YMGCR Bowls Club.
Wednesday Social Bowls Report.
Unseasonably warm weather was the order of the day for the 40 players who turned out last Wednesday. Among those who played were visitors from Leopold, Katandra West, Barooga, and closer to home, players from Yarrawonga and Club Mulwala. Play was in the north – south orientation, and the format was the now familiar and popular nominated 3 bowl pairs, played over 22 ends. First prize was won by the team of Garry Seamer and David Irvine, who shared $90.00 and a drink card each. The runners up prize of $50.00 was shared by the combo of Trevor Kilpatrick and Mick Crawford. The losing rink consolation prize of $20.00 was shared by the pairing of Terry Baxter and Michael Szarbo. Michael Szarbo continued his winning ways when he won the first Lucky Number raffle prize of $25.00. The second Lucky Number raffle prize of $10.00 was won by Darren Liversidge.
Friday Social Bowls Report.
The weather outlook last Friday was diametrically opposed to the fine conditions that met players on Wednesday. Conditions were overcast with threatening skies. Credit then, to the 44 players who turned out and optimistically challenged the weather to do its worst. Finding conditions to their liking on rink 2 were first prize winners Sue and Hayden Beca who shared $100.00 and a drink card each. The old saying goes that number 13 is lucky for some, and so it was for runners up Trevor Kilpatrick and Chris Morrissy when they played on rink 13. Trevor and Chris shared $50.00 for their efforts. The losing rink consolation prize of $30.00 was won by the team of Robbie Wickham and Peter McKay who played on rink 3. The first Lucky Number raffle prize of $15.00 was won by Vicki Withers and the second Lucky Number prize was won by Neil Hamilton who also won $15.00.
Sunday Funday Social Bowls.
Sunday Funday Social Bowls continues to gather momentum, and Sunday’s edition was no exception with 28 players turning out for a great afternoon of social bowls. Proceedings got underway with the now traditional pre game draw to the spider. This week’s winner who found their bowl closest to the spider was Norm Moule, who won $5.00 and a selection of sweets. Finding conditions on rink 5 conducive to good bowls were Ray Brown and Kevin Wallace who shared first prize of $60.00. Ray and Kevin’s opponents were Chris Morrissy and Craig Jordan. Sharing the runners up prize of $40.00 were Judy Leeson and Noel Loft. Judy and Noel’s opponents on rink 6 were Karen Guymer and Greg Green. Playing on rink 10 and winning the losing rink consolation prize of $20.00 were Wendy Pump and Garry Seamer, who played Norm Moule and Ron Lamson. The traditional Lucky Number raffle prizes were won by Dennis Miles who won $20.00 and Les Wilson, who won $10.00.
Proposed changes to Weekend Pennant…. Things that make you go hmmm.
Most Ovens & Murray pennant bowlers would now be aware of the changes which the O&M Pennant Committee have implemented for the 2026 / 2027 season. In essence, the changes are to the lower grades of A section, where all A grade sides, below A2 will now field 3 rinks, rather than the traditional 4 rinks. Obviously, this is a change that has engendered a considerable amount of debate within the constituent clubs, among pennant players and club weekend selection panels. On the face of it, the clubs who would be the most passionate about the changes would be the smaller clubs, and so it transpired.
The O&M Pennant Committee received much communication from clubs, either arguing for, or against the changes. There were clubs writing to other clubs arguing against the changes, which raised eyebrows in some quarters. Events came to a head at the Ovens & Murray AGM, which was held at the Wangaratta Bowls Club on Sunday the 14th of June.
All clubs who had written to the O&M Regional Committee were invited to speak for, or against the change, as implemented. Clubs, who hadn’t communicated their position to the O&M Committee, also had their chance to speak for, or against. The main point of contention, from the club’s perspective, was a lack of communication, and consultation, from the O&M Region concerning the changes before they were implemented. While technically correct, you could argue that this contention, from the clubs concerning communication was somewhat disingenuous, as the O&M Region have been trying to engender debate and feedback from clubs concerning change for several years.
After the for and against debate, a representative from the O&M Region Pennant Committee read a prepared statement outlining the committee’s reasons for implementing the changes. The O&M Pennant committee advised that while they would take notice of the result of the ballot, to be held after the for and against arguments, they were under no obligation to reverse the decision. Their position was that they are appointed to make decisions that are in the best interests of the overall competition. And, in the Pennant Committee’s defence they have a better picture of the competition as a whole, than the individual constituent clubs. A ballot was then held, and it has to be said that the result of the ballot was convincing; against the change were 19 clubs; 10 clubs voted for the change. And there it stands; once matters are decided, we’ll report on how the changes may affect the clubs and overall competition. Until next week, good bowling.