There was plenty of activity on the greens during the Christmas period.
The popular Blue Hills Rise mixed pairs headlined the action with two days of perfect weather greeting the 40 competing teams.
High quality, great standard and some high profile players competed over six games of various pairs formats all vying for a share of the $4000 prize pool.
The tournament champions, which were decided on the final bowl of game six, were Andrea Tudorovic from Victoria Bowling Club in Ballarat and Brett Mahoney from Deer Park. They returned a card with the only team to register six wins. Ocean Grove’s Kira Bourke and Brad Pavey finished runner up.
Preceding the Major Mixed Pairs was the Lifestyle Communities Holiday carnival five a side.
Twenty teams of five players took part in a mixture of both pairs and triples format which culminated in six games being played.
The morning started in warm weather that had the event coordinator concerned, however a cool change soon swept in and the remaining day perfect temperature.
One team survived with an unbeaten card which included two one-shot wins and one two-shot win. Ocean Grove’s Rick Webb, Jackie Webb, Matt Flapper, Jeff Howarth and Carol Howarth the winners from the Midlands Golf team of Eric Kosloff, June Henry, Rod Lock, Lyn Lock and Paddy Rose who finished with five-and-a-half wins and runners up.
Pennant action returns
Pennant competition resumed on the weekend with round 12 and Ocean Grove’s Premier Division side lowered their colours in their away match at Eastern Park.
The result has shifted the Grovers from top spot for the first time this season as they look ahead to the next two weeks against top four sides Sebastopol and Queenscliff.
Currently in third place, Division 1 found the going tough on their own deck against St Leonards. A late fight back got the margin under 10 shots but the Grovers could not peg the margin back eventually going down by eight.
The results did not improve all that much as results started to come in for the remaining divisions.
The all-Ocean Grove battle in Division 3 went the way of the fourth side while the Division 7 rink of Keith George, John Aitken, Phil Lock and Robin Brache ensured a win would be registered for the Grovers winning their battle 31-11, which got the side in front on the overall board by three.
Trish O’ Brien steered her side to an eight-shot win which was enough to finish with scores locked at 47 all in Division 11.
In a round which only resulted in 10 rink wins from 32 the Saturday pennant teams will need to find their 2019 form
January barefoot bowls
Barefoot bowls is a terrific opportunity to enjoy a casual game of bowls.
Enter your name for the final two nights of barefoot bowls on Wednesday 16 January from 6pm to 8pm and Friday 18 Jan from 6pm to 8pm.
Bookings are essential on 5255 1540.
