person’s estate for people to whom the deceased had an obligation to make “adequate” and “proper” provision. In Queensland, the eligible applicants are spouses, children, step-children and other dependants of a deceased person. Justice Martin found that the deceased’s father had not made proper provision for his son because: • The estate was very large; • The son worked “long and hard” for his father and contributed to the growth of his father’s property interests; • At the date of the father’s death, the son had substantial assets but also had substantial liabilities;

• The father’s Will listed the reasons that he did not provide for the son but the Court found that two of those reasons were misconceived or based on a misunderstanding; • The son, who had suffered an injury that impaired him by 30 per cent prior to the father’s death, could no longer work as a pilot (what he was trained in) and could not perform labouring work on the properties he owned;

“”

• Even though the father had provided for the son during the son’s lifetime, that provision still required the son to enter into debt and as such, the provision was not a gift but rather a “discounted sale”.

It can be dangerous to list the reasons that a person has been excluded from a Will.

person to receive may be very different to an amount that the Court decides is appropriate for another person in similar circumstances. Justice Martin was also very conscious of the slightly different approach the Court takes in large estates because competition between beneficiaries is reduced or eliminated (i.e. there will be enough funds in the estate to satisfy all of the claims). While the son had assets in his own name worth $9.8M, his debt was $5.9M. Justice Martin decided that an award of $3M was appropriate because while it would not “eradicate his debt” it would bring it to a “manageable level”. This case also illustrated why it can be dangerous to list the reasons that a person has been excluded from a Will, because if those reasons are flawed then it exposes the estate to greater risk of a claim. If you have any questions regarding preparation of a Will please telephone Michael Klatt on 07 3224 0370.

In deciding how much the son should receive from the estate, Justice Martin stated that “there is no formula which can be used to determine an appropriate amount”.

This is a proposition that is well known to estate litigation lawyers; an amount that the Court decides is appropriate for one

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

34 | queensland bowler

v37/6

Welcome to the Queensland Bowler June edition of Henseliteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 June 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 June 30. Winner will be announced in the August issue. Multiple entries allowed. Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.

Gerry Turner from Woodgate Beach

v37/6

queensland bowler | 35

Coaching with Ian Schuback

oam

VISUALISATION If you can’t see it, you can’t play it! Often, the mind and the body do not get along. It’s easy to think clearly when winning, but when you’re trailing or under pressure, your mind can play some pretty nasty tricks. For instance, if you allow any negative thoughts to creep inside your head during a game, your performance can quickly deteriorate and sabotage any chance you had of winning. I challenge you to monitor your ‘self-talk’ during your next match.

every delivery, and avoid thinking about any potential negative outcome.

Hundreds of absolutely perfect shots, day after day after day.

Golf, like bowls, is a target sport. Study any professional golfer and you’ll quickly notice every player standing behind the ball mentally rehearses their shot before taking up their stance. Remember, if you can’t see it, you can’t play it, so start thinking about the excellent shot you’re about to play by incorporating visualisation into your pre-shot routine, and you’ll be amazed just how much improvement you can add to your game.

I’m sure you’ll be quite surprised just how many worrying or negative comments you utter to yourself during a game.

The second way visualisation can help is to incorporate it into your training.

There are about a dozen different mental skills that can improve your mental toughness, but none more important than visualisation.

I allocated two x 30 minute training sessions, six days a week, on mental rehearsal, for a period of four months prior to the 1992 World Indoor Singles Championships.

The other name for visualisation is mental rehearsal, and this term may provide a clearer picture of the process. However, it is important to recognise and understand the benefits that visualisation can bring to your game. There are two ways visualisation can improve your performance. Firstly, introduce mental rehearsal as part of your pre-shot routine. It will not only help to eliminate any negative thoughts, but also add an exciting dimension to your game, because you will always pre-empt the perfect shot.

Let me share a stunning example.

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

It was far better than spending time on the actual green. Never before had I enjoyed my training sessions so much! With my mask of ‘invincibility’ on and eyes closed, I was giving the performance of my life, not just once a day, but twice daily, week in, week out.

I even saw myself winning the final and leaping into the air with unbelievable jubilation.

Everything from delicate draw shots, precise conversion and trail shots with varying degrees of weight, accurate running shots to take a bowl out of the head or run the jack into the ditch, as well as plenty of powerful and accurate runners and drives.

Believe me, it really does work, providing you make it a habit of using it for each and

It was so exciting, knowing that you never ever missed any of these difficult shots.

I was dreaming the ultimate dream using all of my senses.

I repeatedly visualised all the brilliant shots I would have to make to become world champion.

I suggest you always visualise the shot you would like to play before stepping onto the mat, and then simply take up your stance and replay what you’ve just seen in your mind’s eye.

Thousands of perfect shots in just a few months.

It was better than reality, because the euphoria was a constant companion during each of my twice- daily training sessions, whereas previously it had been just a monochrome dream devoid of colourful impressions, fantastic feelings and unbelievable emotions. Each day I felt like running to the couch to focus my mind, body and emotions on playing out this wonderful fantasy. I felt invincible, because I was truly feeling it and not just seeing it in my mind. After just a few minutes training, my heart rate would be escalating and my mind would need calming. “Slow down and stay down” I would say to myself, as each and every shot would be delivered with pinpoint accuracy. Is visualisation worth the effort? You bet it is!

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

each month! Get yours home delivered for just $28.60* per year 36 | queensland bowler

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