CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024

A number of Club Championship events were decided last Friday night, including the all important Men’s and Ladies’ Singles.

The evening kicked off with a free B-B-Q provided by the club and cooked by that perennial volunteer Dave Moore, ably assisted on this occasion by Graham Cooper.  As expected, a fair crowd was in attendance – and hasn’t that deck been a huge success – how did we get on without it? 

The men’s final was contested by Max Mannik and “Nifty” Nev Brown (I remember being runner-up to his father Frank, about 25 years ago).  Nev bowled very well, as he does, but Max was “on fire” from the outset and never really looked like losing – and he didn’t.  

Congratulations to a very worthy winner but what took you so long Max?  It was generally predicted that you would have been the Singles Champion in your first year at the club but you’ve taken three or four seasons to do it.  Commiserations Nev and bad luck – you struck a very good bowler on the night who was absolutely, “on song.”

The Ladies final was contested by the usual cast of Jen Bainbridge and Gail Bowman.  This game also featured some excellent bowling but unfortunately did not get the attention it deserved as the men had the “TV Rink” which was closest to the majority of the spectators.  The ladies had quite a battle but in the end it was Jennifer who prevailed (again) – congratulations to both players.

Further across the green, two relative newcomers in Gayle Harkness and Brenda Moloney were competing for the Minor Championship.  For both ladies it was probably a great opportunity to play in front of a crowd for perhaps the first time, as at least one of them will front up in the Midweek Pennant Grand Final on Tuesday, when they may have to contend with noisy opposition supporters.   

In the end it was Gayle who prevailed.  Commiserations Brenda and congratulations Gayle – you may have created history as the first lady to win the Minor Championship!  Now you’ll have to set your sights on Jen Bainbridge’s title (having won the Minor you can’t enter again).

Even further from the possible distraction created by the spectators, Rick Burns and Lynne Smith contested the President’s Handicap.  With both players on the same handicap this was expected to be a close match and that was exactly what transpired – in fact the umpire was called on more than one occasion to determine who held shot.

There was little or no celebration but when the dust finally settled it was evident that Rick had his hands on the trophy – well done both players.

Des Leigh