Champions: This four was among three teams that won four games for the afternoon and also the the winning combination. The winning four was Steve Usher and Phil Cooper from Tongala, along with Lloyd Buchanan and Brian Kinnane from Lockington.
The club held a successful annual Toyota Open Fours event on Sunday, attracting 96 bowlers from several local and interstate clubs, including Echuca, Elmore, Kerang, Ky Valley View, Lockington, Mathoura, Moama, Mooroopna, Rich River, Rochester, Stanhope, Trentham and Tongala.
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Club president Neil Haines welcomed all bowlers and trusted that they enjoyed the ideal greens and hospitality. At the completion of the four games of 10 ends, there were three four-game winners to contend for the major prizes.
This was after there being five three-game winners.
The winners were decided on a points system with the composite Lockington-Tongala rink comprising Brian Kinnane, Lloyd Buchanan, Steve Usher and Phil Cooper (s) scoring 108 points, plus 29 shots, to take home the main trophies.
A countback was required to decide the runners-up and the local Lockington team of Ray Hanson, Kevin Humbert, Andrew Harris, Ian Johnson (s) amassed 105 points, plus 31 shots, to claim second placing ahead of the Mathoura rink of Ray Cassar, Bob Dunwoodie, David Murray, Beryl Murray (s) 105 points, plus 19 shots, in third place.
Special competition winners included Teena Harris (Stanhope), Ron Payne (Echuca), Kim Ray, Sue Harris, Phil Brock (Elmore) and Shane Felmingham. The club thanked all who had assisted in making the day a success. The catering committee were acknowledged for the magnificent meals, the green staff Kevin Humbert and Les Brereton for preparing the excellent greens, Pauline Humbert for the raffle and presentation envelopes.
Tournament secretary Chris Stewart gave sincere thanks to Russell Shawcross, Ray Hanson, Brian Kinnane and Ken Main for organising the field and Lorraine Appleby for her assistance in the tournament format.
Dave Thomas and Phillip Cunnington conducted the bar in good fashion. The sponsors Echuca Toyota Sales, Hammer Graphics - Bamawm and Giddings Co supermarket Lockington were acknowledged for their generosity.
Last Tuesday the women played a game of pairs and the winning duo were Lorraine Appleby and Phyllis MacFarlane (s) to take home the trophies in the "MacFarlane Pairs" competition.
On Tuesday evening the barefoot bowls attracted 28 bowlers to grace the greens. The winning team in the three-bowl pairs was Cindy Felmingham and Ian Haines (s) two wins plus 21 shots, to finish in top spot ahead of Ian Staig and John Fisher (s) two wins plus 12. Third place went to Anthony Westwood and Leon Laffy (s) two wins plus 11 and Amanda Furness and Phillip Cunnington (s) two wins plus five shots.
The club competitions are nearing completion with the women almost down to the semi-final stage. Sue Harris defeated Lorraine Appleby in a high-standard game of bowls and will meet Jenny Fisher in the semi-final.
In the lower half of the draw the ‘Kath and Kim game’ displayed a lot of promise where Kim Ray defeated Katthi Maddison in a close encounter and will play Annette Brereton, while Leanne McInnes will meet Phyllis MacFarlane to decide a semi-finalist.
In the men's section, the B-grade championship, Lloyd Buchanan defeated John Dowie and John Fisher survived a close match against Ian Staig and will play Brian Kinnane.
In the 100-Up championship Brian Kinnane was in top form to beat Lloyd Buchanan.
The women are holding the Annual Medley Fours tournament on Friday starting at 10am. Contact Lorraine Appleby or Annie Haines for details.
On Saturday, April 1 (no joking?) the club will host a visit from the Vermont South bowling club. Bowls will commence at 12pm noon and two games of eight ends will be played before an enjoyable afternoon tea.
Runners-up: Ian Johnson, Andrew Harris, Kevin Humbert and Ray Hanson were runners-up in the event on a countback.
Mathoura moment: David Murray’s Mathoura team of Ray Cassar, Bob Dunwoodie and Beryl Murray finished third in the tournament.
