Sport
14 March, 2024
Classic entrants brave the heat
SIXTEEN teams from as far as Heathmont in Melbourne and Robe in South Australia travelled to Mortlake over the long weekend for the 2024 Westvic Tyres Shadwell Classic.
The tournament was again a huge success, this year played in warm conditions.
The day started a little earlier than usual, but everyone was on board and ready to play.
Two games of 10 ends were played before lunch and at that stage, there was four teams undefeated on two wins – Darren Grant (City/Mortlake/Heathmont), Peter Summerhayes (Lake Bolac/Mortlake), Jimmy Barling (Dennington/Warrnambool) and Adrian Preston (Ararat VRI).
As players went in for lunch, the sun was slowly starting to peek its head out from the clouds.
After lunch the third game was reduced to eight ends and, by that stage, the sun was beating down and the competition was also heating up.
There was only one team undefeated with three wins and that was the Dennington/Warrnambool side of Jimmy Barling.
This left eight teams with two wins, including Scott Boschen (Koroit).
The hunt was on for the elusive third or fourth win but the last game was only six ends due to the big ball in the sky.
The matches were fiercely contested, with bowls mattering more than they did before.
After the last game, the number of teams with three wins for the day had reduced to five and there was only one four game winner.
Honourable mentions go to Adrian Preston (Ararat VRI) with three wins +3 shots; David Clements (Dunkeld) with three wins +11 shots and Peter Summerhayes (Mortlake/Lake Bolac) with three wins +13 shots.
Third place went to Darren Grant (Mortlake), Bryan Sheehan (City), Matt Ottombre (Heathmont) and John Tanner (Mortlake) with three wins +24 shots.
The runners-up on the day with three wins +31 shots went to the Koroit team of Scott Boschen, Peter Ellis, Laurie Thomas and Damian Clifford.
There was only one team that was undefeated on the day and congratulations go to the Dennington/Warrnambool side of Jimmy Barling, Sheridan Barling, Gayle Swanson (Dennington) and Trevor Holder (Warrnambool).
The Mortlake club thanks the many volunteers who helped make this event a success, the players for supporting the club and sponsors who made the day such a success.
A reminder to all club mixed pairs players that the finals will be contested on the morning of Sunday, April 7.
The Les Risk Memorial Day will be held in the afternoon on the same day.
The Club Fours and Presentation Day have been rescheduled and will now be held on Saturday, April 20.
Teams can enter via email or can put their teams onto the sign-up sheet in the sign-up box.
Members this week send their sincere condolences to the family of Jeanette Grinter.
A valued club member during her time and a straight shooter, Jeanette will be greatly missed by all.
She was a former ladies secretary, ladies B grade champion and two-time CDLBA division two premiership player.