LAWN BOWLS
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South Coast Zone 7 had a finalist and semi-finalist in the state finals of the Champion of Club Champions singles and pairs at Belrose Bowling Club.
Tomakin's Les Vincent beat Albion Park's Ian Barrett 31-13 in the singles semi-finals.
Vincent was then beaten by Armidale City's Todd Fuller 31-19 (Zone 3) in the title decider.
Vincent overcame Tim Crampton 31-14 (Tumut RSL, Zone 8) in the round of 16 before a thrilling 31-29 win over Gerard Beath (Cowra, Zone 5) in the quarter-final and then a win over Barrett, who was Illawarra's representative.
Barrett won by forfeit against North Sydney's Jamen Lewis in round one, before beating Josh Andriske 31-22 (West Dubbo, Zone 4) in their quarter-final.
Andriske was a surprise finalist in the State Singles Championship at East Maitland BC, beating Figtree RSL's Brett Pieper in a thriller in their quarter-final.
The state finals of the Champion of Club Champion singles and pairs featured the winners from the 16 NSW zones this year.
Meanwhile, Merimbula-Imlay's Dylan Cuthbert and Michael Wilks reached the semi-finals in the state Champion of Club Champion pairs.
The South Coast pair had a great 20-14 win over Gary Willis (substitute) and Australian bowls legend Steve Glasson (Mt Lewis) in round one, then beat John Bugden and Ivor Watkiss (Camden, Zone 5) in round two.
Cuthbert and Wilks were denied a spot in the final with a 19-7 loss to Isaac Rayner and his partner, former Albion Park bowls co-ordinator David Ferguson, who now represents Wagga Rules BC in Zone 8.
Ferguson and Rayner then beat Ettalong Memorial's Lee Trethowan and Australian star Aron Sherriff 17-16 in a gripping final.
Illawarra representatives, Dapto Citizens' Trevor Gillis and Brian Harriott - with Troy Ford called in to play as a substitute - were beaten 19-18 by Budgen and Watkiss in the opening round.
Birthday bash for rained-off bowlers
HEAVY rain meant the bowling was called off and the focus went to celebrations for the Towradgi Park Bowling Club on its 60th birthday last Sunday.
The first wet Sunday in months forced a cancellation of the mixed fours event, but about 100 members and guests enjoyed a champagne breakfast instead.
The club hosts a champagne breakfast twice a year and bowls co-ordinator Wes Falconer said there was such positive feedback to the function that bookings are strong for the next one in March.
‘‘We’ve had a really good response from Towradgi members and people from across the zone to the day,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a shame about the weather, but we are lucky to have such a great club facility here and had other events planned for the day that everyone made the most of it.’’
Tom Canvin represented the Royal NSW Bowls Association and was among the special guests.
He presented Betty Bennett and Tony Gill with State Merit Badges.
The Towradgi Park club also hosted a successful handicap triples event last Thursday.
Peter Morgan, Brian Purdie and Jamie Johansen won, with Bob Slater, Richard Harris and Rod Busst runners-up. Bill Gomes, Charlie Cheetham and Ian Barrett finished third, with Terry Blanch, Graham Davis and Chris Brooks fourth.