Bowling through the long weekend

Originally published in The Nyngan Weekly

The biggest weekend in Nyngan bowls has come to an end after a massive three days of competition.

The June long weekend competition attracts some of the best bowlers from across the region and this year was no different. 24 teams battled it out, with Lee Stinson, Craig Townsend and Ben Halloway from Warilla taking out top spot.

Club president Adrian Taylor said he was impressed with the dedication of travelling teams and had heard nothing but positive feedback from them.

"They've all said they like the hospitality and say they'll come back again. I haven't spoken to any who said they won't be back."

As of Sunday morning, the competition still had four undefeated teams and Mr Taylor said it was shaping up to be a tight competition.

"As of last night there were four undefeated teams still and that's huge, so we'll look to see what comes from that today, it's going to be an exciting last round."

Mr Taylor didn't have any dark horse picks but had high hopes for some of the local teams.

"There's probably no real dark horses. There's a local team that could be in the money, but travelling bowlers, always pretty strong. There's a couple of really good strong traveling bowlers.”

Though the locals didn't take out first place, they were well represented in second and third with Jake Waterhouse, Jake Homer, and Hayden Boikowski, and Andrew Reynolds, Brad Lamont, and Steven Read taking those honours.

Bowls secretary Mark Cashion was everywhere you looked over the weekend, keeping the competition running and the bowlers well fed.

Entry fees included a massive five feeds per person over the weekend, which Mr Cashion helped to coordinate, but that didn't stop him from checking out the competition.

"We've got 24 teams competing as far away as the south coast from Warilla, Orange, Manildra, obviously the local contingent, we've also got the boys from Port City, the recent winners of the 2022 state open triples."

Frying onions as he talks, Mr Cashion said that the weekend was hugely important for local bowlers as it is their major fundraising before the pennant's competition starts.

"You've got to travel, so, rather than put our hand in the pocket, we do a bit of fundraising." Without the support of their

sponsors Mr Cashion said the event wouldn't have the gravitas that it did.

"We were down on numbers but with the sponsorships, we only really needed 14 teams to advertise the $10.000 in prize money" he said.

“We had five, come on board as a major sponsor which was a thousand dollars each. which was good, they don't have to do it. but without them, it doesn't go ahead."

This year's competition wasn't the biggest the club has seen but Mr Cashion said that didn't deter from the level of play.

"In previous years we've had the 30 teams, but I think what hurt us this year is NSW opened up, so people have gone sweet after being locked in, they're trying to get away."

Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Lee Stinson was very impressed with the quality of weekend Nyngan put on.

"It's amazing what you guys do as a club. To all your team, whether they're paid staff or voluntary staff, in every role that you've covered, it's unbelievable.

“This is probably one of the best run events and how you look after the bowlers of the three days is, is unbelievable," he said.

The weekend was a great opportunity for bowlers from across the state to catch up with each other in a friendly competition, but Mr Stinson didn't miss a chance to congratulate the club on their efforts to bring young bowlers through the ranks.

"I just like to recognise what you guys are doing as a club and a community for young Shelby [Powell] and that she's trying to do and achieve something pretty special with her bowls.

"It's fantastic the way you guys are rallying around and trying to help her out with what she's trying to accomplish in the game. So, well done.”