SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4th (Terry Norwood reporting)
CHRIS BENTON MEMORIAL
Saturday saw the staging of the Chris Benton Memorial event. Graciously hosted by Mrs Benton and her family, the event had eight teams competing for the the annual Benton prize. The opening ceremony was introduced by Chairman Stephen Della who gave the background to the Chris Benton story, including his battle with brain cancer. All members/bowlers were inspired to contribute to the day’s fund which was to be donated to brain cancer charity.
At the after-bowls session, Mrs Benton spoke very nicely about her husband’s cancer and the significance of continuing the research and treatment of cancer. She was delighted to be able to congratulate, in particular, one member of the winning team on the day, Joel Hunt, who is a survivor of brain cancer. All bowlers were grateful for, and wish to express their thanks for the food and drink provided by the Benton family.
The winners of the bowls competition, and reigning Chris Benton Memorial Champions were the team skippered by Mick Flynn. The quiet achiever Peter Cornwell, that resolute stick wielder Joel Hunt, the fiercely competitive Ian Crow and the wily leftie himself Mick Flynn comprised the only team to win both their matches. With Peter and Joel constantly on the jack despite the strong, blustery wind, and Ian and Mick calculating the strategies down to the centimetre, this team out-thought their oppositions and wore them down in two tight games, 11 – 9 and 11 – 10. Well done Peter, Joel, Ian and Mick!
That wily leftie himself, Mick Flynn!
There were two teams with one win and one draw, but the team of Graham Hunt, Arnold Lenczuk, Terry Norwood and skipper Bob Edwards finished in second position just in front of the team made up of Gordon Lewis, Stephen Della, Greg Lewis and skipper Ash Lewis.
Bob Edwards, another wily leftie!
It was a wonderful day and a great time was had by all. Photographs of the day can be viewed elsewhere on the Club website. Hopefully, it will be even bigger and better next year.
PENNANTS NEWS
The Zone 5 Pennants competitions will commence on Saturday February 25. In preparation, the Club selectors are organising trial matches to help with practice and team selections. The first of these trials will be held next Saturday February 11th with grade 6 matches being staged within the club. The teams, including reserves, are listed on the notice board and bowlers are asked to indicate their availability by marking their names on the sheet.
Gail Fraser limbering up for Pennants trials!
The following Saturday, there will be trial matches against the Robertson and Bundanoon Clubs involving both grade 2 and grade 6 teams. Again, selected bowlers will be expected to indicate availability by marking their names off on the schedule.
MEN’S MINOR SINGLES FINAL
The final of the Men’s Minor Singles will be staged on Wednesday February 11th. By arrangement with the players, this match has been shifted from a Saturday to a Wednesday to avoid clashes with the Chris Benton Event and Pennant trials. The final will see Steven Goddard pitted against Terry Norwood in a game which, hopefully, will be good enough and close enough to distract a few of the Wednesday social bowlers! That intrepid reporter for the Southern Highlands News, the energetic nonagenarian Gordon Lewis, is wondering whether this will be another come from behind victory by one of these bowlers both of whom came from behind to win their semi-finals. Here’s hoping that both bowlers can give him something interesting to write about!