Parkes Phoenix

The Bogan Gate Renaissance

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Alex McKeowen bowled by Blake Smith. (See more photos of the historic match on The Parkes Phoenix facebook page.) Photo: Les Finn

Sunday’s remarkable match was exactly what the future of the Grin-sted Cup needed according to Michael Greenwood, who wrote a book about the cup’s history.

“I believe the Cinderella win by Bogan Gate will provide the necessary shot in the arm for the longevity of the famous Grinsted Cup, arguably the longest running sporting challenge competition in regional Australia,” said Michael.

“The past few seasons leading up the cup centenary in 2019 had been plagued by regular forfeits from some of the larger centres and there were genuine concerns that the cup could go by the wayside. Those fears were effectively erased on Sunday, not only for the manner in which the match was played but also by the brilliant atmosphere generated by the largest cup crowd for years.”

Michael said the Bogan Gate Renaissance has drawn amazing parallels to their first win a mere 85 seasons ago. “Interest in the challenge from Grenfell on Sunday week is already generating keen public interest from around the region.” He congratulated all involved.

Grinsted Cup Back To Bogan Gate After 85 Years

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The victorious Bogan Gate Rabbits are the back (L-R) Craig O’Shannessy, Lachlan Britt, Phil Dunford, Peter Thomas, Ryan Dunford and Joseph Tanswell. In front are Vince Umbers, Andrew Britt, Israel Symington, Alex McKeowen and Alex Umbers. Absent: Paul Dunford. Photo: Les Finn

The 101st year of the prestigious Grinsted Cup delivered another amazing chronicle on Sunday when Bogan Gate produced a Cinderella win in their first appearance in 85 years!

The Bogan Gate Rabbits last held the Cup in February 1936 when they defeated arch-rivals Forbes in a thrilling contest, while Parkes was aiming for their 14th consecutive challenge victory.

The Woodward Oval provided the ideal setting as spectators came from across the state to witness the history-making clash.

Parkes won the toss and elected to bat. They immediately faced some excellent bowling from former Western Zone representative players Phill Dunford and Andrew Britt. Parkes soon reeled at 2/13 after 6 overs with Phil claiming the prized scalp of Parkes captain Myles Smith, who departed without troubling the scorers.

The introduction of Craig O’Shannessy and Ryan Dunford delivered immediate re-ward for Bogan Gate. Craig captured 2/19 off 5 overs, while Ryan finished with 2/16 off 7 overs. Parkes struggled to gain any momentum as the score stood at 7/37 before a valuable late order partnership between Jock Yelland (17) and Blake Smith (16) helped boost the Parkes total to 80 runs off 37.4 overs.

Andrew Britt turned in a superb spell of bowling to finish with 3/31 off 17.4 overs including six maidens, while Phil Dunford collected 3/13 off 8 overs.

In reply, the Bogan Gate opening pair of Lachlan Britt and Paul Dunford were in great form. Paul retired hurt on 14 after suffering a nasty shoulder injury. Talented cricketer, Vince Umbers joined Lachlan to continue the impressive batting performance before Lachlan was bowled by Blake Smith (3/21 off 6.1) for 28.

Bogan Gate only needing 10 runs for victory. Blake Smith produced two more amazing deliveries in succession to achieve a remarkable hat-trick. Vince Umbers (31no) featuring three well-struck sixes and two boundaries combined with Craig O’Shannessy (5no) to hit the winning runs and record a history-making victory for Bogan Gate.

By Luke Nash

Fabulous Final Day For Women’s Bowls

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Well, that’s a wrap – and what a fabulous final day on our bowls calendar! All members enjoyed a friendly, fun day of Irish bowls, a delicious lunch, a glass or two of Christmas cheer, presentations and free entertainment in the best company! While we enjoy our break, not so for our gallant ground control. The work goes on, with top-dressing of both greens on the program. Thank you, all the team, and volunteers, for preparing perfect greens each week.

MAJOR WINNERS THIS YEAR:
• Singles: Liz Byrne
• Pairs: Heather Harvey and Maree Grant
• Triples: Maureen Miller, Joan Simpson and Heather Harvey
• Fours: Di Howell, Merilyn Rodgers, Lea Orr and Maree Grant

MINOR WINNERS:
• Singles: Jan McPhee
• Pairs: Di Howell and Maureen Miller
• Most Improved (sponsored by Parkes Newsagency): Kay Craft

We are back on 18th January 2021 for our next social bowls day. Committee members wish you a Merry Christmas and safe holidays! We all utter a hasty farewell to 2020 and look toward brighter and better things in the new year!

By Lea Orr

Catching And Fielding Equipment

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The Parkes District Cricket Association received $4,500 of funding through the 2019/20 Local Sport Grant Program to purchase training equipment for the local representative and senior teams. Member for Orange Phil Donato MP (right) was in Parkes on Wednesday to hand over the funding to Luke Nash, Daniel Gordon and Paul Dunford of the Parkes District Cricket Association.

Parkes Bowlers Zone Champs

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The fabulous four zone champions will be heading off to the state championships next year. They are Cherie Frame, Gwenda Carty, Liz Byrne and Rhona Went.

The Parkes Bowling and Sports Club cel- ebrated this week ahead of its 100th anniversary program when the women’s bowling team qualified for the state championships next year.

Gwenda Carty, Cherie Frame, Rhona Went and Liz Byrne easily won their away match in the regional fours to become zone champions! This win also meant the fabulous four move on to the state play-offs. Congratulations!

This weekend will see our huge 100th anniversary celebrations. Tomorrow, 14th November there will be social bowls, and top-level spectator bowls as seven Parkes teams will meet seven invitational teams. The final is set for 6:30pm.

On Sunday all bowlers and visitors are invited to play at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm or all day! The fee is $15 and includes fees, hopefully a bowls shirt, BBQ and raffle! Put your name down at the bar. Tom’s “100 shirts for 100 years” has almost reached its goal! Dev’s Kitchen bistro will be open for meals.

On 24th November is our social bowls in Christmas mufti dress and Christmas- themed trading table! Yet another day of fun and frivolity!

To play social bowls next Tuesday, ring Jan/Marja on 6862 1446 between 8.30am to 9am. Social roster: Rosemary Mitchell.

By Lea Orr

Jan Wins Singles

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Jan McPhee and Lorraine Baker vied for the minor singles title on Tuesday. Jan began strongly, leading by 5, but by the 13th end scores were level. Lorraine then ran with the lead for several ends. At the 27th turn, scores were even again, but Jan took the title 25-24 after a marathon of 30 ends!

Congratulations to both on a fantastic display of might and power! Umpire Liz Byrne (middle).

No ‘Cruel Summer’ For Railway Bowling

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Phil Donato MP with Railway Bowling Club President Tony Latter under the new shade structure and benches that were installed with grant money.

The Railway Bowling Club in Parkes is ready for summer with brand new shading and seats installed.

Phil Donato MP visited on Wednesday to see the result of a sports grant the club had put to good use. With volunteer labour and the grant of $7,272, new retractable, sun safe shade netting and seven new benches were installed at the bowling green replacing the old, dilapidated structure that was in place.

“The shade is beautiful,” said club president Tony Latter. “The members are loving it!”

“The new stuff is brilliant, it provides up to 95% UV blocking,” said vice-president Mick Furney. “We experience summers of over 40 degrees here, so it’s particularly important.”

Phil agreed that sun safety was very important, “particularly in these parts of Australia. As are our local sporting clubs!”

Phil Donato MP was keen to get onto the green with Mick Furney giving instructions.

Bizarre And Bright On A Beautiful Day

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Who hit the spider? All 32 bowlers tried to get to the spider at once to start the mini carnival.

A bonza day dawned on Tuesday and 32 bizarre and brightly dressed bowlers were out in force for the President’s Day Mini Carnival. The poor old spider was bowled over as we scrambled to land our bowls closest to him. June and Merilyn blitzed the field and bagged the prizes!

Start of play had us all befuddled as we had to deliver our first three bowls with our non-favoured hand. Winners on the day were Frances Charlton and Jan McPhee in those breath-taking fishnet stockings! Had us all green with envy.

Our thanks to Mick Craft for your sponsorship, and to the ground control blokes for preparing the greens so beautifully, especially after the bountiful rain!

By Lea Orr

Olympic Memories Part 4: Phenomenal To Compete On Home Soil

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Parkes hockey player and three times Olympian Stephen Davies at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games scoring a goal for the bronze medal. Right: Stephen looks the part on the hockey field as a four-year-old in Parkes. (Photos: History Parkes)

Going to the Olympics is a dream come true for athletes, and being able to take part in your home country is the ultimate.

It was his third Games, but the 2000 Sydney Olympics stands out for Parkes hockey star Stephen Davies as the absolute highlight of his career.

“It was a completely different feel to compete in your home country,” Stephen told The Parkes Phoenix from Perth. “To have the people I grew up with and the people who helped me in my career come to the Games was just stunning.”

The phenomenal experience started in Parkes about a month before the Games with the torch relay through town when Stephen led the parade in a chariot. “The support from the people in Parkes lining the streets and at Pioneer Oval was the most memorable part. The community spirit really shone through. It meant so much to me.” (The local support for Stephen was already on show eight years earlier when crowds gathered on 19th September 1992 for a street parade and civic reception for the first Olympian from Parkes in nearly 40 years.)

He said to have so many Parkes supporters at the Games, the biggest sporting event ever held in Australia, was just incredible. “When we did our warm-up on the field before a match, people would yell out and I had time to spot family and friends in the crowd.” He said there was usually a small window of opportunity after cool down for a quick catch-up too.

It was the only Games Stephen’s parents were able to attend, which made it even more special. “I was able to show them the athlete’s village.”

For Stephen, who became known as the Maradona of hockey having scored 140 goals in more than 274 games in green and gold, the memories of playing hockey at Cheney Park are still very vivid.

“I clearly remember Saturday mornings and the fields filled with people, the whistles blowing, announcements being made, parents supporting their kids… we would go home for lunch and go back in the afternoon to watch the seniors play. The friendships you made were the best.” (When Stephen grew up in Parkes all the hockey fields were grass only. The first turf field was unveiled on the eve of Stephen’s announcement as Parkes’s first ever hockey Olympian. The field was later named Stephen Davies Field.)

While Stephen no longer plays hockey having retired after the Sydney Olympics, he will probably never ‘escape’ it. He has since gone into serious coaching and went to the Rio and London Olympics with the women’s hockey team, he is the West Australian men’s senior coach, coaches at club level and also runs his own academy.

He is very keen to return to Parkes to do some coaching. “I would love to do it. We just have to wait for travel restrictions to be lifted.” In the mean time he stays in touch with two other Parkes hockey stars, Mariah Williams and Kurt Lovett, who are both based in Perth at the moment.

With both his kids playing hockey, Stephen still enjoys going to practise days, to watch the first-grade matches and to catch up with hockey friends.

“No matter whether you chase your dreams or whether you just want to play, the most important part is to never forget you play to have fun. “When you play community sport you are part of a club and a community and part of something bigger than yourself, and that is what it is all about.”

By Maggi Barnard

Women’s Bowls

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Thirty ladies rocked up to play, mark or umpire our fancied sport on a perfect spring- time morning this week.

The first round of the Minor Singles saw Carol Reed defeat Laurie Keane, 25-17. Lorraine Baker defeated Lynn Ryan, 25-21, and Jan McPhee defeated Maureen Miller, 25-20.

The next round will see Carol play Jan on Tuesday, with the winner to play Lorraine in the final.

Any old bowls uniforms will be gladly accepted by the committee to be sent to people less fortunate.

Membership fees are due by the end of the month: $89 pens, $109 full, payable at the bar, cards accepted.

Twilight Bowls Competition has begun on Thursday nights. Make up a team of 3 and join from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Nominations for Minor Pairs are now open. Nominations close 3rd November.

President’s Day Mini Carnival is on 27th October. Mufti dress is Bright & Bizarre! Nominate by Tuesday, 20th.

Special date: the weekend of 14/15 Nov is the club’s 100th Anniversary! Sensational spectator bowls on the Saturday as our men contend with invited teams! Bowls for everyone on Sunday.

By Lea Orr

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Editorial – Maggi Barnard Phone 0403 080 085 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

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