Bowls finals double-headers set for weekend
LOCAL bowls grand finals have been moved to Sunday as part of a double-header weekend, after the preliminary finals were postponed due to a total fire ban.
The preliminary finals will now be held on Saturday, giving winning teams just one night’s recovery before a quick back-up into the Sunday grand finals.
But, in a move that “hasn’t happened for some years”, the Geelong-Ballarat Region pennant committee was forced to decide on venues for the grand finals to give hosting clubs enough notice to prepare.
Belmont has been selected to host the Premier and Division 1 deciders, while Eastern Park (Divisions 2 and 3), Geelong (Divisions 4 and 5), Leopold (Divisions 6, 7 and 8) and St Leonards (Divisions 9, 10 and 11) will also host grand finals.
“This may not be unprecedented, but it has not hap- pened for some years,” Geelong-Ballarat Region pennant committee chairman Michael McGovern said last night.
“We like to give venue clubs plenty of notice to allow them to prepare their greens and arrange catering,” he said.
The program for Saturday’s preliminary finals will see five venues being used.
Premier division will be played at Drysdale, Division 1 and 3 at Eastern Park, Divisions 2, 6 and 8 at Highton, Divisions 4 and 5 at Queenscliff and Divisions 7, 9, 10 and 11 at Ocean Grove.
The committee is very thankful for the continued support from its member clubs at this vital time of the season with the Women’s Country Week Carnival of bowls also being an additional pressure point that is placed on clubs this coming week.
Weather forecasts for next weekend may necessitate a further review of the playing situations which will be announced through the Geelong Advertiser.