BOWLING AT BOWRAL WEDNESDAY MARCH 8th (Terry Norwood reporting)
FAREWELL BRIAN PORTER
Brian, who passed away ten days ago, was farewelled in a celebration ceremony at Bevan’s chapel at 11am on Wednesday 8th March. The ceremony was streamed through to Bowral Bowling Club to allow bowlers and members to listen in to proceedings. At the chapel, Bowral Bowling Club Life Member Gordon Lewis joined members of Brian’s family in paying tribute to this devoted family man, fine sportsman and general good bloke. Gordon was rich in his praise of Brian’s contribution to Bowral Bowling where he served as Board member, selector, chairman of selectors, committee member, coach and fine bowler. Vale Brian Porter, RIP.
SEND-OFF FOR LAWRENCE AND CAROL VIPOND
Wednesday March 8th saw the last day of bowling for our dear UK friends Lawrence and Carol Vipond. Following bowls, where Lawrence and his team were victorious by three shots, the Men’s Bowling Committee provided food and a farewell ceremony. Paul Rubie, Glenn Giese and Owen Williams made moving tributes to the Viponds who had earned the respect and admiration of the Bowral bowling fraternity. In an especially moving moment, Life Member Kevin Moore presented Lawrence and Carol with a collection of rare State bowls medals and pins. The Viponds were also presented with some photographs beautifully produced by Bob Edwards, who also made for them a coffee mug with a photographic image on its outer surface. Also presented were a large card signed by bowlers and staff, a laminated match card of one of Lawrence’s games and bowls caps. Carol then responded beautifully on behalf of Lawrence and herself. Following a raucous rendition of ‘For they are jolly good fellows’, the ceremony ended with a spontaneous offering of Auld Lang Syne from those two fine baritones Neville Tanner and Richard Denman. And, as luck would have it, Lawrence and the other players from his game for the day had earlier won the jackpot draw so that he took a share of the $269 prize! Travel safely dear friends and hurry back!
Kevin Moore presenting badges, Lawrence and Carol Vipond and Glenn Giese paying tribute!
GENERAL INFORMATION
- The final of the Men’s Major Triples Championship will be staged on Sunday March 12th at 10am. This should be a cracking game when Stephen Della, Steven Goddard and Dugald Braithwaite take on Mick Anderson, Carl Spilker and Nathan Boyers. Well worth a look!
- The Pennants competitions continue on Saturday with the Grade 2 team travelling to Glenbrook, and the Grade Six team hosting Picton. Both teams are in urgent need of a win so the pressure is on this weekend.
- There will be room for a couple of games of social bowls on Saturday 11th on the Waratah Green. If a lot of social bowlers turn up, the games will need to be played on the Lewis Green which is now somewhat improved following mowing and substantial rolling.
- Following the recent top-dressing, the Wilson Green seems considerably improved in appearance. It is hoped that this green will be back in play in 2-3 weeks.
- Bowral will have four members in each of the men’s Zone 5 singles and senior singles competitions commencing on the 19th March. Best wishes for success are extended to those bowlers.
WEDNESDAY SOCIAL BOWLS
The Waratah Green was the stage for social bowls on this last day of bowling for Lawrence Vipond. It was a lovely sunny day, but a strong blustery wind that couldn’t decide whether it was a north-westerly or a south-westerly challenged the bowlers to select the line!
In the 18-ender that held everyone’s attention on rink 7, Bill Pope, Lawrence Vipond and skipper Paul Rubie did battle against John Fleming, Keith Edwards and John Cummins. With Lawrence firing in his last game, team Rubie grabbed the early initiative and burst to a lead of 7 – 1 after six ends. John, the teenager, and his men then fought back to be within a shot at 8 – 7 after twelve ends and have team Rubie on the back foot. Game on! The two sides then won alternate ends, but with Paul’s team scoring doubles against singles, they extended their lead to five shots with two ends remaining. Team Cummins won the last two ends but the singles they scored weren’t enough and victory went to Paul’s team by 13 – 10. Victory to Lawrence in his last game!
The victorious trio Bill Pope, Lawrence Vipond and Paul Rubie!
Last day for Lawrence and Carol Vipond on the Waratah Green!
John Cummins, John Fleming and Paul Rubie bowling on Lawrence’s last day!
Keith Edwards also bowled with Lawrence on his last day!
In a triples game on rink 8, UK visitor Dave Stanley, Barry Werfel and that wily skipper Owen Williams took on Denis Lees, Viv Gear and the ‘miracle man’ Peter Morales. Winning three of the first four ends and leading 5 – 2, Owen and his team were suddenly on the back foot as they conceded nine shots on the next two ends. They redeemed the situation, however, when they amassed an enormous six shot haul on the eighth end. They followed with a four and were solidly in the lead 17 – 11. Team Morales struggled valiantly, but continued to be out-scored by their opponents. Leading 24 – 15 after seventeen ends, Owen’s team was in the box seat. But never write off team Morales! Winning the next three ends, including a massive six of their own on the 20th end, the game was all square with the last end to play. Regaining their composure, Owen’s team won the last end and took victory at 26 – 24.
Peter, the miracle man in action!
It was another triples game on the next rink where we saw two nonagenarians as skippers, Bill Meredith and Gordon Lewis! Ted McPhee, Neville Tanner and Bill Meredith fought it out against Joel Hunt, Richard Denman and Gordon Lewis. There was a very high scoring start to this game with the score-card showing 5 – 5 after only three ends! The high scoring ends continued and, with team Lewis having the better of the bowling, the score had blown out to 14 – 7 after seven ends. Bill and his men then got the better of their opponents to win four ends on the trot and level the score. The teams then traded alternate ends so that with one end to play Gordon’s team led by three shots and it seemed that all they needed were shots in the head. Joel, who bowled well all day, and Richard got those shots in the head, so that Gordon was holding three when he stepped to the mat with his last bowl. However, DISASTER STRUCK!! Gordon, with his last bowl, trailed the jack to his opponents and they took four shots and the match at 21 – 20! Most certainly a sleepless night followed for Gordon!
Great to have Ted back on the green!
In a triples game on rink 10, Graham Hartnup, Alex Lamb and Tony Oakes took on ninety-year old Keith Scriven, Arnold Lenczuk and skipper Clive Neutze. Although Tony and his team scored five shots in the first three ends, they led by only one at 5 – 4 after five. As with a couple of the other matches, the scoring was quite heavy in this game. There was a five shot haul, a four and a good handful of threes which contributed to the total of 45 shots scored on the twenty-one ends. From 5 – 4 after four ends, Tony’s team advanced their lead so that after ten ends they led 12 – 7. Although the next five ends were shared, team Oakes still had the lead at 17 – 13. It was at this point that Clive and his team took control of the match. They won five of the last six ends bagging a massive 14 shots along the way. The final score was 27 – 18 in favour of team Neutze.
Clive’s in great form at the moment!
In the last of the triples games, Harold Wall, Paul McInerney and Bob Edwards went head to head against Michael Hook, Glenn Giese and Don Coleman. Bob and his men got off to a storming start with a five shot haul on the first end, and Bob really had a spring in his step! However, Don’s team hit back immediately, scoring four shots on the next two ends. With Glenn in particular firing well, team Coleman got the better of the next sets of play to lead 10 – 8 after seven ends. Bob’s team then hit a good patch of form winning the next five ends and advancing to lead 16 – 11. A scorching six on the sixteenth end then put team Edwards in a very strong position at 22 – 11. When time was called after nineteen ends, Bob’s team was in front 24 – 14. To the casual observer, Harold Wall seemed to be in very good form all day.
Harold Wall was on fire all day!
The final match was a pairs where Wal (the bishop) Markow and Graham Hunt battled against Graham Denman and Terry Norwood. There was a very tight opening with singles scored on the first three ends. Things changed on the fourth, however, when Wal and Graham scored an eye-watering five. Ouch! However, Graham and Terry then fought back immediately to lead two ends later at 7 – 6. Ends continued to be close with some fine bowls being played, and the scores were locked at 9 all after ten ends. Graham Denman and Terry then won four of the next five ends to lead 13 – 10. However, when team Hunt scored a three on the next end, they had squared the match. And when time was called two ends later, Graham Hunt and ‘the bishop’ had victory at 15 – 13. This was a very tight game with some fine bowling.
Wal ‘the bishop’ Markow and a very studious Graham Hunt!