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

Last Saturday a game of Major Fours commenced when team Went (Peter McPhee, John Davies, Mark Dwyer and Michael Went) took on team Reilly (Gary McPhee, Martin Tighe, Bret Frame and David Reilly). Team Reilly started well and by the 12th end the score was 12 to 6. On the 14th end the heavens opened. Play resumed on Sunday and Team Went was all fired up and won the next 7 ends to take the lead 21 to 12. Team Reilly won the 20th end. Team Went held on and won the last end and the match 22 to 15.

On Tuesday the semi-finals of the Club Championship Major Singles were on the docket. In a nail-biting “a-salt”, Liz Byrne played her way to a 12-point lead by the half-way mark, only to be caught by Maree Grant on the 25th end, 22-all. The last four ends were one-pointers, with Liz milking the victory by 2 points. In the second semi, Cherie Frame demonstrated a blend of great bowling and trick shots with a pinch of luck, resulting in a generous win over Betsy Johnstone and putting an end to her run of good fortune during the early rounds!

The final of the Major Singles between Liz and Cherie will be played next Tuesday, March 8. Spectator sport at its best!

By Lea Orr

It has been a very busy week for bowlers. Tom Furey, Maree Grant, Mark Dwyer and Eddie McPhee travelled to Orange for the Golden Eagle. Mark and Eddie just missed out on going through to the finals section in the main draw. Tom and Maree won 3 out of 3 in the constellation section.

Over the weekend Guy Ellery and Gary McPhee travelled to Dubbo to play in the Champion of Champions Pairs. They won their games on Saturday and Sunday Morning. On Sunday afternoon they played the sectional final against Mudgee but were defeated. A great effort by the boys with some great bowls played.

On a balmy Friday evening the first game in the Major Fours was played between team Townsend (Tom Furey, Joanne Simpson, Mick Simpson, Brian Townsend) and team Harris (Rob Irving, Steve Turner, Guy Ellery, Wilbur Harris). Team Townsend won the game 20 to 14.

By Colin Miller

Twenty or so gals dressed in various shades of yellow graced the greens on Tuesday.

The colour yellow symbolises optimism, and is full of hope and positivity – that’s us, for sure!

The green was perfect thanks to Ground Control volunteers – you guys truly know your job.

In Club Singles matches, Maree Grant chalked up a win against an unlucky Maureen Miller; Cherie Frame wore a smiley face after Maria Willcockson conceded their game. Thanks to markers Lea and Marja, and umpire Gwenda.

The semi-finals of the Major Club Singles will be played next Tuesday: M Grant vs L Byrne; C Frame vs B Johnstone.

Betsy has enjoyed an unchallenged run to the finals; perhaps Cherie will put up an amber light to stall that. Should be two spectator-worthy matches.

In social games, Valmai Westcott/Frances Charlton/Kim Evans/Elaine Miller looked like the cats that had caught the canary after snatching a win on the last end against Eileen Bradley/Carol Reed/Joan Simpson.

Scoring a 4 on one end may be called a fluke, but scoring three 4’s, plus a 5, was just a “yolk”! Needless to say, Chris Cox and Betsy Johnstone looked like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths as they put paid to Merilyn Rodgers/Jan McPhee on rink 11.

Looks like Helen Heraghty/Chris Curteis/ Rosemary Mitchell were too busy smelling the roses as they allowed Lorraine Baker and Maureen Baillie to open up a good lead on rink 9. No use asking: “Wattle we do now?” Just play on and face the loss bravely.

The winner’s draw saw Chris Cox and Betsy putting on their best cheesey grins!

Gwenda had the golden touch, winning the fabulous fruit and veg hamper. Thank you Chris Curteis for your generous donation!

Gwenda’s luck continued onto the trading table, joining the happy winners of yellow-themed gifts.

Lea’s birthday pavlovas, complete with passionfruit and banana, were appreciated by everyone.

The Major Club Pairs nominations are now open.

On Tuesday, 1st March there will be a committee meeting after bowls.

To play social bowls, call 6862 1446, between 9 and 9:30am, with play to begin at 10am.

New and visiting players always welcome. Social Roster: Brenda Davies.

By Lea Orr

Last weekend the club hosted a 2 Bowls Triples Tournament with ten different clubs competing. It was great to welcome bowlers from Orange, Forbes, Parkes Railway Club, Greenwell Point, Yass, Manildra, Leeton, Belrose and Warilla.

This meant 60 bowlers competed in three games of 15 ends on Saturday and two on Sunday.

At the mid-way point on Saturday evening the team of Nathan Reynolds, Dave Reilly (members of our club) and Glenn Beveridge from Warilla had the lead on 45 Points. The team from Belrose were in second place on 40 points and Team Grant and Team Frame (both from our club) were equal third on 39 points.

On Sunday morning the weather gods were not quite as kind as they had been and, in a strong wind, positions changed. Team Harris and Team Johnson (both representing our club) won both of their games to get amongst the prize money while Team Frame and Team Belrose could not hold their form and dropped off the leader board.

In the final wash up the prize winners were:
1st place – Nathan Reynolds, Dave Reilly and Glenn Beveridge on 73 points;
2nd Place – Dave Johnson, Jo Simpson and Mike Simpson on 60 points;
3rd place – Maree Grant, Tom Furey and Brian Townsend on 58 points;
4th Place – Wilbur Harris, Guy Ellery and Steve Turner on 57 points.

Congratulations to all the prize winners and in fact all the bowlers, it was great to see such a good turn-out and we look forward to welcoming all the visitors at our next event.

Such events cannot go on without a lot of generosity and hard work behind the scenes from a lot of people. I must mention our major sponsor, Johno Johnson and the Railway and Commercial Hotels. Thank you for your support. Also, thanks to Power Tools +, Parkes Hydraulics and Woolworths.

I should also thank the volunteers who put in so much time keeping the greens and club surrounds in such great shape and all the other volunteers who helped to make this weekend such a great success, in particular Tom Furey, Martin Tighe and Col Miller.

By George Bradley

There were no championship games played during the past week. In social bowls on Thursday, 10th February the Triples match finished with the closest score line after a couple of dramatic changes. Rob Tinker, Gordon Dickson and John Dunn won the first end but Ian Simpson, Bob Freeman and Jim Blake had the best of the early ends and lead 13-8 after thirteen ends. On the next end Team Tinker scored six shots to take the lead for the second time, 14-13 and with one end to play still held the lead 19-16 and looked like the winners but on the last end Team Simpson scored the four shots they needed to claim victory.

In other matches, Rob Irving and Graham Barby 21 just got up against Col Mudie and Tom Furey 19. Col Hayward and Ron Hornery 21 beat John Wright and Alan Affleck 16. Steve Turner and John Carr scored too many and Jonno Johnson and Ray Jones didn’t score enough.

On Saturday, 12th February a good field of twenty eight bowlers turned out and it was good to see Wes Westcott back on the green after a fairly lengthy absence. Results of the matches were:

• Guy Ellery and George Bradley 24 – Dave Reilly and Jo Simpson 21
• John Ward and Noel Johnstone 18 – Mike Simpson and Ray Jones 14
• Ian Simpson and John Wright 23 – Brian Townsend and Arthur Corbett 18
• Rob Tinker and John Niddrie 24 – Martin Tighe and Wes Westcott 19
• Nathan Reynolds and Ron Hornery 25 – Col Hayward and Gordon Dickson 20
• Col Mudie and John Carr 23 – Tom Furey and Col Woods 17
• Tony Reardon and Mal Porter 24 – Rob Irving and Jim Blake 16

By George Bradley