The women’s final of Monbulk Bowling Club’s club championship was held on a barmy evening with only a slight breeze – perfect for bowling. The crowd watching the final was also enjoying the weather for outdoor dining from the Monbulk Bistro.
Karen Rice, who has won the previous four years, was playing against Jenny Holmes, who had won the event three times, but more than four years ago. Both women play in the top Monbulk pennant side and they are also good mates: this game was always going to be conducted with camaraderie. Only the bowls were doing the competitive talking.
The game, first to 25 shots, progressed slowly. After 8 ends the scores were level at 4 shots all, with only singles scored on each end. A few multiples put Karen in front for a while, then Jenny was able to string a few ends together and again lock up the scores at 11 all. After three hours of toiling Jenny won six ends in a row to take a 6 shot lead, only needing 4 more shots to the finish line. But Karen fought back and once again the scores were level at 22 shots all. At that late stage, the high-standard game could have gone either way and the crowd became vocal. The heads were tight for all ends with all the bowls packed around the jack and many shot bowls were altered with touchers. In the end, it was Jenny who was able to grab the final 2 ends with 3 shots and reach the 25 total.
It was a worthy final with an excellent display of controlled draw bowling and Jenny and Karen are still good mates.
The men’s club championship final was held on the same night with Jim Bras who is a previous winner playing Eric Markham who was playing in his first championship final. Jim Bras drew first blood, but then Eric settled and won the next four ends to take a 5 shot lead. By the 8th end, Eric had increased his lead to 9 shots, 12 to 3. Jim then lifted his game and won the next 4 ends to reduce the margin to 3 shots. The momentum of the game then swung again with Eric taking control winning 7 of the next 8 ends to take victory by 15 shots, 25 to 10, giving him his first club singles championship.
The final of the President’s Handicap was played between Jenny Holmes and Peter Hiscox. Jenny was giving Peter 10 shots start so in effect had to get to 31 before Peter reached 21. The game was very even in the first few ends and by the 8th end, Peter had increased his lead to 12 shots, 6 to negative 6. Jenny then started to take control and won 6 of the next 8 ends to cut the lead to 4 shots. Peter then fought back and by the twenty-first end had increased the lead to 5 shots. Jenny then picked up 5 shots on the next 3 ends to level the scores at 14 shots all after 25 ends. Peter then went two shots ahead on the next end, but Jenny levelled the scores on the 27th end and then grabbed two shots on each of the next two ends to lead 20 to 16 only needing 1 more shot for victory. Peter then won the next 2 ends to make the score 20 to 19. On the next end Jenny was holding 3 shots with only 1 bowl to be played from Peter. He came in with wait and had a double wick to take the shot and displaced Jenny’s bowls to get two shots and take the President’s Handicap trophy 21 shots to 20.
