december 2014

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4 | queensland bowler v37/12

CONTENTS

Editor:Wayne Griffin

Reporter:Naomi Cescotto

Published by:Bowls Queensland

Editorial:Queensland BowlerPO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051Ph: (07) 3355 9988E: [email protected]

Advertising: Wayne GriffinPh: (07) 3355 9988E: [email protected]

Subscriptions:To subscribe, send your contact details, together with a cheque for $36 (inc gst) to: Queensland Bowler SubscriptionsPO Box 476, Alderley, Qld 4051.

10

06

State Pennant FinalsQueensland has crowned two new champions, with South Tweed’s men and Club Kawana’s women taking out their maiden State Pennant titles. Cover pic: Kawana’s Julie Keegan and South Tweed’s Dan Smith.

APLScottish bowling superstar Alex Marshall has steered the Murray Steamers to victory in APL02 at Club Pine Rivers.

Premier LeagueWith Aero Bowls Premier League season just around the corner, we look at the all-star line-up for 2015.

20

25 Ladies Team ChallengeThe Broadbeach Bullettes have clinched the hotly contested 2014 LTC title, with victory over the Bombers.

Volume 37 Issue 12

Cover Story

News

10Chemistry

One of the most important ingredients in any successful team, chemistry, is something coaches, players and selectors need to be more conscious of, says coaching guru Ian Schuback.

34

06

Columns

16

Patron: His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland

Queensland Bowler staff would like to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

We would also like to thank our valued advertisers for their continuing support.

Without them, producing this magazine would be impossible, and we encourage readers to support these businesses whenever possible.

The next issue of Queensland Bowler will be out in early February 2015.

Until then, Merry Christmas and good bowling!


2014

APL

WRAP-UP

Steamers anchor and Scotland’s most decorated bowler Alex Marshall steered his side to victory, proving he had the right touch to ignite the explosive APL formula.

“Marshall was a coup for APL, his professionalism, bowls skills, the crowd loved him, a true gentleman of the sport,” Club Pine Rivers Des Wilson said, shaking his head in wonderment at the man’s genius.

The world’s best bowler had a gun team at his disposal, Canadian ace Ryan Bester, and franchise owner Moama Bowling Club’s Michael Walker.

The new boys on the block steamrolled their way through the round robin of the first three days of APL, soaring up the ladder past the foundation APL teams, winning eight out of 14 rubbers, to find themselves sitting pretty behind top-of-the-table NZ

Blackjacks (Ali Forsyth, Jo Edwards and Shannon McIlroy).

When the sensational Adelaide Endurance (Wayne Ruediger, Scott Thulborn and Simon Dorr) caused a stir by eliminating the Blackjacks in the first semi, 10-2, 5-all, everyone was keen to see what the APL first-timers could achieve in the second semi, against the dazzling Solargain Perth Suns (third in 2013).

Under the glare of the Fox Sports cameras, a Steaming cloud overtook Jeremy Henry, Clive Adams and Thomas Mitchell, 6-3, 4-all, and everyone was hollering for a Marshall as they lined up for the final of the $110,000 Australian Premier League 02.

They faced a formidable competitor in the Endurance, runners up in 2013, and supremely motivated to go one better in 2014, but it was the Murray

Steamers who set the Club Pine Rivers carpet alight, posting points on four successive ends, and winning with a six shot margin, 6-2, 5-3.

“I’ve enjoyed every single minute of this,” Marshall said, “I’ve never played in an atmosphere like this before, back home, they would not believe what just happened, I’ll certainly be taking a few DVDs back to show them!”

The $40,000 first prize cheque and APL02 silverware went back to the proud NSW-Victorian border town, Brisbane XXXX Gold’s dreams of back-to-back titles dashed when they failed to make the final four.

As well as being crowned champions, there was further celebration for the Steamers when kingpin Marshall was named APL02 MVP (Most Valuable Player), an honour won by Endurance skip Scott Thulborn in the inaugural APL.

Steamers don’t stink at APL02!

The unfortunately named Murray Steamers were the butt of many jokes heading into APL02, with funny man Mick Molloy taking particular joy from the franchise name. But nobody’s laughing now! Far from stinking in their debut appearance, the star-studded Moama side claimed this year’s title, proving they’re anything but a pile of...’em...rubbish!

Full steam ahead: Moama’s Murray Steamers Ryan Bester, Alex Marshall, Michael Walker and team manager Zane Mikin-Laurie

Photos by Bowls Australia

queensland bowler | 7 v37/12

Hawks’ wings clipped, while Brisbane bomb!Grown men cried when Brisbane XXXX Gold won the inaugural APL01 last year. They were crying again this year, but because neither of the Queensland teams could deliver the goods.

The home-town champs Brisbane XXXX Gold (Mark Casey, Kelvin Kerkow OAM, Robbie Wild) finished bottom of the table, the Gold Coast Hawks (Lynsey Clarke, Brett Wilkie, Nathan Rice), second last.

What happened?“We weren’t as

far off the mark as it looks,” Hawks Lynsey Clarke said.

“It’s such a cut throat style of game, with just two sets of 5 ends and a one-end tie break, we came second last, but we were only two wins out of making finals!

“Tactically it’s a completely different style of play from regular bowls, you really have to be thinking quick, and be ‘on the ball’ so to speak, as you only have 30 secs (to bowl, or be timed out).

Clarke said power plays had a huge impact on the game (as they did last year, when they favoured Brisbane).

“Obviously, the ideal is to score on your own power play end, and nullify the opposi-tion on theirs, that’s the aim, but it’s easier

said than done,” Clarke said.“We definitely learnt a lot in

our first year, and we’re already looking forward

to coming back stronger and better

in 2015!”“And how awe-

some to have the amazingly talented Alex Marshall in the field, to have them crowned as

winners was com-pletely deserving.“So cool to play

against him (and beat the winners in

straight sets too, hehe!)” (The Hawks went down to the

Steamers in Round 4 4-4, 2-11, but were victorious in their second clash, in Round 11, 7-5, 7-6 to the Hawks.)

The Hawks were enthusiastically backed by the powerhouse Club Helensvale, with OTT marketing, which added volumes to

the already sparkling spectacle of the APL, a quirky Hawks mascot, two gorgeous Gold Coast meter maids, and a hunky surf lifesaver.

“We had an absolutely fantastic time in our debut, Club Helensvale really got behind the concept of APL and thoroughly enjoyed marketing, promoting and cheering on the ‘GC Hawks’!!”

“We definitely had the most colourful, creative and entertaining side, so hopefully we can bring more of that ‘flavour’ in 2015!”

Brisbane XXXX Gold was simply out-classed this year, ending up on the wrong side of more than a fair share of tie-breaks.

The Gold will lose the services of Mark Casey next year, returning to the Hawks fold.

Final standings:1. Murray Steamers2. Adelaide Endurance3. NZ Blackjacks4. Perth Suns5. Melbourne Roys6. Sydney Lions7. Gold Coast Hawks8. Brisbane Gold

Photo by Neil Mclean

“I’ve enjoyed every

single minute of this. I’ve never played in an

atmosphere like this before, back home, they would not believe what just happened! I’ll certainly be taking a few

DVDs back to show them!”

Defending champs left disappointed: Robbie Wild, Kelvin Kerkow and Mark Casey

Hawks hoping for better in APL03: Brett Wilkie,Lynsey Clarke& Nathan Rice


2014

APL

IN PICTURES

Photos by Neil Mclean

Pictured - clockwise from top: The Hawks boasted this year’s most attractive mascots, with Lynsey Clarke, Nathan Rice, Anthony Fantini and Brett Wilkie lining out alongside some famous Gold Coast icons, a surf lifesaver and the magnificent Meter maids ; APL frontmen Mick Molloy and Alfie Langer doing a piece to camera for Fox Sports ; Pine Rivers CEO Wayne Moffat gives the Sydney Lions mascot a taste of XXXX Gold ; The crowd get behind their favourites during the final at Club Pine Rivers ; Wayne Moffat chats with tennis player Alicia Mollik, who officially launched Jack Attack in a live session on Fox Sports. (The clubland spin-off of APL, Jack Attack is easy, fun, quick, and is on its way to a club near you! Give it a try, you’ll be glad you did!) APL proved a massive hit with the punters again in 2014, with grandstands packed to the rafters at Club Pine Rivers.

Bring on APL03Club Pine Rivers plotting another APL extravaganza

For host club Pine Rivers, Wayne’s Can Bar was the main highlight of APL02. “It was like Bay 13 at the cricket, it was a lot of fun, a lot of banter, it made a real good atmosphere.”

The stands were full, an older set bringing

sandwiches and thermos during the day, a younger, working crowd at night games. Alex Marshall was a highlight of APL02, also comedian and APL ambas-sador Mick Molloy. Club Pine Rivers is contracted to host one more APL, APL03 in 2015.

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STATE PENNANT QLD 2014 FINALS

SHARKS GOBBLE UP THE GULLS, WHILE HAWKS ARE THUNDER-STRUCK

South Tweed Sharks and Club Kawana Thunderbirds crowned Queensland’s top club sides following a roller-coaster weekend of bowls at the 2014 State Pennant Finals. The Sharks took a bite out of Gateway big guns Wynnum Manly Leagues to claim the men’s title, while Kawana struck down Club Helensvale in the women’s title -decider at Tweed Heads Bowls Club, Nov 22-23.

State Pennant Finals are always hotly contested, but this year’s play-offs were practically incendiary, with some of Queensland’s most ferocious competitors slugging it out in heat-wave conditions on the Gold Coast (Nov 22-23).

With temperatures tipping the scale at 10 above average, eight of Queensland’s top club sides went toe-to-toe, battling to get runs on the board and book their spot in the grand final.

Just three rounds of sectional play meant competition was fierce and margins tight at Tweed Heads.

But the cream quickly rose to top, with star-studded sides from South Tweed and Wynnum Manly Leagues going through the men’s draw undefeated, while Club Kawana and Club Helensvale blazed an unbeaten trail to the women’s final.

MenBoasting a bucket-load of big names,

the South Tweed Sharks and Wynnum Manly Seagulls were red-hot favourites to reach the men’s final from Day 1.

And they didn’t disappoint, with both sides blasting their way through sectionals.

Playing on their home track, the Sharks had an amazing run at Tweed, dropping

just one rink in the entire competition, and that was in their title showdown with the Seagulls.

A Round 1 hammering of Souths Suburban Mackay, 66-37, set the perfect platform for South Tweed’s campaign.

Next to fall were defending champs North Toowoomba, 61-50, followed by Bargara, 66-33.

The Gulls had a tougher time of it, cruis-ing past Edge Hill 70-49, before being pushed to the wire by Mooloolaba, 60-54, and Bribie Island, 62-53.

Once in the final, it was one of the youngest players on the paddock that proved the difference between the sides, with Dean McWhinney, 23, skipping his South Tweed outfit of Dan Smith, Phil Brandon, and Dean Smith to a massive 22-shot win over Jason Hoy’s Gulls, 32-10.

Sharks super-skip Kelvin Kerkow clocked up a second rink-win for the locals, edging out Brendon Egan, 25-18.

But with Neville Jenkins going down to Wynnum Manly’s Jamie Nordlof, 13-21, McWhinney’s win was vital to South Tweed’s first-ever State Pennant victory, 70-49.

“Feels good!” the always-modest McWhinney said.

“The boys have played really well all season, they’ve been awesome to play with.”

South Tweed’s Nigel Smith said he was “over the moon”.

“These are rare events, we lost only one rink in four games this weekend, a fantastic result, young McWhinney was amazing, you might only get a win like this once in 20 years, just superb,” Smith said.

WomenIt was a similar story in the women’s

comp, with Kawana and Helensvale conquering all before them to set up a clash-of-the-coasts finale.

Kawana’s Thunderbirds never looked troubled in sectionals, clocking up double-digit wins over Bramble Bay 73-48, Townsville Suburban 77-35 and Souths Suburban Mackay 65-46.

Helensvale edged past Cleveland in Round 1, 65-53, before hammering Yeppoon in Round 2, 71-36.

However, the Hawks almost had their wings clipped in Round 3, scratching out a narrow two-shot win over a determined West Toowoomba outfit, 69-67.

Read on ►


Club Kawana (left)

From left, manager Faye Whittaker, coach Ian Schubach, Liza Burgess, Carole McDonald, Julie Keegan, Emma Brown, Noelene Dutton, Monika Duff, Wilaiwan Permpoon, Jane Bush, Kiani An-dersen, Sandy Clough?, Jan Biggs?, Faye Clarke, Louise Witton.

South Tweed (right - top)

Geoff Hawken, Rod Heaton, Phil Brandon, Dan Smith, Kelvin Kerkow, Dean Smith, manager Jackie McWhinney-Shillington, Nev Jenkins, Dean McWhinney, Nigel Smith, Peter Richards, Lindsay Ponting, Alan Fawcett.

Wynnum Manly (right - middle)

Kerry Flint, John Fern, manager Darryl Dodd, Jamie Nordlof, Kurt Johnston, David Small, Paul Laycock, Brendon Egan, Sam Twining, Bill Cornehls, Brad Coleman, Judd Percy, Jason Hoy.

Club Helensvale (right - bottom)

Pat Allsopp, Pam Rowe, Lauren Wilson,Teresa Armitage, Yvonne Lovelock, Lynsey Clarke, Amanda Haevecker, Bev Perkins, manager Sandra Crook (with Runner Up Pennant), Jean Rae, April Wilson, Charlie Harkness, Rosie Lovelock, Terry Heath.

Thunderbirds skip Louise Witton proved the star per-former in the women’s final, blowing Helensvale’s Rosie Lovelock off the green to seal a 62-50 win for Kawana.

It was a nightmare start for Lovelock, with the Hawks skip-per down 21-zip after just seven ends.

But the Queensland rep launched a ferocious fight back, notching up nine of the last 13 ends to give the score-line a little respectability, 31-14 to Kawana.

“It’s been such an amazing weekend, I’m just so happy, it’s absolutely super,” Kawana’s player of the series Witton said.

“A super, super, bunch of ladies to play with.”

It was neck-and-neck on the other rinks, with Pam Rowe maintaining a slim lead over Kawana’s Jane Bush through-out their match, for a 15-11 Helensvale win.

“We were up against Club Helensvale’s young guns, we just tried to keep the drop to only one, we lost 15 ends of one,” Jane Bush said.

Meanwhile, Hawks talisman Lynsey Clarke had an awesome arm-wrestle with former Aussie teammate Julie Keegan.

After getting off to a strong start, Clarke’s girls slipped behind, but were soon back nipping at Keegan’s heels for the rest of the match, and very happy to finally secure a second

rink win for the Hawks power-house, 21-20.

Kawana skip Keegan said training under super coach Ian Schuback made the difference to Kawana this year.

“We train hard, it really makes a difference, the girls were a lot more confident, we got off to a really great start, Whaoo…!” Keegan said.

“I feel as happy as when I won the world title,” Schuback said, of the Kawana girls first-ever State Pennant win.

“We won by 12 shots, and honestly, I’ve never been so nervous in my life.

“And if you think I was nerv-ous, you should have seen Fay (manager Fay Whittaker).

“She said to me, “S*** Shuey, I’m just in awe of Louie!”

Host club Tweed Heads manager Paul Girdler said he’d never seen such a great crowd at the club for a State Final.

“We get crowds like this for Nugget, it’s fantastic to see,

everyone’s stayed to see these four great teams play off, and the supporters have made the event extra special,” Girdler said.



► EDGE HILL - Grp 8Garry Medhurst and Andre Buck.

Five times Edge Hill has competed at State Pennant Finals, and every time it’s a huge challenge just to win the Group 8 rep spot.

“We had to beat South Johnstone and Yungaburra at district level, then beat Mt Isa and Thuringowa at zone, it’s a big job,” third Gary Medhurst said.

“But what a pleasure to play here, the club, the people, it’s so well organised, the greens are exceptional, our best win was against Bribie.”

▼ MOOLOOLABA - Grp 5Paul Hendricks and Col Pritchard

2012 winner Mooloolaba was denied a chance to play for a second title, Wynnum Manly going through to the final.

“Terribly disappointed, we weren’t quite good enough on the day,” skip Paul Hendricks said.

“This is the one that got away,” skip Col Pritchard said.

Col’s been in the sport for 47 years, since 1967.“I’ve seen some great players, some sad stories,

in a state final, if there’s less than 10 shots in it, it’s a close game.”

▲ Yeppoon - Grp 6 Patricia Ward, Jenny Hansen, Althea Vaughn, Dianna Vaughn, Myra Wilson“We came third in State, Yippee!”

Following on from their State Champion of Champion fours win under skip Elly Batts in October, Yeppoon came to do great things at State Pennant, but it’s a lot harder to field a winning team of 12 when you come from a small club.

“We’re a bit disappointed not to be in the final, but we beat Cleveland and West Toowoomba and lost to Club Helensvale, we’re happy,” Patricia Ward said.

▲ BRAMBLE BAY - Grp 4Paula FeuerriegelBramble Bay (Brisbane North) played Bribie Island (Caboolture) to get to State Pennant, their last appearance was in 2012.

“These games have been wonderful, all the BQ reps here have been very helpful, the club has been amazing, everyone has been very welcoming,” manager Marilyn Head said.

“We’ve come second in our section, against Kawana, Suburban Townsville and Souths Suburban Mackay, so we’re happy.”

▼BARGARA - Grp 6David Daws, John Andrew, Viv Sauer

Bargara men broke a 52-year-hoodoo to make their first appearance in over half a century at Div 1 State Pennant.

“We didn’t win but we performed well and we tried hard,” manager John Andrew said.

Bargara beat a star-studded cast from Across the Waves to win the district title, and beat Gladstone by one shot to reach States.

“Our best game was our first game, against defending champs North Toowoomba, the lead changed four or five times and we were un-lucky in the end,” manager John Andrew said.

“Our rink had a great run, we only went down by two shots to Kelvin Kerkow’s rink,” said David Daws, who played third in John See’s rink with lead Viv Sauer and Keith Bayntun.

▼ WEST TOOWOOMBA - Grp 3Lyn Harrington, Jan Thomas, Joyce McGeorge

West Toowoomba’s Lyn Harrington, Jan Thomas and Joyce McGeorge were excited, but felt they didn’t handle the blustery conditions.

“Wind was the winner,” said skip Joyce McGeorge, “We had three close losses, against Yeppoon, Cleveland, and Club Helensvale only beat us by two shots.”



► SOUTHS SUBURBAN - Grp 7 Steve Watergun Blackburn, Ray Chopper Kurtz, Pistol Pete Blackburn.Souths Suburban Mackay have personality plus and everyone enjoys playing them.

They were at the first State Pennant (2002) and they’ve been back 10 times since.

“It’s a great effort by the boys, we’ve only missed out on coming twice,” skip Ray “Chopper” Kurtz said.

“We made the final in 2012, but lost to Mooloolaba, we suffer from the lack of hard bowls.”

“He’s called “Chopper” because he’s a dentist,” second Pete Blackburn said.

Pete hasn’t missed a State Pennant with his team, son Steve has played five times.

Pistol Pete and Steve were our Bowler magazine coverboys in February 2013.

Steve is known as “Watergun”, a junior version of his dad.“Or sometimes “Scattergun” if he’s putting them all over the

place,” Pete said, of his son, who leads for Chopper.

▲ NORTH TOOWOOMBA Norm Head and Alan Ogilvie2013 State Pennant champs North Toowoomba were just that ex-cited to be back and have a chance to defend their title.

“We played well, we held them out, but in the end, South Tweed was just too strong, they got on top of us at the end,” Norm Head said.

“We’re just so thrilled to be here to have a chance to defend our title,” supporter Alan Ogilvie said.

Suburban’s last time at State Pennant was 2010, and it was great to be back.

“We’ll definitely come again, if we get the chance,” lead Kate Leverton and skip Lesley Watson said.

“We don’t usually get this level of competition, hopefully the girls have picked up a bit of knowledge,” manager

Patty Tyrell said.“The standard has

certainly been very good.”

► Souths Suburban - Grp 7Dealia WalshThree-time State Pennant winners (2005-6, 2009) Souths Suburban Mackay won against Bramble Bay, lost to Townsville Suburban, and were blown away by Kawana.

“I’m in awe, I’d love to talk to their coach and see if we could get some tips, they were so dedicated, amazing,” manager Jan Steen said.

Skip Dealia Walsh, playing against Jane Bush’s rink, said they were incredible players but really nice and fun too, and both teams had great cheer squads.

▼ BRIBIE ISLAND - GRP 4Wally Simmonds, Mark Beutel, Anthony Griffiths

For Bribie, it felt great to be back at State Pennant, their last appear-ance in 2010.

They beat Hamilton Power in the zone final to represent Group 4, Caboolture-North Brisbane.

“We lost all three games, but narrow losses, three, six, and 10 or 11, against 2012 champs Mooloolaba we got done on the last bowl, it was a great experience for us,” skip Anthony Griffiths said.

“We had a few of our best players unavailable, and only four of us from the 2010 side, and we’ll be back!”

◄ CLEVELAND - Grp 2Joan Brotherton

Cleveland (Gateway) beat Everton Park (Brisbane) to reach States.

“We came fifth overall, and third in our section,” said Joan Brotherton.

The girls played in black armbands because they lost a huge supporter, Karen Goldsworthy’s mum Carol Toy, on the eve of State Pennant.

▼ TOWNSVILLE SUBURBAN - Grp 8 Kate Leverton, Lesley Watson


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BE A BETTER BOWLERPerfect gift for the bowler in your life

At just 70 and feeling fit as a fiddle, no one was more surprised than Burrum Heads bowler Martin Brindley when he suffered a heart attack at the club.

But thanks to the quick action of club manager Wendy Fifield, and an automated external defibrillator on site, Martin was conscious again and talking by the time Hervey Bay paramedics arrived.

Local paramedics said they had been called out to eight heart attacks that week and Martin was the only one who survived.

Ms Fifield said she had been the first aid officer at Burrum Heads for almost seven years but it was the first time she had ever had to use the defibrillator and perform CPR.

“It saved his life, basically,” Hervey Bay Ambulance Service acting officer in charge Philip Switzer said.

Fortunately Ms Fifield had recently completed a refresher course in how to use the defibrillator, bought by the bowls club.

“With out the defibrillator it could have been a totally different story,” she said.

“It’s the best thing anyone could spend their money on.”

The paramedics said the cost of defibrillators had decreased significantly in recent years, with packs suitable for clubs and community organisations costing from $1400 - $4000.

Mr Brindly said before his heart attack, he would have described himself as “one of the fittest in the club”.

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Pictured: Heart attack survivor Martin Brindley with the defibrillator that saved his life, thanks to the quick action of club manager Wendy Fifield.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVEQuick-thinking club manager uses defibrillator to kick-start heart.

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THE CLASH OF THE TITANS, AERO BOWLS PREMIER LEAGUE, IS DUE TO KICK OFF ON JANUARY 3, FOR ITS 15TH SEASON.

There will be fresh blood on the greens, with Cunningham district division one Pennant champ for the past two years, Jindalee Jaguars, making their PLQ debut, and former PLQ finalist and Caboolture district division one Pennant champ, Bribie Island Breakers, returning to the big game.

“It’s great to have a Cunningham team back in the comp, IUS (Ipswich United Services) was a very powerful player for many years, including winning a title, but we haven’t had a Cunningham side for a few years and we need one, they have so many strong players in the district, they’re a young side, they’ll be exciting to watch,” PLQ chairman Trevor Briese said.

“As for Bribie, it’s great they’re back, it’s a travesty they haven’t been back earlier, it gives us a good reach up the northern coastline.”

Briese said the great thing about PLQ is that it’s run by the clubs, for the clubs.

Briese himself plays for South Toowoomba Tigers, and those running the comp are volunteers, voted in annually by the 12 powerhouse clubs playing PLQ.

Almost all the entry fees are returned in prize money, with around $55,000 up for grabs in 2015.

“Clubs are knocking down the door to get into Premier League, we’re not having to chase, which is a great position to be in,” Briese said.

A club requires great depth to field a competitive Premier League side, with the obligation to play 24 bowlers over two grades, premier grade and A-grade (formerly known as reserve grade), playing a similar format to Pennant.

Defending champ Helensvale Hawks will be back in 2015, gunning for their 7th title in 15 years, as well as 2014 runner up Wynnum Manly Seagulls, lining up the ducks to go for their fourth win.

The Gulls will be out to avenge the raw wound of a recent State Pennant final defeat by South Tweed Sharks, winners of the inaugural PLQ title in 2000, and winners twice since, in 2002 and 2013.

Other returning teams are, from Gold Coast district, Broadbeach Bulls, from Gateway district, Greenslopes Geckos and Capalaba Comets, from Brisbane North district, Hamilton Power, Bramble Bay Vikings and Pine Rivers Pirates, and the sole country rep, South Toowoomba Tigers.

In the first round, Tigers V Jaguars, Power V Pirates, Geckos V Sharks, Bulls V Seagulls, Comets V Vikings, Hawks V Breakers.

(If you fancy some fireworks with your dinner, the Hawks V Bulls Round 3 game has been scheduled as a “night blockbuster” at Broadbeach, starting 6pm on Friday February 6.)

The top five finishers will go into finals rounds, at Club Pine Rivers, March 21-22.

Briese said PLQ was grateful for the continued enthusiastic and generous support of naming rights partner Aero Bowls, also the support of Club Pine Rivers (finals venue), Bramble Bay Bowls Club (Sevens finals venue), Club Helensvale (Sponsors Day venue), Wynnum Manly Leagues Club (PLQ clubs meeting place quarterly) and BCIB (clubs insurance).

“Premier League Queensland has a lot to offer in our biggest season ever, the premium comp is as strong as ever, and our Sevens comp has exploded this year, there’s something for everyone in the PLQ family,” Briese said.

For information and results during the season www.plq.com.au

POISED TO POUNCE

PLQ

SEVENS

Jindalee Jags stars Des Cann and Jay Cross


SEVENS

Former Courier Mail bowls columnist David Falkenmire reports on the form for the upcoming Sevens season.

Foundation Premier League club Springwood will take a step down to the Sevens comp this year, counting on the services of singles wizard Harold Whitman to spearhead their attack.

The Titans is one of 14 new clubs in first division, which has seen an increase in sections from three to five.

Springwood has lost several PLQ mainstays, but in Whitman, they have a singles exponent of the finest quality, having recently won the state champion of club champions at Toombul.

Whitman enjoyed a 13-match unbeaten run on his way to the state title, including wins over 2010 state singles champion Jamie Anderson, and former state player Andrew Waddell (25-11) in the CCC final.

Club spokesman Ryan Gilbert said the Titans would field a “formidable” Div 1 side, including experienced PLQ players Anthony “Bubbles” Parker and Gary Gilligan.

Springwood will also field four other teams in Sevens 2015, a 60+Open rep side, two teams in the exploding Div 3, and one team in Div 5.

Another newcomer to Sevens this year is Manly, the club entering three Div 1 teams, including the first women’s outfit to tackle the top grade.

The trailblazing women’s side will include singles specialist Robyn Tyson, and the well-performed pairs combo of Sylvia Sinnamon and Marcelle Broadhurst.

Other clubs contesting Div 1 for the first time include Sunshine Coast powerhouse Kawana, Bramble Bay, Mudgeeraba, Beenleigh and Buderim.

Powerful Gold Coast-Tweed club Helensvale, the current Premier League champion, is also giving itself a good chance in Sevens, with an impressive seven teams registered, while Bramble Bay, Darra Cementco, Manly, Springwood and Sunnybank all will be represented by five teams.

The reigning champs are Chermside (Div 1), Sandgate

(Over 60), Yeronga (Div 3) and North Ipswich (Div 5).

DIV 1There are five sections in Div 1

this year, winners go through to finals.

Defending champ Chermside has a tough section draw, against Buderim, Manly, Sunnybank, Indooroopilly and Darra.

Manly and New Farm will be powerful and keen to go through.

Two-time winner Toowong will be competitive, having recently acquired ex-state skip and coach Jeff Twist, and Alan Keighley, a former top division player making a comeback.

But they could be without star skip Rob Rimes, who is trialing for Wynnum Leagues PLQ side.

Yeronga have stepped up to the top division following their Div 3 success last year, but will be without the services of leading player Kevin Higson.

60+There will be two divisions for

60+ players this year, 60+Open (three sections) and a new Div 5 60+ (two sections).

Sandgate will seek to go back-to-back in the 60+Open division, drawn against Bramble Bay, Hamilton, Windsor, Bribie Island and Buderim.

Div 5 champs 2013 North Ipswich have moved up to Div 3, but they still have a presence in Div 5, fielding a team in the new Div 5 60+ division.

DIV 3Div 3 has exploded this year, 48

teams, up from 25 in 2014.This section may be capped for

2016, it may be a case of first in, first served.

A McKenzie Park Highlanders women’s team will play in S2.

DIV 5Div 5 continues to grow and

includes three teams each from Sunnybank and Beaudesert.

Falky’s Form Guide

Queensland’s $100,000 Sevens, organized by Premier League Queensland, kicks off on January 10 (a week after PLQ starts on Jan 3).

From humble beginnings in 2009, with just a handful of clubs in two divisions, the Sevens has grown rapidly, adding about 20 new teams a year.

“They say we’re the fastest growing bowls competition in Australia, but I think, we’d be the fastest growing competition of any sport,” Sevens organiser Peter Doherty said.

“The boom this year certainly took us by storm, we’re up to 147 teams from 56 clubs, it was 90 teams from 36 clubs last year, it’s been exciting and challenging!”

The exploding Sevens comp will run over five divisions in 2015, Div One, 60+ Open, Div 3, Div 5, and Div 5 60+ (which is new).

Eligibility for Sevens is based on Pennant ranking, bowlers can play “up” but not down. (Anyone can play Div 1 Sevens, usually Div 1 and Div 2 Pennant players; Div 3 Sevens is for Div 3 and below Pennant players; Div 5 is for Div 5 and below Pennant players, and this year for the first time, Div 5 60+ Pennant players have their own Sevens comp.)

The beauty of Sevens is that smaller clubs aren’t disadvantaged against bigger clubs, the teams of seven play singles, pairs, and fours.

“The strongest 12 clubs will continue to play Premier League, but you pretty much have to be an Australian or state rep to be selected,” Doherty said.

“Sevens is for the rest.”PLQ costs $4500 to enter,

Sevens costs only $770 for Div 1 and 60+ Open, and $660 Div 3, Div 5, and Div 5 60+.

“What people like about Sevens is that everyone plays all of the opposing teams in the section, at home, and away, bowlers get a chance to shine on their own home turf,” Doherty said.

“And we try to mix it up, so they play different clubs to what they’d usually play at Pennant.”

There are 10 rounds of Sevens, six teams in each section, and section winners go through to finals in March.

Almost all the entry money, minus a few expenses, goes back into prize money.

Organisers try to keep travel time to 90 minutes maximum, but it’s not always possible, with the comp extending from South Tweed to Tewantin-Noosa, west to Drayton (Toowoomba) and east to Russell Island.

Booming Success!Sevens soars to new heights

Premier League girls Charlie Harkness and Selina Goddard


West Toowong members were delighted to have life member Robert “Wilco” Wilkinson out on the green again recently.

“Bob has been having intensive chemo for at least two years but he’s determined to keep playing the sport he loves,” president Bill Pacey said.

Bob, who turned 83 on Decem-ber 1, nominated himself to play in the club’s annual Ron Archer Memorial Triples Day, turning up with an oxygen bottle on a trol-ley, with his wife Joan to assist in manoeuvres.

“Bob uses a bowling arm with a great deal of skill and the good news is that the team for which he played lead won first prize for the best margin of the day,” Pacey said.

“Wilco” has modified his equip-ment since the big tournament and has now downsized to a small side pouch for his oxygen.

He was back on the green in early November for a social day.

Silkwood Bowls Club reckons it may have a record?

The combined age of the finalists in their men’s singles final this year was 158 years.

Title-holder Ken Rogers (pictured right), aged 75, defeated Alan Hudson, 83, in a high-quality match, 25-20.

The Bundaberg-Fraser Coast home-grown version of Taylor’s Super Challenge needs one more team for its comp, starting January 10.

The Taylor Wide Bay Classic (TWBC) was a big hit for the eight teams in the inaugural comp this year, and the comp has grown to 13 for 2015.

But one more team would round out the numbers nicely…

“Perhaps a few smaller clubs could put together a compilation team?” coordinator Dennis Keft from Urangan said.

“We’re likely to run a Div 1 and Div 2 comp, so there’ll be a level of competition and camaraderie to suit everyone.”

The format for the coming season requires 22 bowlers per team (2 x Men’s Fours, 2 x Men’s 4-Bowl Pairs, 1 x Women’s Four, 1 x Mixed Four and 1 x Mixed 3-Bowl Pairs).

Entry is $300/team, with $10/player each week (half to the home club’s green fees, half to the prize kitty).

Play runs from January to March, finals

late March, half the games are played at home, half away.

“The top four clubs won some good prize money this year, and every club got back its entry fee, thanks to our sponsors,” Keft said.

“Taylor’s were great, they gave each club a set of bowls to raffle or make money somehow.”

Winner of the inaugural Taylor Wide Bay Classic 2014 Bargara will be back to defend its title.

“Bargara have lost a few good players this year, they’re going to Rainbow Beach to play Super Challenge, it opens things up,” Keft said.

So far there are four teams from Bundaberg district (Bargara (2), Burnett and Moore Park Beach), six from Hervey

Bay City (Hervey Bay 2, Pialba Services Memorial 2 and Urangan 2), and three others from Fraser Coast district (Burrum Heads, Maryborough Services Memorial and Doon Villa).

Inquires to Dennis Keft 0408 387 891. Email: [email protected]

Results of the inaugural Taylor Wide Bay Classic 2014:

1st Bargara ($3000), 2nd Urangan ($1800), 3rd Burnett ($1200), 4th Hervey Bay ($1000).

Pictured above: Taylor Wide Bay Classic coordinator, Dennis Keft.

One Classic reason to visit Wide Bay

Wilco wheely keen to play

Old Record!

Robert “Wilco” Wilkinson is determined to carry on playing the sport he loves.


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2015 Bowls Events

World Junior Championships

The 2014 World Junior championships (U25) were held at Broadbeach Bowls Club featuring bowlers from most bowl-ing nations.

Playing in heatwave conditions did not prevent excellent bowling performance.

The event finished with both boys and girls single finals being played on Novem-ber 16.

The men’s final was played between Dylan Fisher (Australia) and Ryan Burnett (Scotland), with Dylan defeating Ryan in an exciting and high quality game, 21-17.

The ladies final was played between two promising Australian bowlers, Chloe Stewart and Kristina Krstic, Chloe taking the title, 21-17.

APLWe are incredibly fortunate to have such

close access to a very exciting develop-ment in bowls, the Australian Premier League, hosted right here in Queensland at Club Pine Rivers.

APL quite rightly is a huge hit with both the spectators who attend in person, and the home viewing audience on Fox Sports television.

This year’s event featured top bowlers from all major bowling nations, Alex Mar-shall (Scotland) Ryan Bester (Canada) Kelvin Kerkow (Australia) Jo Edwards (New Zealand) and Jeremy Henry (Ire-land), to name a few of the international stars, along with Australia’s top talent.

This event is a definite winner and has taken pride of place on the national bowls calendar.

We look forward to watching all the star bowlers again next year, free event, free parking, well done to host club Pine Rivers.

Christmas ClosureBowls Queensland

office will close for the festive season, from December 24 to January 5, 2015.

On behalf of the BQ Board, staff and com-mittees, we wish you the best for Christmas and the New Year, we look forward to represent-ing your interests again in 2015.

From the Chairwith Ron Chambers

The heydays of the 1960s, when Wynnum hosted test matches between Queensland and New South Wales on its prized couch grass greens, were remembered at the club’s 90th anniversary celebrations in September.

Two of the club’s members at the time were Queensland reps, Peter Reid and Terry Carroll.

(Peter and Terry also won Metropolitan Pairs, which was a considerable achievement.)

Terry is Wynnum’s longest serving club member and was invited to cut the ceremonial cake, along with the club’s oldest member Robert Christie.

“We had a great weekend,” club secretary Doug McKercher said.

“The life members sponsored a game of Mixed Triples on the Saturday, attended by 44 players, and we had 85 members and guests a dinner on the Sunday.

“There was lots of entertainment and swapping of stories.”

The 90th anniversary mixed triples was won by Doug Williams, Lance Hollins and Peter Forward.

Special guests were State MP for Lytton Neil Symes, BCC councillor for Wynnum Manly Peter

Cumming and president of Gateway bowls district Bob Stewart.

Pictured: Wynnum’s 2014 singles champ Robert Sinnamon, congratulated by club president Brian Cathro.

Wynnum relives the heydays


It might be hard for the current generation of women bowlers to believe, but Maud Twamley bowled in the days when women were known publicly only under their husband’s names.

Mrs H.E. Twamley was a passionate supporter of women’s sport.

She wanted her lady bowlers to “spring up like mushrooms and cover the bowling greens, as the waters cover the seas.”

As president of Qld’s first women’s bowls club Riverview, she wrote to the presidents of the other five ladies bowls clubs in 1929, inviting them to form an association.

They agreed, and Mrs Twam-ley became foundation president of the new Queensland Ladies Bowling Association (QLBA),

set up in 1930, to represent six foundation clubs, Riverview,

Nundah, Balmoral, Hamilton, Warwick and Southport.

By the end of 1930, there were a total of eight clubs representing 218 women bowlers, compared to 47 men’s clubs.It was not easy for women

to get a game in those days.“Women may bowl only on

a Thursday, if it’s not a public holiday, and if the greens aren’t wanted for anything else,” club records show, (Balmoral 1931).

Mrs Twamley was a member of Riverview and Nundah, and an honorary member of the other QLBA foundation clubs.

After eight years as QLBA pres-ident, Mrs Twamley resigned in April 1938 due to illness.

She died just four months later, but not before being honoured with the first life membership of QLBA.

STRIKING A BLOW FOR WOMEN BOWLERS

A discontinued fours tournament honouring a pioneer of women’s bowls in Queensland was successfully revived by New Farm Bowls Club on October 12.

In an extremely close and tightly fought comp, the Twamley Cup was won in 2014 by dynamic Ipswich United Services-Sunnybank fours combo Marie Lipp (IUS), Julie Ezzy and Liz Parry (Sunnybank) and Mary Acutt (IUS), 6+37

Runner-up skip was Yvonne Taylor from Algester, playing with clubmates Maureen Breingan and Pat Jamieson, along with Jo Kane (IUS), 6+29.

Third place went to Club Pine Rivers skip Dawn Denford, and her fellow Pirates Linda Morish, Mareen Phelan and Jill Newman, 6+23.

You know the competition is fierce when a multiple-state-title- winning rink finishes in fourth place, the Broadbeach girls, skip Sue McKenzie, along with Chrissie Pavlov, Anne McClure and Gail Waitai, 6+18.

“A wonderful sight, two full greens, 24 teams, 96 bowlers, including past Twamley Cup winners, Di Cunnington, Melva Skellern and Jenny Blundell,” New Farm’s Wendy Peach said.

“Twamley Cup was a special a legacy to reignite, and given the response, it’ll be played again next year.”

(The likely date for Twamley Cup 2015 is Sun Oct 11.)

Twamley Revival

The Twamley Cup was first played in 1939, in honour of Mrs Maud Twamley, the foundation president of the Queensland Ladies Bowling Association (1930-1938) and a foundation member of the first women’s bowls club in Queensland (Riverview, at New Farm, 1922),

After many decades of the Cup being vigorously contested, it was not contested in 2004, the year QLBA and RQBA merged, and somehow the tradition fell by the way.

That’s until a development team researching the history of

New Farm Bowls Club realized its significance and organized a revival.

The history of Riverview Ladies Bowling Club is potted but interesting.

The pioneering women bowl-ers first met in the grounds of a private residence in Sydney St, New Farm.

Around a decade later, in the 1930s, the women moved to New Farm Park, and in 1941, to the current New Farm Bowls Club location in Brunswick St, where the men had been bowl-ing since 1907.

The women continued to bowl as “River-view” until 1949, when they amalgamated with the men’s club.

The new New Farm Ladies Bowling Club continued to play a tournament to honour their history for many years, known as the “Riverview Brooch”, but this competition is no longer played.

May lady bowlers

throughout the state spring up like

mushrooms and cover the bowling greens,

as the waters cover the seas

Why save the Twamley?

2014 winners: Marie Lipp, Julie Ezzy, Liz Parry and Mary Acutt


The Broadbeach Bullettes have taken out the hotly contested 2014 Ladies Team Challenge (LTC), its pairs combos causing double trouble for runner up, Helensvale Bombers.

In its fifth year, LTC is a pairs event, set up especially for working women, to give them a chance to play competitive bowls at a weekend without taking time off work.

This year’s comp featured 56 teams (2 pairs per team), 348 bowlers, competing in five zones.

“The Brisbane Ladies Bowling Club, the first bowls club for working women in Queensland, has donated a Perpetual Trophy to track the history of LTC, proudly proclaiming winners such as Can Be Pirates 2010, Sex Pistols 2011, Coolum Cougars 2012, Kawana Thunderbirds 2013, and now Broadbeach Bullettes,” LTC organiser Michelle Russell said.

The 2014 finalists were decided over a knockout weekend at Paradise Point Bowls Club on November 15-16, involving 16 sectional winners from each of the zones: Brisbane Metropolitan (Cruisers, Shady Ladies, Spectrum, Park Rangers, Rainbow Dragons, Diamonds Forever), Caboolture (Scorpions), Downs (Kougars, Mount-N-Maidens), Sunshine Coast (Thunderbirds), and Gold Coast (Argyles, Across the Ages, Wobbygongs, Bombers, Magics, Bullettes).

At least four clashes went down to the wire, including an extra-end tie-break, and a semi final decided by only one shot over the accumulated tally of the two pairs.

In the semis, Broadbeach Bullettes prevailed over Bribie Island Scorpions, and Helensvale Bombers over the South Tweed Wobbygongs.

In the final, Bullettes shot out of the starting blocks, racing to a good lead, only to have the Bombers pairs of Lenore Cornish and Marg Pickering, and Bev Perkins and Pat Allsopp claw their way back, to ensure a dramatic final few ends.

But the Broadbeach girls hung on, Kylie Carpenter and skip Melissa Larcombe,

and state selector Gail Waitai and skip June Foley, winning the 2014 Ladies Team Challenge Championship Trophy by a narrow five-shot margin (over the two pairs).

Nominations are already coming in for the 2015 Challenge, with Round One set down for Sat Oct 10, running over six weeks until Sat Nov 7, finals weekend Sat-Sun Nov 14-15. (Team nominations to Michelle [email protected] or phone 0411 652 718.)

They used to sail to Southport for their annual friendly, but these days, the bowlers come by land.

But the old seafaring ways are not forgotten, and after 100 years of friendship, the old salts at Sandgate and Southport got together in 2014 for a reciprocal “milestone friendly”, both clubs celebrating their Centennial this year.

“It’s such a great story, they must have been pretty keen for a game of bowls in those days, to go up and down the coast by boat,” Sandgate bowler Allen Sait said.

Almost 100 bowlers attended the Sandgate-Southport Centenary Friendlies, hosted by Sandgate in October (Oct 5) and Southport in November (Nov 16), which included prawns and a sausage sizzle.

“The last time Sandgate and Southport played was 25 years ago, in 1989, for our dual 75th anniversaries, but we had such a great time, we’ve decided to host more regular friendlies,” Sandgate chairman John Webb said.

“It’s wonderful to see these two great Queensland bowls clubs come together, both of us celebrating a successful century of bowls,” board secretary

Coralie Bachelder said.

100 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP

Bullettes charge to Ladies Team Challenge title

Gail Waitai, Melissa Larcombe, Kylie Carpenter, and June Foley


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with Rino Parrella

As we wind down towards Christmas, in this summer edition of Green Guru, I thought I’d go over some renovation tips that might be helpful.

I’d also like to share the outcome of a recent visit to Mackay Bowls Club.

GREENS RENOVATIONBowling green renovation is a once a

year event, which takes about four weeks.Leading up to renovation, I recommend

having soil pH levels checked (ideally around August or September is a good time to schedule this).

At the same time, organize a soil test, if you think it might be needed.

If you do these two jobs in plenty of time before your renovation project, it gives you more time to organize remedial action, if needed.

(I will talk more about soil pH in a future Green Guru.)

Renovating greens produces a new surface of grass that we green keepers can mold and shape into a wonderful playing surface for our bowlers.

Our greens have to last a full year, and while a greens renovation is time- consuming, it is not terribly costly for the benefits it brings, working out at approximately $1000 per green.

TIP 1: LAST DRINKSOn renovation eve, make sure the green

is well watered.

TIP 2: THE SCARIFIER IS NOT A PLOUGH.

On Day 1, I begin by scarifying the green

4-6 times.I scarify only at

grass depth, just touching the soil.

The mistake many novice

greenkeepers make, and something I’ve tried myself, is trying to scarify way too deep,

in the hope we can just “pluck out” that deep thatch.

I have come to the view that going too deep has no benefit, but does a disservice, softening up the firm crusty top and giving the grass only soft material to grow into, which can cause a soft, spongy, even “thatch-ier” green down the track!

Remember, the scarifier is not a plough, and you are a green keeper, not a farmer.

TIP 3: DRILL DOWNOn Day Two, I core or drill to aerate the

green, this is a must.

TIP 4: DRESS TO IMPRESSOn Day 3, I top dress.There are two good ways to do this.One is to dry and sieve your soil

throughout the year and store it somewhere dry, then re-apply your own soil through a drop spreader.

The other way is to wheelbarrow it out on to the green straight from the pile, provided it’s relevantly clean, and it must be slightly moist, otherwise it won’t spread well when being shovelled on to the green.

I then drag a six-foot lawn level behind my small ride on mower, in both directions.

Next comes one pass with a drag mat, to rub in the top dressing soil.

TIP 5: FERTILISE, BUT EASY ON THE ORGANICS

On Day 4, I use a good quality greens grade fertilizer, there are different brands (I have Lesco Gold Master 28.1.8, which means 28 per cent nitrogen, 1 per cent phosphorus, and 8 percent potassium) and Lesco High K (high potassium), and a greens renovator, pelleted pig manure.

I make sure it’s well irrigated in.(I’m careful not to go to crazy with the

organics, as experience has taught me that it can lead to a fairy ring problem.

Also, keep up your soil wetting agent to prevent dry patches and keep water penetration even.

I don’t use a renovation fungicide any more, but I keep a close eye out, and if anything like a brown patch starts to appear, and if you suspect nematodes, get a test done!

Spraying at renovation with a nematicide will help keep the numbers down.

TIP 6: LOOK AFTER YOUR CRUSTOn Day Seven, I begin to roll the green,

to crust up the top.

TIP 7: DON’T GO FOR A BUZZ CUTAbout Day Nine, I start mowing.I start cutting at “40 cents” thickness on

the first cut, and work my way down to “20 cents” over the coming weeks.

I often find the green can “run out of gas” by the third week, so I give it a help along with a special “tonic” made up in a vat, starting with 10L of a high nitrogen liquid fertiliser (eg Coron or Nutriset 36.0.0, ie, 36 per cent nitrogen, 0 per cent phosphorus, 0 per cent potassium), then add in firstly, diammonium phosphate, then liquid kelp, then magnesium sulphate, and finally, sulphate of iron.

This helps the surface knit together and toughens up the turf before play begins. For our volunteer green keepers around Queensland, this is a basic outline for a greens renovation, let me know if you find it helpful.

DISCLAIMERRino’s advice is GENERAL IN NATURE.No individual club circumstances have

been taken into account.Neither Rino, Queensland Bowler staff nor

Bowls Queensland will accept responsibility for any damage caused by individuals choosing to act on Rino’s advice or apply Rino’s advice, either correctly or incorrectly.

Grass greens are extremely valuable commodities and no actions which affect their viability should be taken based on Rino’s column and without taking individual circumstances into account.


with Rino Parrella

It was an honour and privilege recently to be invited to Mackay Bowls Club as a greens consultant. It was an overnight affair, flying out on a Saturday afternoon, and returning on a Sunday night.

I was welcomed by club treasurer Peter Molley and greens director/greenkeeper “Hookey”.

After inspecting and discussing the green, my view was that it was worth saving.

I was able to suggest a recovery plan, and working with the club, a programme of recovery has been started. I will keep you informed about how it turns out for Mackay.

My visit to Mackay opened my eyes about how many volunteer green keepers there

are in country Queensland who aren’t able to seek a second opinion as easily as city-based green keepers.

If there’s a topic you’d like covered, or a question you’d like answered in Bowler magazine, please ring BQ and leave a mes-sage for me, or email.

Rino’s mission to Mackay...

Club Snapshot

Mackay Bowling Club came into existence in 1906, introduced into the town by its foundation president, George Cameron.

George used to play bowls on the grass tennis courts on the corner of Brisbane and Gordon Streets, and it must have cap-tured the town’s imagination.

(In those days, there were few bowls clubs outside Brisbane, and none north of Bundaberg.)

The town’s first bowls club was in Wood Street, next to the Theatre Royal (now occupied by Mackay District Canegrowers).

As the town grew up around the bowls club and inner-city land became sought after, it was decided to relocate the club to

its present site at the corner of Nebo Rd and George St.

The new complex was opened on June 16, 1962 by RQBA pres-ident Jim McCracken.

In August 1970, the club pur-chased an adjacent block of land, which turned out to be a great investment.

In 1976, the club sold the land and freed itself of debt.

Mackay GreatsElite bowlers will remember Mackay’s Graham Cook.

Cookie won six Queensland open titles across singles, pairs and fours, winning his first state title in 1970.

I remember being a spec-tator at Grange Bowls Club

(Brisbane) when Cookie won the Queensland singles, pairs and fours titles all in the same year!

He achieved this feat in 1988, and to this day, he remains the only lawn bowler in the history of Queensland to achieve such a distinction.

Cookie represented Queens-land in 216 interstate matches and won the Australian National Sides Championship twice with the Queensland side.

He represented Mackay in more than 500 inter-district games and was inducted into Mackay’s Hall of Fame in 2003.

It was an honour to reconnect with Graham at the Mackay club during my visit, and he tells me he no longer plays, but what a bowler he was!

Another great Mackay bowler was Allan Sommer.

I played against Allan Sommer and Cookie at Gladstone Invita-tion Pairs, my partner and I got a hiding!

Another great bowler, and longtime greenkeeper at the MacKay club was Kevin Hewitt.

He played many state games and won many district events.

From 1984 to 1990, Mackay held a Masters Invitation Sin-gles, which attracted some of the bowling greats.

Here are some of the singles winners listed on the Mackay honour board: Graham Cook, Charlie Hayes, Don Peoples, Neil Crichton, and of course my uncle, the great Rob Parrella.


Most of our insured clubs have opted to protect their valued volunteer workers by putting in a place a personal accident insurance policy that will assist with out-of-pocket non-Medicare medical expenses in the event of an injury.

We all understand and appreciate the hard work and dedication of these work-ers and the contribution they make to their club.

In fact a lot of clubs rely solely on the efforts and support of volunteers.

In turn clubs have a duty of care to all persons, including volunteers.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act a worker is defined as a person who carries out work in any capacity, including voluntary work.

We often receive personal accident claims for voluntary workers from our clubs.

Some examples include deep lacerations resulting in surgery, also slips and falls on slippery

kitchen floors

resulting in broken bones and these would be considered notifiable incidents to WorkCover.

For a comprehensive guide to your obligations under WorkCover visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.

We do not want to deter the use of voluntary workers in our clubs, in fact, we encourage this activity, as it provides not just a service to our clubs, but is also rewarding for the individual.

However, clubs should always assess the risks of the work to be undertaken and the capacity (skills, knowledge, expe-

rience,

physical ability) of the voluntary worker undertaking this work.

We have received a number of claims involving falls from ladders and suggest that whenever possible there should be one person holding the ladder whilst another is on it.

We also have claims where property has been damaged by misuse of machin-ery, so always check that your volunteer knows how to operate any tools or equip-ment before use.

The information provided has been sourced from Safe Work Australia. Please refer to your State or Territory legislation and governing body for your relevant obligations.

Looking after volunteersVolunteers are the lifeblood of our clubs, make sure yours are properly protected.

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Last month I outlined some of the changes to be found in the new Crystal Mark 3rd Edition of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. This latest edition has been approved and should be introduced in early 2015, however, the actual date of its introduction in Australia is still to be advised by Bowls Australia.

In the new version, the law numbers have been changed, administration matters have been moved to the back and the main laws are now at the beginning of the book.

Below are the remaining new clauses not covered in last month’s column.

In my next column (February 2015) I will highlight some other clauses, which, although not new, have had changes to their wording and meaning that will effect all bowlers.

SECTION 5 ADMINISTRATION:55 Formats of Play – World Events and Commonwealth

Games: 55.1.5 There can be a time limit on play. The Controlling Body

will decide the time limit before the game begins. The game will end:

55.1.5.1 When the pre-arranged number of ends has been scored.

55.1.5.2 When the pre-arranged number of ends has been completed or

55.1.5.3 If an end is in progress when a pre-arranged time limit is reached, when that end has been completed.

Also same descriptions included in Domestic Events: 55.3.2 – 55.3.2.1, 55.3.2.2, 55.3.2.3.

56.5 RESPOTTING THE JACK: 56.5.2 Three re-spot positions (new heading).56.5.3 One re-spot position – a single re-spot position which is

2 metres from the front ditch and on the centre line can be used as an alternative to the three re-spot positions described in Law 56.5.2.

PAGE 3 - APPENDICESAppendix A:A.1 Conditions of Play:A.1.4.3 Arrangements for re-spotting the jack.A.1.4.4 Arrangements for deciding the winners of tournament

games and games in a series. If points are to be awarded for games won or drawn, the number of points awarded must be three and one respectively.

A.1.4.5 Arrangements for the use of electronic devices by players with a hearing disability.

A.4 Restricting the movement of players during play:A.4.3 When a player at the head walks up to the mat to deliver

their first bowl, their opponent can remain at the head until that bowl has come to rest before walking up to the mat to deliver their own first bowl.

A.5 Delaying (slow) play: This is a whole new Clause consisting of 7 numbered individual

paragraphs.Finally, I would like to wish all Queensland Bowler readers a

very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. I look forward to bringing you more umpiring news and views in 2015.

Umpire with Joan Brotherton

NEW LAW BOOK - Pt 2

If you think Tewantin Noosa’s Vet-erans Pairs, you think Allan Shaw and Rick Dickson.

The boys have won four out of the past seven tournaments.

What made it different this year was that Rick ended up playing with a substitute partner in each of the three rounds, and in the final, with Bob Schofield.

(After being down seven shots with three ends to go, the pair levelled and scored a massive six shots in the extra end to take the title.)

Rick, now 86, served on the BQ coaching committee for 15 years until

2010, and wrote the coaching column for Queensland Bowler magazine.

He worked with many of Australia’s top coaches and bowlers, including Kelsey Cottrell, who attended Rick’s high performance coaching clinics at Tewantin Noosa.

(The clinics still run on Mondays, 12.30pm, all welcome.)

Rick helped coach the club’s women to win this year’s Sunshine Coast district Div 2 Pennant.

Two of his “fun games” to practise weight control have been picked up by Bowls South Africa.

Tewantin Noosa kingpins Alan Shaw and Rick Dickson, who have dominated the club’s pairs competition for the last four years.

Tewantin Pairs Kingpins


Club Law with curt schatz

Security cameras and your clubTHE USE AND STORAGE OF CCTV...KNOW YOUR OBLIGATIONS!

Level 21, Riverside Centre

123 Eagle Street, Brisbane Qld 4000

Telephone 07 3224 0230

[email protected]

When it comes to legal advice for a club, you need more than just legal advice - you need lawyers who know your industry.

With specialist divisions in hospitality and business services, we understand your industry and all its legal requirements.

We minimise your risk and help grow your business.

For more information contact: Curt Schatz, Partner

Hospitality law requires the best heads in the business.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT LICENSEES

ARE AWARE OF THE OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED

ON THEM BY THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION

IN RELATION TO CCTV FOOTAGE.

SOCIAL BOWLERS WANTED!If you’re a registered bowler living on the Gold Coast and you’d like a game of social bowls every now and again, Gold Coast All Sports Social Bowls Club gets together every Tuesday mid-morning.

The hosting is rotated around five Gold Coast clubs.

“We play three bowl-triples over 18 ends, we’ve been meeting since 1962, and the faces and numbers vary, but we’d really like some new bodies on the green in the New Year,” organiser Doug Dunstan said.

In addition to a mateship group, the boys have raised a total of $162,035 for charities over the past 52 years.

Numbers have dwindled down as low as 25 in recent months and the group would like to revive its fortunes in the New Year.

The group breaks for Christmas on the second Tuesday in December and re-sumes on the second Tuesday in January.

For more info contact Doug Dunstan, 5503 0881.

Our commercial disputes group often provides litigation support to my group on liquor and gaming compliance issues.

I recently asked Mark Madsen (Partner) and Ruth Sainsbury (Solicitor) to com-ment on the topic of CCTV requirements in light of recent changes to legislation:

In addition to the other obligations imposed on licensees under the Act in relation to CCTV such as placement of devices and operational times, the Act and Regulation also outline the obliga-tions of licensees to retain CCTV footage.

Affected licensees must store each recording in a secure place at the prem-ises which only the licensee or a person authorised by the licensee can access.

The footage can only be viewed at the premises by an investigator, the licensee or an approved manager working at the premises.

The CCTV equipment must be capable of storing footage for a mini-mum period of 28 days (the retention period).

When an incident has been identified, the CCTV footage must be archived and retained for a minimum of one year after the retention period, unless it is given to an investigator.

Where no incidents have been identi-fied, the CCTV footage must automati-cally be deleted within 30 days after the retention period.

If an incident occurs at the venue, CCTV footage for the period leading up

to, during and following the incident must be archived.

Archived footage must be made available on request by an investigator. If footage is requested, a digital copy must be made available.

There must also be function-ality to select footage to be copied based on the date, time and the camera that recorded the device.

The Regulation prescribes daily and six-monthly checks which must be carried out and recorded in relation to the CCTV system.

There is also a 48 hour period in which arrangements must

be made to repair any defective equipment.

This 48 hour period is not a grace period – a licensee must continue to abide by its CCTV obligations during that period if

open for trade. It is important that

clubs are aware of the obligations imposed on

them by the relevant legislation in relation to CCTV footage and that the required procedures are implemented in their licensed venues.

If you have any queries in relation to this issue, please contact Mark Madsen on (07) 3224 0241, Ruth Sainsbury on (07) 3224 0382 or myself on (07) 3324 0230.


Welcome to the Queensland Bowler December edition of Henselite’s Spot the Jack competition.

Simply put an X where you think the missing jack was located in this picture, fill in your details below and send this page to:

Queensland BowlerDecember Spot the Jack

PO Box 476, Alderley 4051

The first correct entry drawn will receive a free set of Henselite bowls.Winners can choose from a selection of bowls, colours and sizes.

Name..............................................................................................

Address...........................................................................................

.......................................................................................................

State.........................................................Postcode........................

Daytime telephone...........................................................................

*email.............................................................................................

Fred Biddulphfrom Forrest Beach

Entries must be received by December 31. Winner will be announced in the March issue. Multiple entries allowed.

Original entry forms only, no photocopies accepted.


Coaching with Ian Schuback oam

CHEMISTRYA VITAL INGREDIENT IN TEAM SPORTS

With Super Challenge, Premier League and Premier Sevens competitions looming just around the corner, I thought I’d share my views about team chemistry, the key to success in team events, in my view.

We’ve all seen it before, great players join together for a major competition, and fail to produce the goods. Why?

In my view, lack of knowledge, under-standing and compatibility is usually the reason.

For instance, many skips are unaware of their player’s favourite length of jack, or preferred hand, and this can contribute to a sub-standard performance of the team.

Good camaraderie on the green is an essential ingredient of success in team events, which is something that coaches, players and selectors all need to be more conscious about.

Next time you’re playing, notice the interactions, chemistry and comments of different combinations, and you’ll soon recognise and understand why teams win and lose.

Volatile personali-ties can quickly upset team harmony and un-dermine performance.

Training sessions should be used to gauge compatibility and potential combinations prior to competition.

Competitive drills and training exer-cises are invaluable in terms of testing individual skills and team harmony.

I am always keen to observe how individual players react and interact with others in various team drills and competi-tive training contests.

A pleasant personality, positive attitude, sense of humour, obvious enjoyment, keenness for the contest, love of the game and a genuine respect for others are worthwhile traits that greatly influence team spirit and club success.

Significant benefits can be achieved when weekly training sessions focus as much on building team and club spirit as skills development.

In order to achieve great chemistry, one suggestion is for selectors to regularly consult with skips, to obtain feedback on team compatibility.

Similarly, if players are unhappy about selection, they should be encouraged to approach selectors and privately discuss any concerns.

On the other hand, Singles is a very lonely and selfish game, and it needs to be played that way.

However, only a select few can play singles well.

Experienced leads are generally pretty good at singles because of their ability to draw close to the jack with their first two bowls, but tactical awareness and mental toughness are also essential traits for singles success.

Although everyone enjoys playing pairs, and usually the most skilful players are selected in these events, I’m a firm believer that two skips usually outperform a lead and skip in pairs.

Chemistry between both players is once again the key to success in pairs.

In my era, there was no better example of this than

the legendary English duo, David Bryant and Tony Allcock, who won six world indoor pairs championships together.

They simply oozed confidence in each

other’s ability, and displayed an obvious and

unsurpassed enjoyment for playing the game when they

teamed together. Two-bowl triples is always a challenging

discipline, where early bowls in the head are essential.

With only six bowls per team being played each end, there are far fewer attacking shots played compared to pairs and fours.

This discipline lends itself to selecting players who can consistently draw close to the jack.

As such, three leads usually perform well, or alternatively, two leads and a conservative skip is the preferred option.

Coaching and selecting winning fours combinations is an arduous task and the most difficult of all in terms of achiev-ing good chemistry among players to optimise the team result.

My view is that the best outcome is achieved by first selecting the skip, and

then seeking the skip’s input as to prefer-ences and priorities regarding possible combinations.

Some compromises may be necessary, but selectors and skips need a col-laborative effort if clubs hope to produce winning teams.

The compatibility between the skip and the third is also vitally important in a fours team.

The chemistry displayed between Chris Piper and skip Brad Andersen was a highlight in Club Kawana winning the recent men’s South East Queensland Division Two Pennant title.

The recent trend of players chopping and changing clubs adds another level of complexity, especially when a few play-ers receive financial incentives and the majority don’t.

Imagine the volatile chemistry that may result when an imported ‘professional’ skip is struggling, while the rest of the team are playing great bowls, but only receive cheese and biscuits after the match?

I think better long-term outcomes can be achieved when any financial incen-tives are distributed equally among the whole team.

Good luck to every club in the forthcom-ing competitions and Merry Christmas to all Queensland Bowler readers!

Volatile personalities upset team

harmony and undermine

performance.

Are you after the ultimate training aid to help improve your

game? Or maybe you need the perfect gift for the bowler

in your life. Hunter Bowls’ Rebound Disc Practice System could be the answer. Turn to page 19 for more information.

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december 2014

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