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May 2012
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Big Big MONTH OF BOWLS District Sides & State Champs set to explode
Boys are Back THE QUEENSLAND
Queensland’s Fantini named in Australian A Squad
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Volume 35/ Issue No. 8
CONTENTS 06 Australian Sides
18 Australian Sides Pix
Queensland’s boys clinched their fifth Australian Sides title since 2006 at Broadbeach Bowls Club last month.
Action from the 2012 Australian Sides Championships in pictures.
08 Easter Singles
20 State Champs Preview
Ian Taylor clinched Musgrave Hill’s Easter Singles title last month with a win over Wynnum Manly’s Jamie Smith.
Meet our top title contenders for the 2012 Queensland State Championships on the Gold Coast this month
12 District Sides Preview
24 Bowls Super Challenge
Queensland’s districts go into battle this month, but who will take out the coveted Division 1 flag.
Queensland’s Super Challenge competition reached its climax last month, but who were the winners and losers?
4 | queensland bowler
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Isobel’s passing a sad blow for Bowls in Qld Last month saw the Bowls Queensland board elected for 2012. Reelected to the position of Director of Finance was Isobel Rhind.
Unfortunately Isobel later decided to resign from this position due to health issues. Isobel’s health issues got the better of her on Saturday, April 21 and our condolences are forwarded to the Rhind family. Isobel was on the Bowls Queensland board on and off since unification. She worked tirelessly for the sport and her contributions will be missed. BA STRATEGIC PLAN
This past month has seen Bowls Australia look towards the future, with the initial stages of a new strategic plan being developed for implementation in 2013. The plan will cover the five main areas of Participation, High Performance, Events, Communication and Governance. During the development of this strategic plan Bowls Australia gathered feedback from variety of stakeholders within the bowls community. This feedback will assist at all levels of bowls in Australia.
Once the Bowls Australia plan has been finalised, Bowls Queensland will revisit our own strategic plan and look at aligning with the national direction, while focusing on local delivery.
To assist with the continued development of our sport it is imperative that all clubs complete the recently posted bowls census.
Completing the census will ensure that informed decisions are made in regards to the direction of the sport and this is your club’s opportunity to ensure that all the information required to make these decisions is available. AFFILIATION FEES
There is forever comment on how much Queensland members pay in affiliation fees to Bowls Queensland. Bowls Victoria recently collated the below table illustrating the fees for each state. CURRENT AFFILIATION FEES BY STATE NSW - Men
NSW - Women
SA
WA
$43
$42
$43/40
$39
Tasmania Victoria $37
QLD
NT
ACT
$32
$30
Not available
$35
It is clearly evident that the fees across the country are inconsistent and while operating costs vary from state to state, does this variation really warrant such inconsistency?
If one was to compare the affiliation fees for bowls with other sports it becomes clear that bowls is a very affordable sport. Other sports are able to impose substantial higher fees upon their members and retaining them. This poses the question, are we undervaluing our sport and what it offers?
Keith Fullerton, CEO Bowls Queensland
your say Dear Editor,
After reading Maurice Hinton’s article in the April issue of Queensland Bowler (Grass vs Synthetic…busting the myths, page 32), it is easy to see why he is President of the Greenkeepers Association.
While agreeing with Maurice that the natural turf greens are the best to play on, there is a lot of cost to be considered. First there are the costs of a professional greenkeeper to get the best playing surface out of your greens, then the cost of water which is going up by the minute, then the cost of insecticides and fertilizer, the cost of upkeep and replacement of mowers, rollers, hoses, pumps and high-pressure watering systems.
The cost each year to renovate each green, which, as Maurice would know, usually takes a month and results in the loss of playing time and the loss of trade to the club. Then the time comes for a major renovation, which takes up to two or three months. So grass greens are a luxury that a lot of clubs can’t afford.
Synthetic greens, as Maurice stated, can be looked after by voluntary unskilled labour…a big saving on a greenkeeper’s wages. The saving on water alone amounts to a huge saving, there are no fertilizers, no mower repairs or replacement, no rollers required, no costly renovation time loss, no wet weather down time with covered greens, no sun damage to the bowlers. As Maurice probably realises he is in a dying profession, time and the elements are not in his favour. The world has changed and maybe for the better, who knows! These are my thoughts.
J C BAIN Tewantin / Noosa Bowls Club
Editor: Wayne Griffin Editorial Assistant: Beth Newman Published by: Bowls Queensland ABN 17 231 978 960
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Editorial: Queensland Bowler PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051 Phone: (07) 3355 9988 Fax: (07) 3855 0010 Email: news@bowls-queensland.org Advertising: Wayne Griffin Phone: (07) 3355 9988
Fax: (07) 3855 0010 Email: advert@bowls-queensland.org Subscriptions: To subscribe, fill out the form on page 34 and post it, together with a cheque for $25 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler Subscriptions PO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.
queensland bowler | 5
THE BOYS ARE BACK
Queensland’s men lifted the 2012 Australian Sides crown last month, proving beyond a doubt the Sunshine State is home to Australia’s top bowlers.
In what was one of the toughest championships in memory, the Maroons took just six rounds to claim their 12th Alley Shield (their fifth since 2006). The boys battled through three gruelling days of competition at Broadbeach Bowls Club, and while there were plenty of close calls, they emerged unbeaten and unbeatable with one round to play. Unfortunately they couldn’t quite pull off the clean sweep, with New South Wales winning their round seven dead rubber.
But with the title safely tucked away, the intensity just wasn’t there for Queensland’s boys... 6 | queensland bowler
while the previous night’s celebrations may also have played a small part in their only defeat of the tournament. “I’m extremely proud of the boys,” state coach Bill Cornehls said.
“They’ve had a lot of tough games and they’ve been run close a couple of times, but they’ve shown that they’re true champions.”
Last year’s disappointment, when the Maroons lost their three-year grip on the Alley Shield, served as inspiration for this year’s win, Cornehls said. “They took a lot of criticism after last year, but they answered all those critics this week.
“They came through three days undefeated and if we’d really needed to win that game with NSW I know we would have,” he said.
There were plenty of heartstopping moments throughout the championships, with the home side surviving scares against SA (58-49), Victoria (58-51) and ACT (62-57).
“There were a lot of close games, but they really dug deep when it mattered,” team manager Lew Breen said.
Even Northern Territory, the competition minnows, ran Queensland close, going down by just seven shots 73-66 in round two.
While there were plenty of rousing performances from the Queensland side, Brett Wilkie’s crew of Dean McWhinney, Alex Murtagh and Sean Baker were the standout rink in a team of champions.
Despite their unbeaten run, Queensland were far from home and dry going into their round six clash with ACT. NSW were just two points behind, so a loss to ACT would have set up a climactic encounter between the arch rivals. But the Maroons hung tough in the face of ACT’s all out assault to clinch the pivotal clash, while Tasmania put the result beyond any doubt with an upset win over the Blues.
“It was a great performance from the boys.”
Wilkie’s boys went through six rounds undefeated to take out the top rink trophy. Mark Casey’s team of Jamie Anderson, Brendon Egan and Col Kelly ran in 5th with four wins, two draws and a loss, while Nathan Rice skipped Mark Thatcher, Robert Wild and Anthony Fantini to 11th place with three wins, three losses and a draw. v35/8
Sammie Wilson was pretty happy with her win over Rebecca Quail.
Queensland girls go down fighting Queensland’s girls may have lost their grip on the Marj Morris trophy, but they didn’t go down without a fight at last month’s Australian Sides Championships. In fact the girls led the field for much of the competition, topping the ladder at the end of day two, despite a loss to Victoria. The Maroons had cruised to three straight wins over Tasmania (67-49), Northern Territory (102-30) and South Australia (67-45), before Victoria brought their golden run to an end in round four, 70-51.
Queensland’s men may have won the Australian Sides, but it was the women who shone at this year’s Super Six Series.
Before the Sides even got underway, the women had bagged a bunch of medals, with two silver and a bronze added to Queensland’s war chest. Newcomer Sammie Wilson got the ball rolling with a silver in the singles. Wilson knocked off titleholder Tasmania’s Rebecca Quail to reach the final with Lisa Phillips.
Unfortunately she couldn’t quite go the distance with Victoria’s star skip, with Phillips picking up 10 of the final 14 ends to snatch the gold, 21-12.
Christina Pavlov and Lynsey Armitage made it two from two for the girls, taking out their bronze medal clash with ACT’s Lois Waters and Ruth Moore. The sides were neck-and-neck for much of the match, with the ACT girls leading 6-9 after nine ends.
The Queensland duo turned the tables however, stringing together 1-3-1-1 for a 12-9 lead, before pushing ahead for a 15-13 win The girls’ third and final medal of the
series, went to Tracy Foster’s triples side of Sue Brady and Brenda Thompson, who took silver from their title clash with West Australia.
Therese Hastings’ side of Kelli Rogalski and Noelene Abe raced out to a 7-1 lead, but Foster’s crew kept plugging away and the scores were tied at 10-apiece after 13 ends. Hasting edged ahead again, but still only one separated the sides with three ends to go. Unfortunately the westerners refused to lie down, stringing together those last three ends to take gold, 17-11.
Nathan Rice’s triples outfit of Mark Thatcher and Anthony Fantini bagged one for the men. The trio got off to a slow start in their bronze medal clash with Victoria’s Dylan Fisher, Aaron Wilson and Matthew Flapper, trailing 8-zip after six ends.
However, a two on the 7th end marked a turning point in the match, with Rice’s crew storming through the remaining ends for a 18-14 win. In Queensland’s only other final, Brett Wilkie missed out on a bronze medal, going down to Victoria’s Barrie Lester in the men’s singles, 21-10.
Fanta breaks into Aussie A Squad Last month’s Australian Sides win was great for Queensland’s men, but one Queenslander in particular had a lot to smile about when the championships concluded at Broadbeach. Helensvale ace Anthony Fantini was named Queensland’s Player of the Championships thanks to a thrilling display throughout the Sides. However, that was only the beginning, with Fantini also named in Australia’s A squad for 2012...something the 35-year-old could have only dreamed about prior to the event. v35/8
“It’s amazing, I really can’t believe it,” Fantini said following his selection, “it’s just a dream come true.” Meanwhile Lynsey Armitage was named Queensland’s female Player of the Championships. Unsurprisingly Armitage was also named Aussie captain for the upcoming International Series, while Brett Wilkie, Mark Casey and Nathan Rice were also named in the Australian Squad. Check out next month’s magazine for an interview with Queensland star Anthony Fantini.
The outcome could have been much worse however, were it not for the heroics of Lynsey Armitage’s rink of Marilyn Emerton, Sammie Wilson and Christina Pavlov, whose 23-15 rink win over Victoria’s Samantha Shanahan kept Queensland from being leapfrogged at the top of the table. Unfortunately their time at the top was almost over, with a heartbreaking loss to WA, 53-48, on day three bumping the defending champs to fourth on the ladder with just two rounds to go. The girls rallied, downing ACT 65-51, while South Australia’s victory over WA pushed the home side back into third place.
With Queensland now just one win behind NSW and Victoria, with one round still to play, the champs were back in the hunt, although their shot at the title was a slim one. The girls needed to overhaul the in-form Blues outfit, while hoping SA could pull a similar stoke on Victoria. Unfortunately neither team managed a win.
Despite coming tantalisingly close, SA fell off in the final ends as Victoria raced to a 70-54 win. It was a similar story for Queensland, who pushed NSW to the wire before going down on two rinks, 62-55, handing the Blues the title.
WA’s victory over Tasmania was the final blow for Queensland, relegating last year’s champions to a fourth place finish. After leading the skips ladder for most of the tournament, a couple of key losses saw Lynsey Armitage slip to 7th on the final table.
Tracy Foster’s side of Sue Brady, Yvonne Lovelock and Kerrie Wilson were Queensland’s most successful team, finishing up in 4th with a 6-1 record. Sue McKenzie’s side of Ann-Maree Peart, Nicole Williams and Brenda Thompson came in 12th with three wins, three loses and a draw. Despite missing out on the trophy, state coach Bill Cornehls said he was proud of the girls.
“They had some really tough competition out there... it was never going to be a walk in the park,” Cornehls said. “We’ve had a couple of changes to the side and there are some things we can work on, but if you look at the games we lost, the scores were very tight and we were right in it up until the last few ends. “We didn’t win, but the girls fought hard and despite finishing fourth, in the end we weren’t very far off the mark.” queensland bowler | 7
Taylor takes out Musgrave Hill Easter title Former Aussie rep Ian Taylor became the eighth Musgrave Hill Easter Singles Champion in as many years last month, with a 25-17 victory over former champion, Jamie Smith.
The finalists were hard to separate early on but mid-way through the match, Taylor got a roll on and streaked out to a big lead, leaving Smith to play catch up bowls.
The Seagulls player mounted a comeback in the latter stages of the match but ran out of time to whittle down the lead. Taylor’s mental toughness helped him withstand Smith’s late revival. “I don’t really get nervous playing bowls…you just treat each end on its merits,” Taylor said. In an incredibly strong field, both
There will be more than titles at stake for Queensland’s blind bowlers when the 2012 national championships kick off in Brisbane next month. Eleven Queenslanders will go into the event vying for a spot in the national side bound for next year’s World Championships. Australia will send eight bowlers, four men and four women, to the UK to defend the world title they won in 2009. All interested bowlers will participate in a selection event at Aspley following the conclusion of the national championships, from May 18 to 20.
If the Queenslanders continue their successful record, there could be a number of Maroons pushing for national selection.
Queensland has one of the country’s biggest blind bowling communities, reflected by the size of their national contingent, the largest of any state.
finalists had a tough ride to even make it to the title decider.
Smith had to overcome Australian representative, Mark Casey and Canadian international, Ryan Bester on his way to a second consecutive final. Taylor, who came back into bowls in 2009 after a five-year absence, was overjoyed with his victory.
“It was a great thrill to win a tournament of this stature,” Taylor said.
“You always feel confident at the start of a tournament and I had a couple of good wins that gave me some more confidence heading into the quarter-finals,” Taylor said. “If you know you’re playing a bit better each round, you feel more confident as you go along.”
“You’ve got to treat every game like a final and concentrate on each individual opponent,” Taylor said.
“It was a high quality field and I had massive respect for all of my opponents.” The popularity of Musgrave Hill’s Easter Singles has increased to the point that secretary Brian Baldwin said they did not need to mail out flyers to clubs this year. Baldwin sent electronic invitations to previous entrants and interested clubs, which he recommends for others. “Doing it all electronically allowed us to fill the greens in a much shorter timeframe this year,” Baldwin said. “It’s a bit too early to talk about next year but [the competitors] all say it’s wellrun and they keep coming back.”
QUEENSLAND BLIND BOWLERS CHASING 2013 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BERTH and the Australian selection camp will be Australian Open champion Joy Forster and teen sensation Jake Fehlberg, who won a state title last year.
based in each state to help their respective contingents.
Once the team is selected, the successful bowlers will undergo an intense training schedule in the lead up to the 2013 UK tour.
Australia’s blind bowlers proved their abilities in international matches when they won the recent TransTasman trophy with 10.5 out of a possible 12 competition points over two tests.
To give themselves the best chance of success, the association has enlisted the help of national coach Graeme Clements.
Their efforts are even more incredible when you consider that almost all the cost falls on the individual for these overseas competitions.
Clements has established a team of coaches with one
With many of the bowlers living off a disability pension,
ABBA treasurer Carolyn Pettit said it is difficult for some participants to raise money for a trip like this. “It is extremely costly sending our team overseas, and it is pretty tragic if a worthy representative is unable to go because they simply cannot raise the necessary travel, accommodation and uniform costs,” Pettit said. Pettit is appealing for bowlers to help raise funds for Australia’s best blind players. If you are interested, contact her on (08) 9355 3394. Queensland’s World Championship hopefuls, Jake Fehlberg and Joy Forster with Aussie star Kelsey Cottrell (centre)
Queensland also have the home ground advantage, with this year’s event at Aspley Bowls Club.
Queensland Blind Bowling Association secretary Wayne McDonald believes the Queenslanders can add to their tally of championship wins.
“We have a chance of doing quite well. We’ve won it the past few years and it’s quite likely (we can do it again),” McDonald said. Among those Queenslanders attending both the nationals 8 | queensland bowler
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Sad passing a big loss for bowls Queensland Isobel Rhind sadly passed away on Saturday, April 21 at Sunnybank Hospital.
Isobel had served as Bowls Queensland’s Director of Finance until illness finally forced her to step down just a few weeks ago.
She had held the position with distinction since 2010. Isobel was also Gateway District Treasurer for three years and had served on the board of QLBA before unification of the state body.
She will be remembered for her hard work and contribution to the sport of bowls in Queensland over many years and will be sadly missed by all that knew her.
Our thoughts are with Isobel’s husband Jim and her children during this sad time. BOWLS AUSTRALIA CONSULTATIVE BODY MEETING
All state and territory administrative bodies met last month for the BA Consultative Body Meeting. This meeting was held over two days during the Australia Sides Championships on the Gold Coast. Delegates were aiming to establish a strategic plan for bowls in Australia for the next four years.
Discussions were in the form of a workshop, encouraging the input of all states and territories. The final strategic plan will be released later in the year.
After the conclusion of the workshop, necessary amendments to the Bowls Australia Constitution were made in a special general meeting SUPER SIX COMPETITION
This year’s Super Six Series was held prior to the Australian Sides competition at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.
The Super Six competitors played singles, pairs and triples with the six best bowlers from each state taking part. Queensland bowlers performed well in the event, winning a bronze medal in the men’s triples and silver medals in the women’s singles and triples as well as a bronze in the women’s pairs.
Congratulations to all our medal winners on their outstanding effort at this year’s series. STATE
10 | queensland bowler
SIDES COMPETITION
This prestigious event followed the Super Six competition, with both our ladies and men’s teams playing with pride. The men’s team took first place with only one loss, to NSW in the last game. The ladies team played very well but unfortunately could not successfully defend the title they won last year, finishing fourth. Queensland’s players of the series were Lynsey Armitage and Anthony Fantini.
VALE ISOBEL RHIND Queensland bowls mourns passing of dedicated and long serving administrator Queensland bowlers are mourning the death of hard-working state administrator, Isobel Rhind, who passed away in Sunny Bank Hospital on April 21, aged 74. A long-time member of Manly Bowls Club, Isobel had served as Bowls Queensland Director of Finance since 2010.
She had also held positions at her club, had been Gateway District Treasurer for three years and was a former Finance Director with QLBA.
A native of Aberdeen in Scotland, Isobel came to Australia in early 70s with her husband Jim and together they raised two children, Alison and Norman.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD A number of Queenslanders were selected in the Australian squad for the upcoming International Series in Adelaide. The squad was announced at the conclusion of the Sides competition. Lynsey Armitage was selected as team captain again, with Brett Wilkie, Mark Casey and Nathan Rice also selected in the squad. Anthony Fantini was selected in the Australia A team. Congratulations to these bowlers for their selection and the recognition of their bowling ability by the Australian selectors. Upcoming events I look forward to the Queensland District Sides and State Championships to be held on the Gold Coast this month. Best of luck to all those taking part, I’m sure this year’s event will be as exciting and action packed as ever. Director of Finance Position Current Bowls Queensland director Diana Wenham has been appointed Finance Director. The board vacancy left by Diana will be filled by Alan Bennett. Ron Chambers BQ Board Chair
Close friend, Marie Campbell, said Isobel was not only a great bowls administrator, but also a great person and friend. “She had a strong personality and strong opinions and so everybody in the club and district knew her, and many had their own stories about Isobel.
“I knew her as a very good friend, she did a lot for me over the years and was a very kind person in her own way. “There was a side to her that not everybody saw, a good natured, very kind side.
“She was a great friend and she will be very dearly missed by me and by many others.”
Bowls Queensland chairman, Ron Chambers, said Isobel would be remembered for her hard work and dedication to the sport she loved.
“Isobel worked tirelessly for bowls at club, district and state level,” Ron said. “Her contribution, both around the board table and around the clubhouse, won’t be forgotten by those that knew her.” Bowls Queensland CEO, Keith Fullerton, echoed Ron’s sentiments.
“Isobel was a great character…she definitely made a big impression on those that met her and she will be dearly missed.
“Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all her friends and family at this sad time, especially her husband Jim and their children.”
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District Sides 2012 Preview Four days.... Four days...that is all the time it takes for one side to stake a twelvemonth claim on district supremacy.
Of course there is more to lose than just a trophy at the 2012 District Sides, with pride and bragging rights also on the line.
The 2011 contest ended Gold Coast Tweed’s stranglehold on the championships, with the men’s and women’s teams both missing out on the spoils. Returning to their home strip for this year’s competition, the south coast bowlers will do whatever it takes to regain their number one status.
Standing in their way however, are 2011 champions, Brisbane North and Cunningham, who won’t relinquish their titles easily.
And don’t forget, there are also 16 other districts ready to take out the proven performers and put themselves in the select group of district champions. So, who has got the goods to take out this year’s title?
Read on page 14 ►
12 | queensland bowler
That’s all it takes to crown Queensland’s top bowling district of 2012. But Who will be this year’s champions? v35/8
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1 Gold Coast Tweed We had planned on naming two favourites for this year’s District Sides Championships, but really, if we’re honest, this is Gold Coast Tweed’s title to lose. While the Goldie boys under performed in last year’s Division 1 play-offs, the return of Australia’s top bowlers has bolstered the side beyond belief. The 2012 Gold Coast outfit is a veritable who’s who of Queensland and Australian champions. The 16-man team boasts two current Australian reps, Mark Casey and Nathan Rice, plus newly selected Aussie A side player, Anthony Fantini.
CONTENDERS
Together with Mark Thatcher and Dean McWhinney, these guys make up five of the 12-man Queensland team that won last month’s Australian Sides championships in Broadbeach.
1 Brisbane North
DARK HORSES
FAVOURITES
THE GUYS
1 Bundaberg
The defending champions will be looking to keep their trophy in 2012, after breaking the Gold Coast’s winning streak last year.
If they do face the Goldie boys again this year, Brisbane North will be feeling pretty confident. In last year’s finals, the Brissy North boys defeated the Gold Coast 89-37, in one of their most convincing wins of the entire tournament.
And while the Gold Coast side is a different beast in 2012, Brisbane North are not without their own star players...most notably Queensland reps Alex Murtagh and Robbie Wild, and Grand Prix ace Paul Jopson. The BN boys should feature around the spoils again this year, but back-to-back wins will be a challenge as last year’s hunter becomes the hunted of 2012.
14 | queensland bowler
Bundaberg/Port Curtis have been a pretty solid outfit in recent years.
Well maybe not in 2011, when they finished third in Division 3...but prior to that they went alright and gave the top sides a run for their money. Last year’s poor showing may or may not have been the result of a controversial selection policy which saw some top players miss out (these are just rumours mind you). Whatever the reason, stalwarts like Mick Tobin, Ian McCracken and Damien Rideout are back in 2012 and Bundy will be a much stronger side because of it.
At the very least they’ll be hoping to top Division 2, but a break into Division 1 is not unimaginable.
The side also includes former Australian reps and regular Grand Prix champions, Anthony Kiepe and Sean Baker, Queensland junior state champions, Sean Ingham and Rohan Wilson, plus Premier League stars Nigel Smith and Neville Jenkins, not to mention Canadian international, Ryan Bester. With this much firepower at their disposal the Goldie boys will expect to go through undefeated. Should they fail to win on their home turf, there will be plenty of red faces around the Coast...and rightly so. It’s also worth mentioning the Gold Coast’s B team, which, while nowhere near as strong as their A team rivals, should go reasonably well and may even make the Division 1 play-offs...although Division 2 or 3 is more likely.
2 Gateway Gateway finished third in Division 2 last year, so you could be forgiven for wondering why we think they’re in with a shot.
Well for a start they didn’t have Jamie Anderson and Brendon Egan in last year’s side and the Capalaba duo proved they’re big game players during Queensland’s Australian Sides win last month. But it’s not only the young guns that add strength to this team...seasoned campaigners like Kerry Flint and Trevor Broadbent also bring a wealth of experience to the side. Admittedly they will have their work cut out, with Brisbane North, Gold Coast B, Sunshine Coast and Bundy all drawn in their section. But if Gateway play to their potential, we may just see them in the Division 1 play-offs.
2 Tropical Far North Okay...so it’s unlikely that Tropical Far North can really win this year’s championships.
But then again, that’s what everyone said last year, and look what happened. The TFN boys blazed through the competition and into Division 1 where they finished runners-up, ahead of SEQ big guns Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast Tweed. On the flip side, the big guns will be better prepared for TFN in 2012...or at the very least will approach the game more cautiously, not expecting a walkover as they have in the past. Tropical Far North have also made a number of changes to the team that took the District Sides by storm in 2011. Whether this improves or weakens their chances remains to be seen.
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THE GALS Unlike the men’s team, Gold Coast Tweed hasn’t opted for wholesale changes to the women’s side. Once again the Coast’s top female bowler, Lynsey Armitage, doesn’t feature. This is not only disappointing, but also weakens the team considerably.
Having said that, the Goldie girls are probably still the strongest unit at this year’s championships. Sue McKenzie, Christina Pavlov and Ann-Maree Peart played starring roles in Queensland’s Australian Sides team, while Lauren Wilson and Charlie Harkness are two of the state’s top young talents. Last year marked the first time the south coast women missed out on a top two finish, so they’ll be out for redemption. Whether or not they get it remains to be seen.
There have been very few changes to the outfit that dominated in 2011. But those few changes have been biggies, with star skips Maria Rigby and Estelle Welsh both gone.
On the plus side, the draw favours Cunningham, with the only team to beat them in 2011’s competition, Brisbane North, in the opposite section. That doesn’t mean they won’t have challengers in their section, though. Last year’s third placegetters, TFNQ, will be waiting in the wings to knock Cunningham off its pedestal.
2 Tropical Far North
Last year’s runners-up took the competition by storm, coming from nowhere to finish just one win off their maiden District Sides title.
The TFN girls reached their second consecutive Division 1 play-offs last year, proving their 2010 success was no mere flash in the pan.
If they can show anywhere near the performance of last year, the Brisbane ladies will surely be within reach of the trophy in 2012.
There have been one or two changes to the side that reached the Div 1 finals in 2011, but star skips Sue Brady, Shirley Sampson and Margaret Bielek are all back in action and will be raring to go.
Brisbane only lost one sectional match in 2011, to the Downs ladies. Fittingly, the only other game they lost, in the Division 1 finals, was against eventual winners, Cunningham, 43-36.
It will not be easy to repeat their second place finish, though. They come up against the home side Gold Coast Tweed A in their section, as well as the Downs ladies, who have the wood on them from last year. Expect Brisbane to be right up there again.
In fact the girls went one better than 2010, finishing third in the competition behind Cunningham and Brisbane.
A shake up in the other top sides could possibly see TFN reach second place this year...but don’t be surprised to see them on the winners’ podium if our favourites misfire on the coast.
2 Mackay
2011 wasn’t a very good year for the Sunshine Coast...not only did they fail to reach Division 1, but the best they could manage was a second place finish in Division 2.
Okay, so Mackay didn’t really make a huge impact last year. Their fourth place finish in Division three was less than inspiring stuff. But we’re going to go out on a limb here and give them a shot in 2012.
She’ll have plenty of help though, with Queensland’s Super Six silver medallist Sammie Wilson also in the team, alongside other big names like Marilyn Emerton (formerly Peddell) and Mary Geary.
Also a switch up in the team structure will see Mackay start with three pretty strong rinks.
The Sunny Coast girls will be looking for a little magic in 2012 and are hoping new recruit, former Cunningham star skip Estelle Welsh, can bring it.
Still the Sunshine Coast will have a tough slog to reach the Div 1 finals, with Cunningham, TFNQ, Gold Coast B and Mackay all in their section.
Why? Well, for a start Ester Regan is back in the side. The former long-time Queensland rep is a handy skip to have in any team.
Can they win it? Who knows...but if they could get a few big scalps under their belt, such as Gold Coast B and the Sunshine Coast, they might just go into Division 1 with their tails up and anything is possible from there.
DARK HORSES
1 Sunshine Coast
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Cunningham’s ladies only dropped one match on their way to Division 1 supremacy last year. However, repeating that effort in 2012 will be a big ask.
CONTENDERS
1 Brisbane
2 Cunningham
FAVOURITES
1 Gold Coast Tweed
queensland bowler | 15
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2012 Australian Sides Queensland’s girls were certainly super during the pretournament competition, taking singles and triples silver, and pairs bronze from the 2012 Super Six Series.
Queensland’s men had a fantastic win, but the excitement was just too much for some spectators.
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Get in there you bleeeep...we’re pretty sure that’s what she said.
NSW skip Karen Murphy could have used an ice block during her round seven clash with Queensland. The Aussie ace was so fired up even the poor scoreboard attendant got a serve for daring to move during her teammate’s delivery.
Spectator had to be quick if they wanted to know the final score as master board had a disturbing habit of wandering off as soon as the match was over.
Judging by the smirk we’re guessing Wiz was pretty happy with all the media attention.
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Queensland state coach Bill Cornehls kept a very close eye on his players throughout the tournament.
Capalaba’s Jamie Anderson must be a legend on the dance floor...he can certainly throw some shapes on the bowling green.
There was more than top bowls on display at this year’s Sides...we also had high fashion, bowls related body art and dodgy hairdos.
Even the bowls were making a statement
Just because it wouldn’t be bowls on the Gold Coast without a high-rise
Anthony Fantini may have been Queensland’s player of the series and even named in Australia’s A squad, but we’re not entirely convinced he understands the concept of driving on a bowling green....bruumm, bruumm!
The 2012 State Championships are just around the corner and this year’s event looks set to be a cracker. Unfortunately, the tournament will be lacking a little star power, with some of Queensland’s best players unable to nominate. Brett Wilkie, Mark Casey, Nathan Rice and Lynsey Armitage have all been selected to represent Australia in the International Series in Adelaide later this month. Wilkie said he was disappointed at being unable to nominate for the state champs, which run on the Gold Coast over the same week as the six nations tournament. “It is pretty unfortunate that they happen to be on at the same time. Obviously, we are all wanted to be in the Aussie side for the six nations so we couldn’t nominate for this in case we had to pull out,” he said. The absence of Queensland’s Aussie reps may prove a fortunate turn of events for the remaining competitors however, increasing their chances of taking a title. But with the big guns out of the way, who will be crowned this year’s state champions? Read on page 22 ►
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autumn WINTER
BRK0317_QB_BABP1
12
For stockists freecall 1800 001 399 or www.breakaway.com.au
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW
BAKER LOOMS LARGE IN SINGLES Okay, so I know we said the championships would be lacking some star power, but there are still plenty of big names vying for titles at this year’s event. With defending singles champ Nathan Rice unavailable, former winner Sean Baker leads a throng of competitors gunning for glory.
Baker, who won Queensland’s singles crown back in 2008, is the only bowler to have etched his name on all four state titles. However, he is not the only former champion in the draw, with Jamie Anderson (2010) and Brian Baldwin (2007) also featuring in the 150-strong field.
Baker, Anderson and Baldwin will all be expected to top their sections, although Baldwin faces a tough match
with in-form Queensland representative Dean McWhinney. Anderson also has a dangerous section, with Salisbury’s Judd Percy and Broadbeach’s Scotty DeJongh both tough customers. However, it will be in post-sectional play where things really heat up.
Among those expected to reach the pointy end are Aussie under-18 rep, Rohan Wilson and Canadian international, Ryan Bester, not to mention a host of Queensland players fresh from their Australian Sides victory, including Anthony Fantini, Robbie Wild and Brendon Egan.
The draw is also littered with top Premier League and Super Challenge players, including Richard Strawbridge, Shannon Gittoes, Des Cann, Jamie Smith, Neville Jenkins, Paul Jopson and Kurt Brown.
Cann des & Jay do it again?
Defending champs may
Jindalee mates Jay Cross and Des Cann are a formidable prospect in the pairs, where they are hoping to add a state crown to their 2011 Champion of Champions title.
Defending champions Ben Savva, Paul O’Brien and Sean Ingham will be gunning for back-to-back wins when this year’s triples championships get underway.
The duo will be expected to go the distance, especially in light of the absence of reigning pairs champions, Capalaba’s Jamie Anderson and Brendon Egan. Anderson and Egan, who will play in the singles, triples and fours, will miss out on the pairs due to work commitments, leaving the path clear for some new champions. That is unless Sean Baker or Shannon Gittoes have their way.
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Gittoes, who cruised to glory alongside Kelvin Kerkow in 2007, is back in action, this time alongside his Musgrave Hill clubmate Reed Burgess, while Baker, who won the title alongside Alex Murtagh in 2009, will partner Broadbeach young gun Sean Ingham at this year’s championships. Former Aussie rep Anthony Kiepe will also team up with a junior champ for the 2012 championships, combining with Helensvale clubmate Rohan Wilson, while Pine Rivers mates Aaron Hewson and Robbie Wild are also ones to watch.
However, with over 70 teams in the field, some of them boasting international stars such as Commonwealth Games medallists Bill Cornehls, the competition really is wide open.
All eyes will be on the reigning champs when they take on Dean McWhinney, Scott DeJongh and Graeme Shillington in sectional play.
With only one post-sectional slot up for grabs, the defending champs will need to be on top of their game or they could find themselves making an early exit. Two-time champion Sean Baker is a top contender here too, despite being without his 2009-10 champion teammates, Robbie Wild and Alex Murtagh. However, Baker has drafted in some pretty handy replacements in the form of reigning pairs champs, Jamie Anderson and Brendon Egan
South Toowoomba’s Brett Murphy, Sam Twinning and Steve Tong are another team hoping to make an impact at this year’s tournament. v35/8
FORMER CHAMPS READY FOR BATTLE The women’s field may be smaller than the men’s, but it is certainly no less competitive. Defending singles champion Ann-Maree Peart is set to return after gaining Queensland selection in 2012. Peart will have to fend off some competition stalwarts however, with former champions Maria Rugby (1995, 2000), Gail Waitai (2005/10) and Lyn Cuthbertsen (2009) also included in the 90strong field. Other names to watch out for are Queensland heavyweights Brenda Thompson, Christina Pavlov, Sue McKenzie, Tracy Foster, Marilyn Emerton and Fiona Williams, while reigning Champion of Champions, Sue Brady, will be hoping to carry her recent singles success into the tournament. There are also some youngsters gunning for singles glory, with reigning junior champion Bolivia Millerick hoping for a successful transition into the senior ranks. Charlie Harkness, Amanda Bessell, Cassandra Millerick and Lauren Wilson are other young talents to watch out for.
Qld’s top duo to be decided
This year’s pairs title could go to a number of different teams. 2011 winner Charlie Harkness has swapped Yvonne Lovelock with her younger sister Rosanne for this year’s title tilt and they will be among the favourites to clinch the prize. Burnett twins Cassandra and Bolivia Millerick had great success as a combination at junior level this year and if they can take a step up, they will be a massive threat. Sue Brady and Tracy Foster are Queensland heavy-hitters and more than a match for any team in the draw. Brady in particular has form at this event, skipping Noi Tucker to the pairs crown back in 2006. And there are other big names scattered throughout the field, including Karen Goldsworthy and Lyn Long (section 14), Lyn Cuthbertson and Di Cunnington (section 12) and Maree Gibbs and Jane Bush (section 11). With so much talent dotted throughout the 55-strong field, it’s a struggle to pick who will reach the knockout stages, never mind the final.
take triples, but fours remains wide open However, the trio will a tough job reaching the knockout stages, with Ray Glasser and Michael Brown led teams also battling for the top spot in section two.
Other likely quarter finalists are Neville Jenkins South Tweed outfit of Max Jaffray and Nigel Smith, and possibly Robbie Wild’s side of Aaron Hewson and Trevor Broadbent. MEN’S FOURS Anything could happen in the men’s fours, with a number of teams in the mix to grab the mantle. With Aussie reps Mark Casey and Nathan Rice unavailable, their 2011 fours teammate Anthony Kiepe is lining up with a totally new outfit. Anthony Fantini, the other member of the 2011 fours winning side, is not playing at all.
The notable omissions could potentially open the door for teams like Sam White, Gary Mounsey, Graham Shillington and Dean v35/8
McWhinney to get closer to the winner’s podium. The same old names crop up here too with Sean Baker, Ray Glasser and Jamie Anderson skipping opposing teams in section four. Neville Jenkins side will be favourites in section one, while Ryan Bester’s side will be expected to take out section two, although Anthony William’s Maryborough side could push Bester for the post sectional spot. John Balzarolo and Brad Piper are also skipping handy teams, but a title win for these guys is probably not on the cards.
BIG NAMES SET TO DOMINATE TRIPLES As defending champions, Christina Pavlov’s team of Anne McClure and Maree Gibbs will be among the favourites for this year’s triples crown.
However, they will have a fight on their hands to retain the title, with challengers lining up left, right and centre. 2010 champion Jane Bush is back with two new teammates in Queensland’s Marilyn Emerton and Sammie Wilson, while Sue Brady and Tracy Foster have teamed up with Foster’s 2010 National Champion of Champions partner, Robyn Tyson, for the event. Tweed Heads mother-daughter combination Wendy and Lauren Wilson are teaming up with Kristy Thatcher in their triples tilt. Talented young gun Lauren is no stranger to the format, having won a national junior triples title in 2011. Noelene Dutton, Gail Waitai and Sue McKenzie should also strike a little fear into their opponents with the amount of talent and titles in their side, while the Millerick twins will be joining Queensland teammate Natasha Jones in their triples campaign and could go deep into the tournament. WOMEN’S FOURS The women’s fours competition is similar to that of the men, with the reigning champs missing some key members. Lynsey Armitage and Yvonne Lovelock have not entered, but their teammates Brenda Thompson and Sue McKenzie are still playing together. They will be joined by Shahn Griffiths and Brenda Perkins this year and should still be able to notch up some wins. McKenzie will go head-to-head with Queensland teammate Fiona Williams in section one, while Jane Bush’s side will be expected to win section three. Tracy Foster and Maria Rigby’s clash in section 6 may well prove pivotal, with the star skips both top contenders for this year’s title. queensland bowler | 23
COAST CLUBS DOMINATE SUPER CHALLENGE TITLES Burleigh Heads bettered their 2011 runner-up finish to grab the Gold men’s Super Challenge title recently.
Burleigh, who missed out in the final against Mooloolaba last year, beat out fellow Gold Coasters Musgrave Hill for the top trophy this year, winning three rinks to two. All matches were incredibly close with none decided by more than four shots.
Burleigh’s Ian Law won the singles over Brian Baldwin, 31-28, while the pairs combinations got up 20-17 and 25-21.
The larger team events went Musgrave’s way, with Glen Bailey’s triples team winning 24-21, while Reed Burgess skipped his fours outfit to victory over Burleigh, 26-23. However, those two wins were not enough to claim Super Challenge gold and Burleigh raised the trophy for 2012. Pairs skip, Gary Pearson, said the Super Challenge title was extra special, after last year’s loss.
Pearson is in his first year at Burleigh after moving up from Sydney, but knew how significant the second chance was. “Once we got up in the singles we got a massive confidence boost. We knew if we dropped the singles then we wouldn’t get up,” he said. “A lot of the guys felt like this was something we had to do because they were so disappointed with losing the final last year.” Pearson said the core members of the Burleigh side were able to cover earlier personnel losses.
“We’ve got a good five or six really good bowlers who you can depend on… once they moved me to skip the pairs, we were able to strengthen up our pairs combination and we had heaps of confidence in the triples and fours already,” Pearson said. In the silver division, Indooroopilly got up over Fraser Coast side Rainbow Beach. Indooroopilly’s fours combination had the biggest win, getting up 31-12. Rainbow Beach kept themselves in it with a dominant win in one of their pairs matches, 27-13 as well as a 29-23 win in the triples.
It was the narrower victories that got Indooroopilly over the line however, with a four-shot singles 24 | queensland bowler
win and an eight-shot win in their second pairs match securing them the title. In the Bronze final, Bargara had a clear win over Cleveland, getting up four rinks to one. While almost all the games went their way, the wins did not come easy for Bargara. The singles and triples matches were both decided by one shot. Ten and nine-shot victories in the two pairs matches put Bargara in the box seat for the win. Cleveland’s victory in the fours dealt a blow to Bargara’s campaign, but the three-shot win was not enough for the bay side club to win overall. In the ladies divisions, two Sunshine Coast sides battled it out for the Gold supremacy. Coolum Beach eventually won out over Caloundra, with two rink wins to nothing, 54-34. Caloundra pushed their Coast neighbours in the triples but Coolum edged them out in a 25-22 victory. It was a dominant 29-12 win in the fours that cemented the victory for Coolum Beach. The silver title went to another Sunshine Coast club, Mooloolaba, in a five-shot victory over Ipswich United, 45-40. Mooloolaba won the fours by the narrowest of margins, downing Ipswich 18-17. However, a more comfortable 27-23 victory in the triples ensured the Sunshine Coast side took the silver championship. Mooloolaba proved their mettle in this year’s competition, scraping through to the final after a nailbiting semi against Tugun, which they won 46-45 after splitting the rinks. Mt Gravatt gave the Brisbane area its only ladies champion, defeating Bribie Island 51-40 with one rink win each. Bribie had some hope when the fours went their way in a tiebreaker. But Mt Gravatt asserted their dominance in the triples, with a resounding 30-18 victory to take a 51-40 win and the bronze title.
From top: Coolum Beach, Indooroopilly, Mooloolaba, Bargara and Mt Gravatt (Men’s gold winners Burleigh Heads pictured on page 4) v35/8
World’s biggest bowls shop opens at Burleigh Heads Kelvin Kerkow’s Aero Bowls World, the world’s biggest bowls shop, opened in March to an enthusiastic reception by bowlers from near and far.
Aero Bowls World at Burleigh Heads is the World’s biggest bowls store.
Located just off the main highway at Burleigh Heads on Kortum Drive, the store sets a new standard in bowls retailing. The store is managed by Trevor Briese, one Queensland’s best known bowls identities and Chairman of the Queensland Premier League, with assistance from Kelvin’s wife Karen and Fiona Chipman who has worked in the fashion industry for 25 years. “Its designed to be a place where you can relax and browse and take your time,” says Kelvin. “You can purchase virtually anything related to bowls except advice…. because it’s free and part of the service!
“Trevor, Karen and Fiona are all available to help with any enquiry as will Brett Wilkie and myself when we are on site away from our other bowls commitments. “It’s quickly become a bit of a catch up or meeting place for bowlers.
“In fact”, says Kelvin, “we’re in the process of installing an informal coffee shop where people can relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a pastry on us. It’s that kind of place.” “Of course the greatest aspect of the place is the sheer size of the range we have in everything from shoes, bags, clothing, accessories and of course the centrepiece of the store, namely the brand new AeroBowls.”
Aero Bowls World occupies more than 300 square metres with off -street parking at the front door. Its features a light, bright ambience with loads of room where you can immerse yourself in the world of bowls.
Another feature is a display of many of Kelvin’s trophies and memorabilia “I suppose you could say its part store, part museum, part advice centre and part meeting place. There is nowhere else like it,” says Kelvin.
“The reaction from locals and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. The only hiccup has been that the AeroBowls are selling so fast some people have had to order a particular style or model in their chosen colour.
“But we are working to fix this as quickly as possible with production in our new
state of the art factory in Sydney moving to round the clock operation to meet the incredible demand for the new AeroBowl “In addition to the new AeroBowls there is a complete range of market leading Comfitpro bags and shoes and a huge range of Bowls Australia approved clothing for men and women including the stylish new AeroBowls range and the latest from fashion house Sporte Leisure. “As well as the AeroBowls our new lightweight bags in particular have proved to be a great hit, at $85.00 with back orders piling up for the April delivery. This bag with its moulded base is the lightest, strongest, smallest bag on wheels available for bowls. “There’s lots of opening specials and competitions… If you like bowls you’ll love Aero Bowls World,” says Kelvin.
In between coffee and catching up with friends, customers can browse Kelvin’s impressive display of bowling memorabilia. v35/8
queensland bowler | 25
Umpiring
with joan brotherton
MEASURING.... It’s a massive part of what we do, so let’s make sure we’re doing it right In March I explained the various types of measuring tools that umpires use and how to use them. Over the next couple of columns, I will elaborate in more detail when and how to use each of these vital instruments. This month I am going to step through the procedures that you need to follow when conducting a measure in a game of bowls.
Before I go into these procedures, I would like to point out that if you are an umpire on the day, you must always be ready to get to the rink as quick as possible if you are required. Doing this shows that you are professional and will go a long way to earning more respect from players.
From a player’s point of view it is important that, when calling an umpire, you make sure to indicate why you are doing so. This ensures the umpire can:
1. Determine the rink on which they will be working. 2. Ascertain why they have been called to that rink
3. Obtain the necessary equipment and proceed to resolve the issue.
When you, the umpire, arrive at the rink you should:
Check that both teams have agreed to ask for your judgment before stepping into the rink.
Confirm what needs measuring and ask players to remove extra bowls. Do not remove any bowls yourself. Secure any leaning bowl or bowls that are on their running surfaces.
When measuring, always work from the more open side and at right angles to the bowl and jack that are being measured. Wherever possible, avoid working in a shadow. Adopt a position in which: — you are comfortable;
— you are well balanced;
— your head is over the line of the measure;
— you can see the contact points at both ends of the measure without over-stretching.
26 | queensland bowler
When you are moving around the head, walk around the jack and bowls, not in between them. Always return to the first bowl to double check the measure.
If the distance to be measured is longer than you can comfortably reach, seek assistance from another umpire, the marker or player. Your assistant should be positioned at the starting point of the measure and you should be at the decision end. Before deciding the shot, always remember to check that any ‘shot’ bowls in the ditch have been marked as touchers. Remove from the head the bowl that you have decided is shot and tell the players your decision. Remove the jack if it is a no-shot.
These simple steps make it much easier for measurements to occur. As an umpire, you are able to make a decision unhindered. For any players reading this, now that you are aware of the procedures an umpire should follow, hopefully this will make it easier for you to help umpires where necessary and understand their job better. Subs, replacements and constituted players...do you know who is who?
On a more topical note, I would like to address a concern that has been raised with me by a number of players.
As this is the time of the year when many of you are entering your Club and District Championships and other competitions, I thought it would be useful to explain some of the more complex or lesser-known laws to make it easier for everyone to combat problems. The first of these, and probably one of the most problematic, are the laws under DR4 – Replacement and Substitute Players.
Failure to adhere to these laws can lead to disqualification, so it is crucial that all participants understand these laws and their interpretations. First off, some general definitions:
Eligible member: a player who could have been included in the original team or side.
Affiliated member: a member of a club that is affiliated either directly or indirectly with a State or Territory Authority. Intended Player: a player whose entry has been accepted in a team or side for a particular competition. From the time that the entry is lodged until the game commences the player is an intended player. However, until the draw is completed, the intended name may be changed. Replacement Player: a player who is appointed to take the place of an intended player prior to the start of the competition for a reason accepted by the controlling body after the draw has been completed. Constituted Player: a member of a team who has delivered their first bowl.
Substitute: a member who acts as a proxy for an intended player or a constituted player in a team who is unavailable or physically incapable and therefore prevented from attending or continuing in a game. It is important to remember that the controlling body must be notified of and approve of the introduction of a replacement player, a pre-competition substitute, a substitute during competition or a substitution for each game in the competition. Particular attention must be drawn to the following two laws, as they have different explanations, which can be confusing. DR.4.2 — INTENDED PLAYER
DR.4.2.1 - if an intended player, team or side withdraws without being constituted, the member(s) will be regarded as not having entered the competition and can be a replacement player or substitute in that competition.
DR.4.2.2 - if an intended player, team or side forfeits, the member(s) will be regarded as being constituted and ineligible to act as a substitute or replacement in that competition. Regarding the introduction of a Replacement Player and a Substitute, the following laws are important to remember: DR.4.3 — REPLACEMENT PLAYER
DR4.3.2 - only one replacement player per team shall be permitted per competition.
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DR4.3.3 - Replacement Player can play in any position and will have the same rights as the original team member. DR.4.7 — SUBSTITUTES
DR4.7.2.2 – can be changed at the completion of any end during the game or between succeeding games in the same competition DR4.7.2.3 - Substitute can play in any position except that of skip, and the other players can arrange their positions as desired
DR.4.7.2.4 can continue to act as a substitute in that or any other team in the same competition. Hopefully, this clears up some of the contention around the use of substitutes and replacement players.
Correction There may be a bit of confusion out there as a result of a couple of errors that appeared in last month’s article.
27 | queensland bowler
The first error, which appeared in paragraph six, stated that the mat line “must be at least 21 metres from the front ditch”. This is obviously incorrect and should have read “ at least 23 metres from the front ditch”.
The correct image is below.
Unfortunately these errors occurred during the editing process and we apologise for any confusion caused. But on the upside we will be much more careful in future.
The second error was in the picture, which indicated the correct positioning of the mat.
The red line indicating the correct location of the T in the image was in the wrong position.
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Club law
with Curt Schatz
Directors & committee members not exempt from legal responsibilities
Many clubs are structured as either a company or an incorporated association.
Where it’s a company, it will have a board of directors, and where it is an incorporated association, it will have a committee.
It is important of course to ensure that the members of the board and/or of the committee have a broad set of skills, which will enable the board or committee to function appropriately on behalf of the club, but moreover, to ensure that it complies with all the regulatory framework that attaches to such a board or committee.
One of the important things to understand is that there are various occasions where personal liability may attach to the member or members of a board or a committee where decisions are made on behalf of the club that were clearly wrong. I set out below an example of a case where the Supreme Court of Queensland gave a timely reminder to directors about their duties.
This case is not about a club, but it is specifically on the point of the liability and responsibilities of directors.
While the Corporations Law creates a higher onus on directors of a company than it does on members of a committee, there will be times when courts may make directors and committee members personally liable for certain types of decisions.
Many people incorporate companies as business vehicles without fully understanding their duties as directors, believing that the company will absorb all of the risk without any possible liability to the directors personally.
There was no benefit to Coastline in this decision, but there was a benefit to Mrs McCracken.
In a recent decision (Phoenix Constructions Queensland Pty Ltd v Coastline Constructions Pty Ltd and Others [2011] QSC 167), the Supreme Court of Queensland gave a timely reminder that directors are subject to stringent duties under the Corporations Act. Conduct in breach of those duties, will result in potentially serious penalties or damages being awarded against the directors personally.
► gain an McCracken; or
That is not the case.
Mr McCracken was the sole director of Coastline Constructions.
Mrs McCracken was the owner of certain land. Coastline and Mrs McCracken entered into a joint venture agreement to develop that land.
As part of that agreement, Coastline obtained an interest in the land
Coastline became indebted to Phoenix Constructions (the plaintiff), but subsequently breached its contract with Phoenix and was indebted to it.
However, by agreement on 19 February 2007 Coastline and Mrs McCracken varied the terms of the joint venture, so that Coastline abandoned its entitlement to rights in most of the remaining land.
The plaintiff alleged that Mr McCracken had breached his duties in section 182 of the Corporations Act by improperly using his position to: advantage
for
Mrs
► cause detriment to Coastline. The Court accepted that: ► by abandoning the land interests, Mr McCracken had breached this duty; ► it was appropriate to order damages against Mr McCracken pursuant to section 1324 of the Act. The Court awarded damages against Mr McCracken in the sum of $1,495,208.71, plus interest of just over $500,000. With nearly $2million to pay, getting advice in relation to his duties beforehand would have been a significant and sensible move to take on the part of the director. If you are unsure of your duties as directors or have any doubts about a course of conduct, then you should get advice first. If you have any concerns or queries about your liability, please give me a call on 3224 0222. Mullins Lawyers is a long time sponsor of Bowls Queensland and specialising in club related legal issues.
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
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queensland bowler | 29
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30 | queensland bowler
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Welcome to the Queensland Bowler May 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 May 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.................. Entries must be received by May 31. Winner will be announced in the July issue. Multiple entries allowed. Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.
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This month’s winner Congratulations to: Brandon McKaskill from Maryborough You will receive a free set of Henselite bowls of your choice from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes. * By supplying your email address you agree to receive a copy of the next Henselite eNewsletter containing details of discounts, specials, new products and bowls information. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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“It’s gotta be a Coachmans!” v35/8
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queensland bowler | 31
Coaching
with Mick Cherry
One of the worst feelings in bowls is the realisation, when you have released the bowls, that you have forgotten some part of your delivery.
Pretty close to that is not being able to commit to a certain type of shot and ending up in between only to waste your delivery. These are disappointing events but they are also avoidable if you implement a regular pre-delivery routine. All top players have a set-up routine, which they use every time they step on the mat.
They rarely vary this routine and it ensures that by the time they release the bowl they are sure to have done everything possible to make their bowl achieve the intended result. To demonstrate this point I have in the past asked one of Queensland’s top bowlers, Marilyn Peddell, to demonstrate her delivery to our junior bowlers. After I had seen it a few times, I could turn my back and give a running commentary on her routine before she delivered it, because it never varied.
▼ Stand behind the mat with the bowl in your non–bowling hand. Work out what you want to achieve with the bowl and how you are going to achieve it. Do not even think about stepping on the mat until you are sure of these two things.
She has the most deliberate delivery of any bowler I have ever seen and her successes are well documented. In this column, I am going to try to give you an idea of the set-up routine that I try to instil into my bowlers. You may wish to vary it, but as long as you maintain a regular routine, you will be unlikely to forget crucial steps of your delivery. To give you a clearer idea of these steps, we enlisted the help of junior state singles champion, Lochie Rowden. ▼ Get into your delivery stance, placing your weight on the balls of your feet, with your knees slightly flexed. Once you are into your stance, if there are any distractions, get off the mat and start again.
▲ Step onto the mat with your anchor foot and ensure that it is pointing along your line of aim. Be sure to double check that it is pointing along the line. Then, bring up your lead foot alongside to a comfortable position.
► Transfer the bowl to your bowling hand and grip it for delivery. The most important point here is that the grip is comfortable. There are various grips that you can use but the one that is the most comfortable is the right one. 32 | queensland bowler
Once you have established the weight required (a couple of practice swings can help) focus your eyes along your line of delivery. Continued on next page ► v35/8
Many people will tell you that bowls is a game of correction...I don’t necessarily subscribe to that theory.
I believe that bowls is a game of consistency. If you have a consistent delivery, then correction becomes easy. To be consistent, you must do the same thing every time you step on the mat. Bowls is a very simple game, but it runs the risk of being complicated by those who play it.
Don’t fall into that trap – keep things simple and you will find success. ▼ Stay down throughout the delivery. Resist the temptation to get up too quickly as this will lead to short bowls.
Police raid Sunny Coast club in search for national titles There was an increased police presence at Caloundra last month, but no crime had been committed.
More than 200 current and retired officers and police department staff were at the Sunshine Coast Club to play in the 54th National Police Bowling Association Championships.
Queensland association president and Caloundra member, David Harvey, said the week-long tournament went off without a hitch. “It went extremely well, we did not have a problem the whole week,” he said.
It was not all about competition over the week, with a focus on giving back to the local community in a charity bowls day before the tournament began. The social fours competition was held to raise money for Camp Quality.
Local young bowlers also got involved, leading the teams out in the opening parade. Next year’s tournament will be at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club in NSW.
Queensland came away with wins in the singles and fours plate divisions, a second-chance competition for those who lost in the first round of the competition proper.
South Australia’s forces took out the top prize, winning the sides competition, and the remaining seven titles were split between NSW and Victoria. The annual contest has become more than simply a bowling tournament for many of the participants, especially those who are now retired, Harvey said. “A lot of people use it to renew old friendships and acquaintances in the Queensland Police Service and a lot of them also use it as part of annual holidays,”
Keep your eyes on the bowl until it comes to a complete stop. You can learn from every bowl you play, even the bad ones. Most people tend to turn their back on a bad bowl and they never learn how to turn these into good bowls. v35/8
“One particular gentleman caravanned to Caloundra and is now off on a fourmonth trip to north Queensland and the Northern Territory.” The Queensland Police Bowling Club is not an affiliated club itself as it has no clubhouse, but all of its members must be full members of an affiliated bowling club to join up.
Assistant Commissioner Steve Gollschewski delivers the first bowl at the 54th Australian Police Bowling Championships
queensland bowler | 33
Development with Brett Murphy
Hard work pays off as bowls named Queensland’s most inclusive sport Bowls Queensland is committed to making our sport accessible to people of all abilities and has made great strides forward in this area over recent years, with an ever-expanding list of opportunities for disabled bowlers. This has been reflected in the annual Sport CONNECT Inclusive Practices Report, which recently gave us a score of 28 out of 30, two points better than 2011, making bowls the most accessible sport in Queensland. This is a culmination of a lot of hard work by current and former staff within BQ’s development team, as well as support from all staff and committees at Bowls Queensland.
Of course, this accolade would not be possible without the support of those clubs that also encourage inclusive practices across the state. Multi-Disability Champs
One of the biggest ventures BQ undertook in the past year was the staging of it’s inaugural Multi-Disability State Championships at Chermside Bowls Club. This event will be held again in 2012 and every club should have received a flyer and nomination forms in the past month.
An electronic version of these can also be found on the BQ website. Last year these championships doubled as a selection event for the 2012 Disabled Australian Open squad. Website
Other developments, such as the launch of Bowls Queensland’s new look website, have also helped boost our score with Sports CONNECT.
The new website allows us to promote tournaments like Multi-Disability Championships, while specially designed pages instruct coaches and officials on inclusive practices.
Players can also use the website to find out their classification and connect with disability organisations in the state.
The website also provides access to our Working with People with a Disability handbook and gives you an opportunity to see all the ways in which we are working to increase our inclusiveness. No Limits
Our drive for greater access and inclusiveness also took us on the road, with BQ’s development team attending at least six No limits Sports Expos across the state for school students with a disability. And the rest…
Last year we conducted free coaching courses for disabled players and their support personnel, we also included case studies and stories on players and organisations in the Bowler Magazine and online, and continued the disabled player of the year award. We strengthened our commitment to Sports CONNECT and established relationships with organisations outside of our Sports CONNECT partners, linking them with our member clubs. Room for improvement
However we can always improve and we are committed to continuing all the good work we have started, as well as enhancing certain areas of operation.
One of our goals in the next 12 months will be to work more with clubs to promote
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inclusive practices and encourage clubs to attend the Sports CONNECT forums held throughout the year. We will strive to establish new relationships with other disability service providers and in turn link them, and their clients, with their nearest bowls club. Increased opportunities and promotion of pathways for players, officials and coaches in this areas will also be a focus. If your club would like to get involved further or would like extra information, check out the BQ website www.bowlsqld. org under the Disability Bowls tab or contact the development team on (07) 3355 9988 or sdm@bowlsqld.org. All Schools Cup By now clubs should have finalised their team for the All Schools Cup Challenge. At the time of writing we hadn’t received all entries, but the number that had arrived in the office was very good and a promising sign for the future of this competition. One thing I have noticed this year is that there are more entries at district level, meaning more competition for finals spots. We will be working with districts with more than one entrant to ensure play-offs are completed by July 27. Once we have the full list of entrants, a member of the BQ development team will be in touch with clubs and districts to advise the next step. For any further information on the All Schools Cup contact Steven Tong at Bowls Queensland on (07) 3355 9988.
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