MONBULK Bowling Club held its annual presentation night recently, with some old champions missing out.
The celebrations were held in the Monbulk Bistro, which was spectacularly decked out in the maroon and gold club colours.
Each year the highlight of the competitions is the singles championships.
This year, the ladies’ final was between Dot Donders, who has been the Club Champion on several occasions, and Jenny Holmes, previously only been runners-up.
In the final match Jenny was able to get away to a good start.
Then, while needing only one point to clinch the championship, Dot started her run.
Jenny was heard to say “how could one point be so difficult to get?”.
Finally, with a little luck and with much relief, Jenny won that point and so became the Club Champion for this year.
The men’s final was a finely-balanced competition between the reigning champion, Andrew Bell and newcomer to the finals Allan Marsh.
Both men play as skips in the top Monbulk Saturday Pennant side and they put in hours of practice each week.
The concentration on their faces was frightening.
Andrew and Allan bowled that way for more than three hours.
The scores remained close with both men staying in sight of the title.
In the end it was a jubilant Allan who edged in front.
Winners: Barry Adshead (Open President’s Handicap), Bruce Cameron (Open Proportional Handicap), Doreen Edwards and Peter Koomen (Eve Garret Mixed Pairs), Elaine Butler and Dot Donders (Ladies’ Pairs), Allan Marsh and Eric Markham (Men’s Pairs), Jenny Holmes (Val Fleming Trophy – best aggregate points, ladies), Allan Marsh (Chas Connell Trophy – best aggregate points, men), Klaus Eisele (Ernie Whitworth Trophy – club person of year), Peter Coulson (Encouragement Award), Jenny Holmes (Ladies Club Champion) and Alan Marsh (Men’s Club Champion).