January 8, 2026

First Bowls Of The Year At Airlie Beach

This year has already been welcomed in, and today 26 bowlers were ready to play, hopeful of bettering the great results achieved in 2025.

Three games of triples and two games of pairs were played, with bar manager extraordinaire Fiona Greener throwing the dice. The roll was a one, meaning five points were awarded to each winning team and one point for each end won.

Finishing on top with 23 points was skipper Russell Jackson, who has already been selected to represent Australia for the Deaf in Lawn Bowls at the 2027 World Games. He was joined by lead Elaine Kippen, returning after knee and hip replacement surgery, who showed her trademark skill and played brilliantly.

Second place went to skipper Margo Stanley, with birthday girl Mel Fennell at lead and Dennis Donadelli at second. Third place was claimed by the team skipped by Andy McDougall, with Robin Brown delivering some extraordinary bowls to finish on 18 points.

It was a great start to 2026.

A State of Origin tournament will be held on 16 January and 20 February, featuring teams from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. For more information, contact John Brown at the club.

Bowls will continue as usual this week, with free lessons on Monday and Thursday afternoons, and Social Bowls on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson

Skipper Bob McMahon with lead Arthur McManus whom narrowly missed out on being the Champion of champions team in our District.