Busy May At Airlie Beach Bowls Club

Time is flying at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club, with mid-May already upon us and the club eagerly anticipating the installation of its long-awaited shade cover. It’s been a vibrant and successful period both on and off the green.

A recent car boot sale combined with a book stall and assorted items such as discs, appliances, and furniture proved to be a tremendous success, raising over $1,000 for the club. Organisers extended a heartfelt thank you to all members and supporters who contributed their time, items, and energy to the fundraiser.

Tuesday Bowls and Club Games
Tuesday’s social bowls saw two games of triples as well as two Ladies Fours club games. Congratulations to the winning teams, both displaying fine form. Skipper Joan McGrath led her team of Lyn Graham, Jill Spencer, and Ladda Purdie—affectionately known as the club’s Thai princess—to a strong win. In the other game, Betty Nicole led her side of Carol Crosbie, Betty Whitehorn, and Vicki Spann to victory. With such close and competitive matches, the upcoming final promises to be one to watch.

In social play, the team of Tony Whitehorn (skip), Keith Bates (second), and Gina Passfield (lead) secured a comfortable win. Runners-up were the team skipped by Mark Mawson, with Jen Dray impressing at lead and Sue Dakin providing a steady presence throughout.

Midweek and Weekend Action
Wednesday’s social bowls attracted 19 players, with the top team led by Bobby Spees. Bobby bowled immaculately and was a key contributor to the win, supported by Regina Aquilina at lead and Tony Kelly at second.

Wednesday night Business House Bowls is heating up, with ten teams competing this season. Names and scores will be shared in next week’s report.

Pennant Season Underway
Saturday and Sunday marked the beginning of Pennant season, with Airlie fielding sides in Divisions 1, 3, 5, and 6. While Saturday saw only Division 6 claim a win, fortunes changed on Sunday.

Division 1 secured an excellent victory over Sarina, winning three matches. Skippers Warren Mills and Manny Isgro led by example in their respective games, helping to deliver a satisfying result for the club. Division 3 teams, led by Ted Cullen and John Matterson, started strongly but were narrowly beaten in the final ends. Division 5 saw a split result, with standout performances from skipper Mervyn Stewart, Bill Gordon, and Warren Williams.

Endeavour Foundation and School Participation
Friday morning brought plenty of energy to the club as the Endeavour Foundation hosted a fun and inclusive session. Around 20 students participated, showing great enthusiasm and a positive attitude. All eyes will be on their development in the coming weeks as they work toward potentially representing their school in the Queensland Schools’ Cup.

With competition heating up and community events thriving, it’s shaping up to be an exciting winter season at Airlie Beach Bowls Club.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson

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Jeff Tierney , Andy McDougall , Warren Mills , Andrew Butler , John Fielding , Bobby Spees ,Manny Isgro and Russell Jackson. Photo supplied

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