Dubbo City Bowls Club prepares for last roll
BOWLERS rolled up to the city’s original bowling club last week thinking it was to be their last day on the greens that had received their first bowl on March 7, 1906.
The famous club was formed by a dedicated band of citizens to bring a new sport to the town. The club was formed at a meeting in the Royal Hotel on July 27, 1904 but through drought and other difficulties, work on the bowling green in Victoria Park did not commence until August 26, 1905.
Wellington and St George clubs were the first to visit and thus began over a century of friendships and competition.
Over the years Dubbo City Bowling Club has expanded its horizons, inviting females onto the greens in the late 1950s and allowing more flexible dress codes to enable social bowlers to come and try the ancient sport.
Last week as members prepared themselves for “their last fling” a memo was distributed:
Bowlers – the Club’s License was not transferred yesterday, so it is business as usual. This Thursday, Twilight Bowls is not on as it is too late to re-organize. Saturday,
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday bowls are back on next week. Championships can be played on Saturday. Pennants on Sunday for the 7’s will be a home game against Macquarie at 10am.
Nevertheless, the regulars gathered on Thursday and played “as if it was their last” according to a trusted source!
Dubbo City Bowlers will remain at their spiritual home until the licence is transferred to the RSL Sporties Club, the old Railway Bowling Club in north Dubbo. Once there, players will have to master synthetic greens which have been laid in recent weeks.
LAST week we thought would be our last on the hallowed turf, but ‘rumours of our demise were grossly exaggerated”!
Since 2020 we have all become accustomed to ever-changing circumstances so nothing was going to stop our staunch members rolling up for at least one more Sunday morning on the old City rinks.
Thirty-four bowlers gathered for gossip, laughter and even some “unbiased” bowls!
Steve Kelly, Karen Greenhalge and skip Peter Sinclair took control against Ron Morrison, Helen Hamblin and Gordon Lummis, claiming 12 of the 16 ends. The disciplined triples team led by “skip Pete”, chalked up 19 shots to six.
On the rink next door, it was another one-sided affair – if you can be one-sided in a two-a-team match! In a display worthy of a mention, John Cole and John Fardell turned on a masterful display, consigning Pete Ruzans and
Julie Brown to mere spectators. The losers, it must be said, were gracious in defeat, congratulating the two Johnnies on their 25-7 masterclass.
Frank Armstrong and Shirley Marchant teamed up with Matt Quill for a battle of the wits against Sue Mcawley, DOC and Kevin Scott. In a game that twisted and turned, the 16th end saw Matt’s trio ahead by two, 16-14.
“We might have got them if it had been 21 ends,” Kevin boasted bravely!
Col Cottee had the fun task of ‘managing’ Pat Shirwin and Peter Bennison in their clash with Phil Knight, Ruby Stocking and newcomer Colleen Heatrick. Col’s team won 17-9.
“As much as they willed they wilted” was the sentiment in the post-roll washup.
Leo Balstad, Helen Linnane and Mel Giddings outpointed Ron Mcawley, Tom Hando and Gordon Scott 16-11. A most enjoyable game.
Perhaps the highlight of Sunday
Combination Bowls played out on Rink 18. Paul Martin, Cheryl Storch and Col Dover led comfortably before the 14th end when Carl New, Gary Huggins and Lionel Ayoub made a massive move. They gathered five shots to claw back to minus four then pulled another three back on the 15th.
There was to be no fairy tale comeback however as Paul, Cheryl and Col held it together on the last end to win 18 – 16.
I am sure these bowlers enjoyed the match.
Runners-up for the day were Peter Sinclair, Karen Greenhalge and Steve Kelly.
Resters – Peter Bennison, Phil Knight, John Cole, Ron Morrison and Helen Hamblin managed to plop their bowls against the elusive white ball.
Lucky Numbers – Sue Mcawley – dear old hubby, Ron got this one – and Mat Quill