Bowls NSW Ltd have made the contentious decision to cancel the 2021 Open Gender and Women's State Championships, while both State Pennant Finals have been postponed in response to the extension of the COVID lockdown.
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Bowlers across the state have been stunned by the confirmation there'll be no 2021 State Championships, with the peak body saying with no clear end to lockdown in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Greater Sydney and Central Coast there was ''a significant reduction in available calendar space for the remainder of 2021''.
It is the first major ruling by Bowls NSW Ltd since the vote to amalgamate Bowls NSW and Women's Bowls NSW in May.
''With several Districts/Regions/Zones yet to complete championships in respective disciplines, the decision not to postpone the event into next year was made with the intention of providing club, districts and regions/zones the best possible opportunity of completing all scheduled 2021 events without impacting on 2022 events and calendar,'' Bowls NSW Ltd said in a release.
Last year COVID-19 shut down bowls for more than four months, but Bowls NSW elected to postpone rather than cancel its 2020 State Championships which were played earlier this year.
Now many bowlers are upset they have not been given the same opportunity to play for a 2021 state title, even if the championships had to be delayed to 2022.
Bowlers flooded social media with their opinions which were often critical of Bowls NSW Ltd with a general view being that it is tough to win a Zone championship and many sacrifices had to be made and now the chance of winning a state crown in Open, Seniors and President's Reserve (Grade 5-7) in Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours has been taken away.
There was also support for the tough decision taken by Bowls NSW Ltd who are trying to navigate an increasingly stretched calendar under the constant threat and uncertainty of COVID lockdowns.
Reigning 2021 Zone 16 Singles and Pairs champion Lee Stinson, while disappointed not to be able to chase a prized state crown, said on social media he supported the tough decision taken by Bowls NSW Ltd.
Stinson has made more sacrifices that most bowlers making the round trip from his home in Orange to Warilla on a Friday for several months to play Pennants and championships for the Gorillas in 2021.
With no state championships for 2021 the priority for clubs in Zone 16 is now to complete their Major Singles and Pairs immediately after the lockdown is lifted in order to have representatives for the Zone Champion of Club Champion Singles and Pairs in October.
To assist clubs to get their Singles and Pairs finished, Zone 16 officials also made the tough decision to cancel the Zone Triples.
Pennants saved for later date
The Open Gender NSW Pennant Finals and Women's State Pennant Finals have been rescheduled, as officials scramble to respond to the continuing outbreak of coronavirus.
The good news is both events have been rescheduled for a second time and not cancelled, but bowlers will have to change their accommodation plans.
The Open Gender NSW Finals have been moved from two weekends in mid-September to October 15-17 for all seven grades.
Zone 16 Grade 4 champions Wiseman Park were to head to Yamba BC and Maclean BC for its finals, but the Finals have been switched to West Dubbo BC and Dubbo Macquarie BC.
The host venues for the other six grades are unchanged including Kiama and Warilla co-hosting the Grade 7 Finals.
The draws and playing format will also remain unchanged. The Women's State Pennant Finals have a new venue and scheduling following the uncertainty around the Queensland border meaning the event will not be played at Kingscliff, Pottsville, Cabarita Beach or Cudgen Leagues on September 19-23.
Forster BC will now host all four grades of the Women's State Finals, with Grades 2 and 3 on October 19-21 and Grades 1 and 4 on October 22-24.
Webber riding for a worthy cause
One of the great Illawarra bowlers, Bill Webber, is seeking support away from the green in a solo cycle/kayak from Port Macquarie to the Gold Coast to fight dementia.
Webber was the Towradgi club greenkeeper and a leading bowler, with victories in the South Pacific Singles in 1985 and Illawarra Singles in 1993.
Aged 81 and living in Port Macquarie, Webber is planning to ride 500 kilometres to the Gold Coast for his brother George's 90th birthday.
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George has dementia and is being cared for in a residential facility. Bill will also paddle 100km to raise funds for the Dementia Australia Research Foundation as part of Dementia Action Week on September 21-26. Webber wants the Illawarra bowls community to support his ride/paddle by donating funds through the link fundraising.dementia.org.au/fundraisers/billwebber
''Dementia doesn't discriminate in its selection criteria - age, wealth, healthy lifestyle and education are no guarantees for a dementia-free ageing process,'' Webber said.
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