The semi-final of the club pairs and two social triple matches were played on Tuesday. 

Cherie Frame and Betsy Johnstone out played Maureen Miller and Chris Curteis in the club pairs game. 

There was a blizzard of bowls put down by team Byrne and team Grant. It took four before Liz Byrne and Rhona Went had a final storm surge to overcome Maree Grant and Jan McPhee. 

The wind was certainly behind Elaine, Heather and Sue, with a good win over Marja, Kay and Frances. Hilda battled water over the roads on her way to play bowls and playing with Lorraine and Merilyn continued to steam ahead of Rose, Carol and Fran. 

Elvis has departed the club and the exodus of fans brings our population back to par. Four matches of Major Pairs filled Tuesday’s program. Betsy Johnstone hitched up with Cherie Frame and powered away to a strong lead over Carol Reed and Maria Willcockson. Not to be outdone, seasoned campers, Team Will, tightened the guy ropes and drew level. However, their reprieve was temporary and Team Frame went on to win on Site 2.

A corker of a match kept the onlookers on the edge of their camp chairs on Site 3. The two teams, Lorraine Baker/Elaine Miller and Maureen Miller/Joan Simpson had to dig in and push for every point. Team Simpson began strongly, took a siesta mid-game, but came home with the wind behind them to claim victory by just one point!

Lea Orr/Lynn Ryan de-camped early due to illness in their match against the in-form pairing of Liz Byrne/Rhona Went on Site 4. Liz and Rhona have recently returned from State Pairs Play-offs and are at the top of their game!

On Site 5, Jan McPhee/Maree Grant found themselves wanting more power from the fuse box in order to pull ahead of Merilyn Rodgers/Marja Iffland, who played their little bowls socks off!

Many thanks to our umpire, Tony Riordan, who was kept running like a caretaker from site to site!

The draw for next week’s Major Pairs semi-finals: R Went/L Byrne vs J McPhee/M Grant, and M Miller/J Simpson vs B Johnstone/C Frame. Maureen, Joan, Gwenda, Carol and Lea won their green fees back, ready for the next trip!

Next Sunday, 1st May is our big Prostate Cancer Charity Bowls Day from 11am, 2-bowl triples, mixed teams, $15 pp includes lunch. All welcome, single players catered for. Entry forms at the bar.

By Lea Orr

The final of the Parkes Bowling & Sports Club’s 2022 Major Fours was played on Sunday with Mick Went, Mark Dwyer, Eddie McPhee and Pete McPhee playing Brian Townsend, Jo Simpson, Mick Simpson and Ton Furey.

The early ends were evenly divided but Team Went eventually took control of the match and after 16 ends had a commanding lead, 21 – 8. Over the next four ends Team Townsend won three ends scoring four, three and six to Team Townsend’s two and with one end to play the lead had been cut to two shots and the score was 23 – 21. However, Team Townsend could not sustain their run and after a tense last end Team Went scored three shots to win the match 26 – 21.

Congratulations to all the players but in particular to Mick, Mark, Eddie and Pete, the Major Fours Champions for 2022.

In a Major Triples match Rob Tinker, Col Miller and Graham Dixon won the first end but from then on it was the only time they held the lead. The team of Col Hayward, Col Mudie and Rob Irving advanced to the next round with a 23 – 10 win.

Due to the rather wet weather no social bowls were played on Thursday or Saturday last week.

A pairs event will be played on Easter Monday, 18th April at 1 pm. A charity event in support of prostate cancer will be played on Sunday, 1st May. The mixed bows day is open to all bowlers, entry is $15 per player. Play will start at 11 am, and there will be a raffle and prizes. You can nominate a team (single entries will be accepted too) at the club or to colrm53@yahoo.com.au

By George Bradley

 

A total of 56 local bowlers took part in the first round of the Geoff and Bob Freeman Shield Challenge last Saturday in what is hopefully to become an annual event between the two Parkes clubs.

The clubs were competing for the Frank Gersbach Cups, the Gold Cup for Major Teams and the Silver Cup for Minor Teams. The overall winners, after the return round to be played later in the year, will take home the shield.

It was a great day for bowls and the standard was very high resulting in some close scoring.

The results were (Railway Teams mentioned first) – Gold Cup game: Team Dave “Major” Johnson 12 – Team Mick Went 29; Team Paul Kirwan 11 – Team Brett “Baldy” Frame 28; Team L. Ramsay 15 – Team Dave Reilly 17. Parkes Bowling and Sports Club won the Gold Cup with an aggregate score of 74 – 38.

The Silver Cup results: Team Greg Howlett 24 – Team Martin Tighe 22; Team Pat Cooney 18 – Team Col Hayward 26; Team Ben McNaughton 25 – Team Brian Hampton 9; Team Wally Grant 17 – Team Col Mudie 21. Parkes Railway/Diggers Club took home the trophy with an aggregate score of 84 – 78.

The Parkes Bowling Club won the day with an aggregate score of 152 – 122.

Frank Gersbach was at the Parkes Bowling & Sports Club to present the trophies. Congratulations to all the players and the people behind the scenes who made it a great day for bowling.

The scene is set for the return match at the Railway Club later in the year, probably in September, when the winner of the Shield will be decided by the aggregate scores over both days.

By George Bradley

Not much of an Easter bonnet parade, but on Tuesday 27 keen ladies donned their blue hats to play the game they love. Rink 3: Sue Maddison/Laurie Keane/Jan McPhee piled up a feast of “eggs” allowing Chris Cox/Helen Heraghty/Joan Simpson a mere glimpse of the spoils! Rink 2: Beth Thomas/Marja Iffland/Rose Mitchell were left feeling hollow as Lynn Ryan/Carol Reed/Maureen Baillie finished off the game in bounds! Rink 4: Kim Evans/Kay Craft/Lea Orr were left feeling hot, but not cross, after going down to Eileen Bradley/Isabel Svensden/Lorraine Baker/Rhona Went. Rink 5: Brenda’s gold foil-lined bowls performed their magic with a win over Elaine Miller/Gwenda Carty/Sue Hogan. Rink 6: a game of Scroungers rewarded Frances Charlton who was too good for Maureen Miller/ Chris Flood/Betsy Johnstone.

By Lea Orr

Bowls News

The Parkes Bowling & Sports club Pennants team made it to state finals and travelled to Forster-Tuncurry last week. Liz Byrne presented Team Manager Kay Craft with a thank you gift.

Forbes Dragon Boat Club Raffle Winners

The major prize winners are: 1st 200L of fuel Alex Riley; 2nd Canvas Artwork Wendy Nelson; 3rd Picnic Hamper Nicole Williams; 4th Oztrail change room Ally Hetherington; 5th Chill Float Session Wendy Nelson; 6th Toaster & Kettle Luke Byrne; 7th $50 Ampol fuel card Jane Burley; 8th 2x $25 Ampol fuel cards Rachel

100 Parkruns

Erin Nichols celebrated her 100th run with a personal best time at the Northparkes Oval Parkrun on Saturday. Erin has completed eight of her parkruns at Northparkes Oval parkrun, with the remaining 92 at Cloncurry parkrun (87), Riverway parkrun (2), Mt Penang parkrun (1), Casula Parklands parkrun (1) and South Bank parkrun (1). What a huge achievement. Well done Erin!

The Club Major Triples event is up and running and two games were played on Saturday and both resulted in fairly convincing wins.

Mick Went, Mark Dwyer and Greg Townsend got away to a flying start, winning the first six ends to lead 8 – 0. Brian Hampton, Ian Simpson and Steve Ryan eventually got on the board but had no answer to the class of Team Went, who won 28 – 9.

Wilbur Harris, Steve Turner and Guy Ellery came up against Joe Davies and Mike and Jo Simpson. Team Davies had the better of the early ends but in the end Team Harris won 35 – 18.

Social Bowls, Thursday, 17th March: Twenty Bowlers turned out for 5 games of Pairs. Steve Turner/Bernie Mitchell vs Col Mudie/Bob Freeman 20 – 19; John Ward/Ron Hornery vs George Boatswain/Rob Irving 18 – 14; Ian Simpson/Gordon Dickson vs Jim Blake/Alan Affleck 23 – 13; Graham Dixon/John Carr beat Steve Ryan/John Niddrie; Gary McPhee/Ray Jones beat Rob Tinker/Maureen Baillie

Saturday, 19th March 19: Warwick Parker/Ray Jones beat Col Mudie/Gordon Dickson; Martin Tighe/John Ward vs Col Hayward/John Carr 23 – 16; Rob Tinker/Jim Blake/George Bradley vs Graham Dixon/Bruce Orr/Bob Freeman 19 – 10.

By Col Miller

The Major Triples draw is on the board and the first game has been completed. Team Grant (Tom Furey, Brian Townsend, Maree Grant) took on Team Tighe (John Ward, Bernie Mitchell, Martin Tighe). Team Tighe started well winning the first end but not to be out done Team Grant took control and by the 8th end were leading 12 to 5. Team Tighe tried to fight back but Team Grant kept the pressure on and by the 15th end were leading 19 to 12. Team Grant continued and ran out winners 31 to 12.

Social bowls Thursday: John Carr, Geoff Freeman defeated Mike Valentine, Rob Irving. Johno Johnson, Jim Blake, John Wright defeated Ron Hornery Bob Freeman, Tony Riordan. Gordon Dickson, Guy Ellery defeated Chris Harrison, Col Mudie. Col Woods, Garry McPhee defeated Ray Jones, Col Hayward. Col Miller, Rob Tinker defeated Arthur Corbett, John Ward.

Saturday: John Carr, Rob Irving defeated Wes Westcott, Ray Jones. Ron Hornery, John Wright defeated Trevor Harvey, Maureen Miller. Col Hayward, Col Miller defeated Warwick Parker, Lorraine Baker. Bernie Mitchell, Tom Furey defeated Chris Harrison, Gary McPhee. John Ward, Gordon Dickson, Martin Tighe defeated Col Woods, Bob Freeman, Geoff Freeman. Tony Riordan, Steve Turner defeated Ian Simpson, Brian Townsend.

By Col Miller

On Tuesday, six members motored across to Canowindra to help celebrate 80 years of their Women’s Club, while our No 3 Pennants teams have packed their bags and are off to the State Play-offs in Forster. Nominations for Club Championship Pairs are now open. Find a partner and have a go!

The Easter Trading Table will be held on on 29th March.

You’re invited to put your name down for the Blackman/Whiteman invitation at Bathurst on 2nd June. The District Match Committee will choose six teams of triples from our district to play.

By Lea Orr

Thinking of our bowling friends throughout the state, coping with an unprecedented deluge of non-stop rain.

On a cloudy autumn morning Cherie Frame and Liz Byrne contested the final of the Major Championship Singles for 2022. Last year’s champion Liz, repeated that performance to take the match by a generous margin. Congratulations, Liz Byrne, 2022 Major Singles Champion!

Social games took the form of Scroungers. Kate Keogh amassed a bucketful of points on River 12, running away with the win over Valmai Westcott and Fran White.

A close game took place on River 11, with the points rising and falling. Lorraine Baker surfaced as the narrow winner over Kay Craft, Lynn Ryan and Sue Maddison.

Brenda Davies, with an out-pouring of great shots and a tad of luck, rushed to an unstoppable lead on River 14, leaving Betsy Johnstone, Carol Reed, Maja Iffland and Di Howell picking their way through the debris.

Joan Simpson put up the “road closed” sign halfway through the game on River 13. Jan McPhee, Lea Orr and Vi West could not get past, even when Jan detoured onto River 12!

Once inside the club, we celebrated Di H’s birthday milestone.

By Lea Orr