Echuca Bowls Club
Last Thursday’s men’s jackpot pairs sponsored by Moama Bowling Club and Echuca South Store saw 20 teams participate, with visitors from Tongala, Rich River, Kyabram, Mathoura, Pyramid Hill, Moama, Yarrawonga, and Winchelsea.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
At the end of some very close competition there were seven two-game winners, starting with Geoff Tinning / Peter Kesson (+3), Max Bennett / Col Berryman (+6), Lindsay Vallence (+9), Ian Page / Steve Cunnington (+11), Norm Hodge / Richard Blain (+21), runners-up Ian Whiting / Greg Clymo (+22), and the winners Jim Ferrier / Eddie Blampied (+23).
Best one-game went to Rob Anset / Brian O’Meara (+20).
Friday’s scroungers saw a small field competing, with the winner Kristy Gillingham from Cec Moss.
Saturday’s social bowls, sponsored by the Pastoral Hotel and Roma Pizza, brought out a field of 24, with only Pat Schram and Laurie Davie winning their three games (3 + 74) on a count back from runners-up Ivan Hicks / Ricky Phyland (2.5 + 65) and Keith Robertson / Lisa Humphrys (2.5 + 62).
Tuesday was the first day of the ESSEN-sponsored five-week five-a-side competition.
The morning started with sunshine after overnight rain, then a shower, sunshine, and finally rain, with the competition called off halfway through the last game.
Well done to the 30 bowlers for braving the elements.
Winners on the day were Wombats with six points (+22), comprising John Dinsdale, Gayle Kerr, Neil Dovaston, June Clifford, and John Battye.
Entry sheets are up for all the club events, with payment expected when you enter please.
A weekend pennant practice match has been scheduled at Cohuna Golf on Sunday, September 20, with lunch at 12pm and bowls at 1pm. Names on the list ASAP.
The next tournament is the popular Joyce Thorn Memorial Ladies Pairs set down for the weekend of September 12 and 13. Entries to Rhonda Gallagher on 0448 400 051.
There was no winner of mini bingo last Friday so it jackpots to $1083 tonight at drinks between 4 and 6pm.
The members draw went to Sharon Van Der Zand, who unfortunately was not present, so it jackpots to $140 tonight.
Moama Bowling Club
Social Bowls
Tuesday, August 18 – Men’s Triples
Winners: Owen Roberts, Ian McGregor, Garth Wiffen.
Runner-up: Roman Lewandowski, Paul Jones, Alan Watson.
1st Game Winners: John Shaw, Ian Smith, Col Hayes.
2nd Game Winners: Dudley Kaine, Phillip Allen, Russell Kelly.
Ladies Pairs
Winners: Sandra Harvey, Robyn Thomassen.
Runners-up: Lorna Jones, Sandra Connolly.
1st Game Winners: Rhonda Solomon, Ann Lynch.
2nd Game Winners: Rhonda Solomon, Ann Lynch.
Thursday, August 20 - Ladies Scroungers
Winner: Lorna Jones.
Runner-up: Shirley Sampson.
Rink Winners: Rhonda Solomon, Sandra Connolly, Mary Kaine, Carmel Simpson, Margot Brennan, Lyn Snell, Pam Dodman.
Ditch: Shirley Riters, Sue Holmes.
Men’s Pairs
Winners: Alan Jones, Ian Smith.
Runner-up: Jock Linehan, Peter Campbell.
1st Game Winners: Ian McGregor, Arch Bailey.
2nd Game Winners: Tim Frazier, Gordon Slimmon.
Saturday, August 22 - Open Pairs
Winners: Sue Holmes, Jock Linehan.
Runners-up: Pam Hayes, Col Hayes.
1st Game Winners: G Armstrong, R Armstrong.
2nd Game Winners: Lindy Van Nuren, Tinus Van Turen.
Indoor Bowls - Tuesday, August 18 - Open
Winners: Audrey Matchett, Gwen Hurst, John Zealley, Joy Hooper (21).
Runners-up: Maurie Jones, Pam Kerr, Mary McKenzie, Roland Matchett/Ron Hooper (19).
Thursday, August 20 - Open
Winners: Pam Cater, John Zealley, Joy Hooper (32).
Runners-up: Pam Pellegrino, Pam Kerr, Mary McKenzie, Ron Hooper (8).
Moama RSL
Indoor Bowls - Monday, August 24
26 players played three games of nine ends.
The winners on 46 points were Pamela Rayment (Skip), Shirley McKinnon (3rd), (2nd), and Sheryl Campion (Lead).
The runners up with 42 points were John Leary (Skip), Bev Griffiths (3rd), (2nd), and Sue Underwood (Lead).
Third place with 34 points were Carol Glass (Skip), Dawn Beer (3rd), Rosie Lewandowski (2nd), and Colin Hicks (Lead).
New members are welcome.
Rochester Bowls Club
Friday afternoon bowls
On Friday, August 21, 24 bowlers played drawn pairs, with a 2-4-2 format.
Winning both their games with eight shots up were Ray Sangster and Kim Wright – congratulations.
Close behind them, with two wins and seven shots up, were Richard Feuk and Cheryl Lethlean.
Drawn pairs will be played next Friday, August 28 at 1.30pm.
Names to be entered on the list prior to 12pm.
Friday social bowls
Friday social bowls is set to commence once the season opens – hopefully on Friday, September 11.
Indoor bowls
Winners on Monday, August 17 was the team of Greg Machar, Yvonne Smolenaars, and David Burdett – well done team.
Indoor bowls will be run again on Monday, August 24, and bowlers are asked to be there by 6.45pm, ready for a 7pm start.
Monday, August 31 will be the last night of indoor bowls for the season.
Bowlers are requested to bring a small plate to share so that we can finish off the season with some extra socialising.
Pennant training
Begins Thursday, September 3 at 10am.
If you plan to play pennant this season, get along to training each week if you are able.
Coaching
Marg Knight is offering coaching for new bowlers, commencing Thursday, September 3 at 10am.
If you know someone that might benefit from some coaching, please encourage them to contact Marg on 0407 093 848.
Save the date
Please save Friday, September 4 for the season opening and footy tipping presentation night. Details to come.
2026-27 handbook
If you wish for your details to be included in the club’s handbook, please ensure that you have ticked the applicable box on the membership forms, i.e. “I consent to my bowlslink number, name and phone number being published in the club handbook.”
60 and over
The 60 and over competition begins on September 2 at Elmore. Play kicks off at 11am.
Teams need to be entered before 6pm on Sunday, August 30.
Skippers should enter their teams by notifying Phil Mace on 0428 290 351 or Alan Gerrish on 0427 461 448.
Any members who are looking for a game but not in a team, please let the delegates know — Francis Keech on 0477 949 700 or Dave Murray on 0477 520 385 — as they will attempt to get them a game.
Bar duty
Monday – Thursday 5 – 6.30pm
31 – 3 September - B. Coghill and B. Smolenaars.
7 – 10 - K. Barker and G. Chambers.
14 – 17 - A. Williams and D. Hocking.
Lockington Bowls Club
Persistent rain on Wednesday forced the game of scrounge to be cancelled.
Saturday greeted bowlers in much more favourable conditions.
Five rinks were in operation to support the larger number of members and visitors.
On rink one, Ray Hanson overpowered the opposition in scoring 52 points to win the spoils ahead of Rod Fiedler, 44, and Bruce Haines on 43 points.
Next door, Ashley Dobell returned to form in managing a top tally of 58 points, leading home Lorraine Appleby, 45, and a gallant Denise Gilmore on 35 points.
Another close game featured on rink three, as Pos Andrea carried home the party pies with a fine score of 49 points to win narrowly from Polly Major, 45 points.
Jim Harris managed 28 points to shade Geoff Pilgrim on a stylish 15 points — not much luck.
Four bowlers locked horns on rink four, with the scoring pretty even, where Owen "Smiley" McPhee showed plenty of class to amass a match-winning 44 points and finish ahead of Russell Shawcross, 38 points, and John Andrea, 34.
Visitor Jason Gilmore brought up the rear on 23 points.
The final rink delivered a classic display of bowls from all competitors.
Natalie McLaughlin stormed home to take the game on 56 points, shading Alan Sharpe, 47 points, and Sharon Sharpe with 35. Plenty of laughter and fun.
The club will be starting to hold the Friday evening practice and barbecue shortly.
Members are reminded of the practice match against Gunbower scheduled for Sunday, September 17, to be held at the Gunbower Bowling Club with a 1pm start.
Rich River Golf Club
Results
August 18
18-Hole Medley Stableford East: A – S Harris 40pts c/b, B – S Gombarovic 38pts c/b, C – T Henery 45pts.
August 20
Men’s Par East: A – M Mahady +6, B – J Foyster +8.
August 22
Men’s Stableford East: A – M Lizza 40pts, B – J Huysmans 42pts, C – C Evans 38pts c/b.
Women’s Stableford East: 1st – V Kulbars 36pts c/b, 2nd – S Jenkinson 36pts, 3rd – K Mahady 34pts c/b.
August 23
Medley Stableford West: A – E Grumont 39pts, B – P Coburn 42pts, C – B Robinson 46pts.
August 24
Medley Stableford East: 1st – A McPherson 40pts, 2nd – D Gniel 39pts, 3rd – A Leviston 37pts.
Women’s 9-Hole Stableford: 1st – A Pitcher 23pts, 2nd – P Sanders 22pts, 3rd – W Williams 21pts c/b.
August 25
Medley Par West: 1st – B Scott +1, 2nd – D Costello 0, 3rd – D Bath -1 c/b.
August 26
Women’s Stableford East: 1st – P Brennan 34pts, 2nd – J Lawler 33pts, 3rd – M Mustey 32pts c/b.
Women’s 9-Hole Stroke Max West: 1st – E Brettig 34 c/b, 2nd – A Bacon 34, 3rd – A Pitcher 35 c/b.
Rochester Golf Club
The Rochester Golf Club had the honour of hosting the 2026 Trimax Victorian Sand Greens Championship over the weekend.
A 4BBB Stableford round is usually played on the Friday before the main Stroke events, with both men and ladies competing.
56 pairs played in slightly overcast conditions on manicured fairways, where good scoring was predicted in both A and B grades.
Craig Simpson and Steven Valentine were lucky enough to hold off an emotional former Rochester Club Champion, Brian Gledhill and partner, local Craig Franklin, both on 42 Stableford points.
Next best in A-grade were Paul Hutchinson and Michael Polycarpon, Ian Armer and Colin McNamarra, Brendan McCarthy and Steve Holt, Nathan Schorback and Anthony Tanner, and Grant Humbert, all on 41 points.
Jan Townrow (third) and Jan Conder (fifth) were the ladies’ nearest the pin winners, while Tania Dignan and Karen Taylor were the respective straightest drive winners in their grades.
Conder also won the longest drive in A-grade, and Rachel Smith won the B-grade section.
B-grade tends to have the highest Stableford points, especially in a 4-ball format.
Jason Cartledge and Nick Page stole the show with 46 points from Jarrod and Rachel Smith on a countback from a long list of players on 42 points, including Zac McInness and Brent Sweeney, Ian Rathjen and Kelly Cheong, and Kevin Humbert and Darren Carnie.
Craig Boucher (three), Andrew Kane (five), David Gebbie (12), and Brad Duke was closest to the pin on the 16th.
Andrew Field won the straightest drive in A-grade and Paul Hutchinson was the B-grade section straightest drive on the 10th fairway.
A-grade’s Ed Carracher had the longest drive down the 15th fairway, while Peter Howlett was the B-grade winner.
Multiple Rochester men's champion James Walsh again showed why he is regarded by many as one of Rochester's best golfers, especially over the past 20 years, by winning the men's section of the Trimax Victorian Sand Greens Championship held over two days last weekend.
Walsh shot a course record of three-under 68 on Saturday, followed by 69 when the pressure was on in the last round on Sunday afternoon. His five-under total was the only score to better par.
Euroa's Edward Carracher finished on +1, current Rochester champion Jake Wright on +2, Mount Macedon's Alex Fraser on +3, and Beechworth's Vaughan Sanders and Darren Edwards, and Belvoir Park's Ben Tatt were all on +4.
Kristie Kennedy from Ballarat easily took out the women’s section, shooting 160 to win by ten shots over Neangar Park’s Helen Leech (170) and a tie for third between Neangar teammate Bernice Campbell and Stawell’s Tania Dignan (174).
Lockington Golf Club
August 22 – Stroke
The Gartside Cup is considered one of the club’s most prestigious trophies, named in honour of Cliff Gartside, who was instrumental in the purchase of the Middleton Rd property that the club now calls home.
Saturday was the Gartside Cup Final, and it was a first-time winner in Ian Maddison, freshly back from holidays, who took home trophy with a solid 84-13-71, on a countback from Andy Freemantle (88-17-71).
Trav Mancer (74) was next best of the finalists, ahead of Ash Portwine and Grant Humbert (both nett 75).
Ian also won the Locky Foodworks Player of the Day voucher, as well as the Monthly Medal and Division 1 honours, while Andy Freemantle won Division 2.
Best scratch scores: Division 1 – Grant Humbert 76; Division 2 – Andy Freemantle 88, c/b Trav Mancer.
Nearest the pins: Seventh – Grant Humbert; second shot on the fifth – Stuart Newton, Darren Carnie; second shot on the 18th for the six-pack smack – Grant Humbert.
Spike’s Longest Drive on the 15th, sponsored by Hot ‘n’ Cold Plumbing – Grant Humbert, Ian Maddison, and JD Wright.
Neither the Echuca Hip Pocket eagles nest on the third, nor Captain Grant’s yardstick on the 16th, was won.
Upcoming events
Thursday, August 27 – Joy Bickford Rose Bowl Teams Event. Entries and enquiries to Pauline Humbert on 0409 038 554.
Saturday, August 29 – Stableford (change to program).
Rich River Croquet Club
Kingball Croquet - Thursday, August 20
Nine members showed off their skills and expertise playing kingball croquet this morning.
Kingball is a combination of association and golf croquet and is played individually in a group of four players.
Congratulations to the winner Cherie Lessing and the runner-up Sandra Retallick.
Come and try croquet event - Sunday, August 30 at 2pm
Croquet is a low-impact sport and a very social game, but also suits those who enjoy competition.
The game is suitable for all ages and coaching and equipment will be supplied. A cuppa is available after play. Please wear flat-soled shoes.
Venue: Rich River croquet courts at Rich River Golf Club.
Contact president Sandra Retallick on 0408 466 123 or Marg Kennedy on 0491 063 644.
Kyabram Pigeon Club
August 16
The Kyabram Pigeon Club continued its 2026 season on August 16, running a second event from 16 Mile Gums, up the Cobb Highway south of Hay.
The East and West divisions were merged on this occasion, meaning 16 trainers of 230 birds took on the combined race.
C, R and D Robb from Echuca took out the race, their birds flying an average velocity of 1525.9 metres per minute on the way back to their owners’ loft, narrowly edging Ray and Roza Armstrong at 1522.2.
M and P Racing rounded out the podium at a rate of 1491.2 mpm.
Also on August 16, a second race, further afield at Booligal, north of Hay.
C, R and D Robb did well again, logging second place with a velocity of 1530 mpm, but Kyabram’s P.K King and sons were the runaway winner with 1853.64.
Ray and Roza Armstrong made the top three again, posting 1527.3 mpm.
August 23
16 Mile Gums and Booligal were again the locations for a pair of races and results were fairly similar to the previous week.
The 16 Mile Gums race was again taken out by C, R and D Robb, at a slower speed this time of 1330.9 mpm.
Ray and Roza Armstrong (1330.4) again were narrowly held to second, while Andrew Williamson placed third with 1300.7.
The Robbs continued to clean up also claiming the Booligal race at a speed of 1356.8, followed by Troy Schwenke at 1338.3 and the Armstrongs at 1334.3.
An additional ‘raffle race’ was held from Booligal, resulting in Kyabram’s Peter White taking the win at 1331.2, followed by Gary Beavis at 1327.98 and Schwenke at 1304.4.