Rochester Bowls Club
Closure of greens
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Please note that the greens will be closed on a Monday from now on.
This is to ensure that the greenskeeper is able to prepare the greens adequately now that the 2025-26 season has begun.
The greens are open for play Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am unless there’s a ‘green closed’ sign on display.
Triples tournament
Last Saturday, September 13, Rochester Bowls Club hosted a very successful triples tournament.
Winners – Richard Buckley (Kyneton), runners-up – Craig Hillier (Deniliquin) and 3rd – Peter Holzer (Mathoura).
The tournament committee wish to thank everyone who put up their hand to lend a hand, in particular BBQ team Mick McArdle and Hedley Moon, bar staff Mick Ellis, Ken Burns and Bev Hetherington, Leanne Pickens for selling the raffle tickets, Mathew Walles for preparing the greens, and the kitchen staff.
Mural
One of Ellsworth Overton’s murals has been installed on the North fence line.
The mural will remain on the property of the bowls club until someone in the public chooses to purchase it.
Thanks to Wayne Park and Peter Anderson, who delivered and erected the mural, assisted by Allan Benson.
Cheers to Ken Burns for sending through a couple of photos.
Social bowls
On Friday, September 19, 19 bowlers braved the windy and showery conditions.
The winning team consisted of Anton Gusak, Heather Curnick and Fay Wolfe.
There was no winner of the jackpot.
If you wish to play next Friday, please ring the club office on Friday morning 8.45 – 9.15am to record your name.
Coaching
Each Thursday morning from 10 am.
Marg Knight currently has five new bowlers who have all chosen to try their hand at the sport.
Leigh Milgate is also on hand guiding other bowlers through a training session.
Pennant
A pennant practice game was played at White Hills on Sunday, September 21.
This was a busy day for the Rochester community, with many attending Dos Hanson’s 100th birthday celebration and the GVL grand final to cheer on the Rochy Tigers.
Midweek pennant
Please note that there has been a change to the draw for Division two.
Round five sees Rochester hosting Moama and in round ten, Moama will host Rochester.
60 and Over
The three game winners at Echuca on September 17 were the Rochester team of Allan Benson, Bert Smolenaars, Kevin Hall and Tim Quinlan.
Runners-up for the day were Laurie Quinn’s team from Echuca.
Rochester Bowls Club will be hosting the competition this coming Wednesday, Sept 24th at 11am.
Thank you to the members who have offered to assist on this day.
Bar Duty
Monday – Friday 5 – 6.30pm
22 – 26 September: H. Moon and G. Chambers.
29 September – 3 October: R. Dennis and Octavia.
6 – 10 October: M. Ellis and K. McCormack.
Lockington Bowls Club
The club hosted members of the Gunbower Bowling Club on Saturday for a practice match with the annual prestigious stirrers spoon up for grabs.
This event has been played between the two clubs since the early 1990s and the Spoon is awarded to the losing club.
The two main instigators were V ‘Chicken’ Dillon and the late Lanced Mounsey.
On Saturday, the recipient was the home club Lockington with a losing score 45-70.
A. Dobell, A. Harris, L. Buchanan, J. Fisher (s) lost to N. Ketterer, S. Fulton, J. White, G. Spittal (s) 7-20.
R. Hanson, J. van den Bosch, P. Cunnington, L. McInnes (s) l.t. J. Mastin, M. L'Huillier, P. Coates, G. L'Huillier (s) 10-15.
W. Musgrove, S. Peter, J. Harris, S. Pavone (s) d. J. Doyle, J. Pearson, J. Dickins, I. Howard (s) 17-7.
P. Humbert, D. Gilmore, K. Stout (s) l.t. J. Jamieson, B. Kinnane, M. Hogan (s) 11-28).
Two games of triples were played between local members, with L. Appleby, P. Andrea, C. Felmingham (s) l.t. J. Andrea, R. Shawcross, S. Felmingham (s) 10-15; E. Gumbleton, K. Maddison, S. Harris (s) won a thriller over T. Westwood, R. Fiedler, G. Wood (s) 11-10.
The Sixty and Over competition started at the Echuca Bowls Club on Wednesday.
A few hard-luck stories from the local members, but it was great to have the season started after a couple of hold-ups, and the hospitality and greens were excellent.
The Wednesday Scrounge was cancelled, but will be held this week for the final session before the Pennant season begins.
Scrounge will be held on a Saturday.
The women will hold their social bowls on a Tuesday until Pennant begins.
Last Tuesday, the social bowls were cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions.
The popular barefoot bowls will commence on Tuesday, October 7, at 6.30pm for 7pm start.
Remember this date.
On Sunday, October 19 the club will hold the prestigious annual waterwheel classic fours starting at 9.30am.
Contact Cindy Felmingham or Ray Hanson for entries.
This tournament is sponsored by AutoBarn (Echuca) and Clive Coventry Funerals - Echuca and Kyabram.
The annual lucky lotto competition is being held again.
Contact Cindy Felmingham to enter.
Birthday wishes to Ray Brereton on his special occasion - another O.B.E.
Rochester Golf Club
Wednesday 9-hole social golf partners were drawn for a 3-person Ambrose played over the back nine.
The winners were Alex McQuibban, Laurie Radley and Shane Bywaters, shooting two under par 34 net 29.
Mike Austin, Chris Trewin, and Brendan McCarty were next best (31) on a countback from Bruce Major, Des Hocking and Greg Watkins.
Nearest-the-pin went to Des Hocking for his close shot to the 12th hole.
The Rochester Ladies played their last official event for the year last Friday.
Captain Barbara McCarty had another great round to win on 43 Stableford points, and the runner-up was Karen Taylor with 36 points.
Karen Taylor was closest to the pin on 3 and 5, Louise Williamson on 8 and Lauren Coghill on 16.
Saturday's men's competition was a par round.
Peter Anderson finally had a win with +3, Troy McInnes was next on a countback from Chris Trewin and Col Johnson all on +2.
Other ball winners were Shane Bywaters +1 and Shane Connelly square with the card.
Bywaters had a day out to win nearest-the-pins on 3,16, and for his second shot to the 18th scrape, while Captain Darren White was closest to the 5th and young Zac McInness played a good second shot to the 9th hole.
Our very popular MND Charity day is this Friday, September 26, in a 4-person (any combination) Ambrose event, hit-off from 10am to 11am.
Lockington Golf Club
Thursday, September 18 – Stableford
Player of the day was Fiona Newton, with a second successive win, scoring the day’s best score of 29 points, ahead of runners-up Pauline Humbert and Jan Clymo, both with 27.
Fiona capped off a good day by also winning the nearest-the-pin.
Friday, September 19 – 3 person Ambrose
Sponsored by Echuca Mazda and Echuca Mitsubishi.
A terrific turnout enjoyed the day’s competition, with 18 teams including visitors from Howlong, Bamawm, Boort, Bendigo, Rochester, Maldon, Valley View, Rushworth, Mitiamo and Murray Downs.
The theme of the day was hot scoring, none better than the event’s winners, Kelly Cheong (Rushworth) and Locky members Ron Dixon and Tom Scurrah, who combined brilliantly to score 67-9.67-57.33.
Runners-up were the sponsors' team of Matt Hoare, Wayne Olchorn (Howlong) and Todd Louttit (Bamawm) with a super 63-4.83-58.17 (7-under par, the equal best scratch score of the day).
Third place went to the Valley View team of Mick Coyne, Mick Gallivan and Daryl Harrison, an excellent 63.4.67-58.33 (also 7-under par).
Ball comp: Dale Anderson (Mitiamo), Jamie Lister (Mitiamo), Grant Humbert 59.17; Ash Portwine, Simon Portwine, Ian Maddison 59.33; the Rochester team of Bruce Bryant, David Gebbie and Brendan McCarty 60.17; Di Johnson, Fiona Newton, Stuart Newton 60.5; Terry Thomas, Mark Lyons, Andrew Harris 60.67.
Nearest-the-pins: 3rd– Daryl Harrison; 7th– Steve Holt; 16th– Daryl Harrison; 17th– Paul Kuiper (Valley View); 2nd shot 18th– Brendan McCarty. Lois Carnie (Murray Downs) was in accurate form, winning the NTPs on the 3rd, 7th and 16th, as well as the long drive.
The men’s long drives were won by Grant Humbert (under 60) and Lee Hicks (over 60).
Many thanks to Echuca Mazda and Echuca Mitsubishi for their generous sponsorship of the day.
Well done to all the members for a great job with the afternoon tea, and all who worked in the clubhouse and bar to make it such a great day.
Saturday, September 20– Stroke – Money Day
In a day of good scoring, Ian Maddison took home the cash with a fine 81-14-67, ahead of Ash Portwine (75-7-68) and Jason Wakefield (79-10-69) in a very competitive finish.
Nearest-the-pins: 17th – Ian Maddison; 2nd shot 5th – Grant Humbert (A), Darren Carnie (B), Don Muhleisen (C); 2nd shot 18th for the 6-pack smack – Jason Wakefield. Spike’s Longest Drive on the 1st, sponsored by Hot ‘n’ Cold Plumbing – Grant Humbert (A), Stuart Newton (B), Tom Scurrah (C).
Captain Grant’s yardstick prize on the 16th was won for the first time all season, with Ash Portwine unleashing a super accurate shot to win the $186.
The O’Connors Case eagles nest on the 3rd wasn’t won.
Upcoming events
Friday, September 26 – Stableford – Ivy Kelly Tray – 4th Round Mona Hewlett Trophy. Duty: Pauline Humbert, Sue Harris.
Saturday, September 27– 3 person Ambrose.
Early hit off from 10am available, for those wanting to be finished in time to watch the grand final.
Saturday, October 11 – Presentation Night – 7-7.30pm – bring and share casserole tea.
Thursday, November 6 – AGM - note change of date – 8pm – all members are welcome.
Bamawm Golf Club
Well, what a way to finish off our 2025 season with over 30 golfers on course for a 3-person Ambrose.
Thanks to visitors from Lockington, Rochester, Mornington, Keysborough and Echuca Back 9.
Scratch winners were Travis Mancer, Stuart Newton and Ben Newth with 66.
Nett winners were Graham Leys, Mark Foster and Mark Doyle with 69-7.33- 61.67, with runners-up Jeff Carnie, Leon Laffy and Stephen Holt with 62.34.
NTP 2nd shot 9/18- Graeme Leys.
NTP 8/17- Michael Dobson.
NTP 2nd shot 4/13- Lee Hicks.
NTP 7/16- Mark Doyle.
Longest drive- Stephen McIntyre (men).
Thanks for an amazing season, see you all next year.
60 and Over
The Campaspe and District 60 and over bowls group held the start of the season at Echuca on a mild and cloudy day.
The season was supposed to start at Lockington last week, but it was decided that it would be too cold at 10.5 °C for us oldies.
There were 26 teams of four, competing for a chook, that’s 104 players approximately as some teams had players short.
There were five three-game winners.
Unfortunately, Dave Grants’ team from Stanhope only had one bowl near the jack and missed out.
Four other teams only had two bowls near the jack.
They were Doug Goldworthys’ team and John Langleys’ team who both missed out.
Laurie Quinn’s team of Noel McMaster lead, Neil Dovaston second, Andrew Humphrys third and Laurie Quinn Skipper, came second.
The winners were Allan Bensons’ team that consisted of Bert Smolenaars' lead, Allan Benson second, Tim Quinlan third, and Kevin Hall as their Skipper.
Both teams' players won a chook each.
Next week is at Rochester starting at 11am.
The contacts for next week are David Murray on 0477 520 385 or Francis Keech on 0477 949 700
Good bowling to all.