Twenty-one members of the Mount Gambier District Indoor Bowls Association have returned from the Australian National Championships held in Tanunda SA last weekend.
The championships were touted as one of the toughest competitions to date in all sections.
South Australia finished third overall in both adult and junior competitions, which was a first for many years with the competition traditionally dominated by Tasmania and Victoria.
In the Ladies Singles, local Serena Bourn came home a National Champion winning the gold medal with eight wins and one loss in a close competition with New South Wales bowler Monika Korn beating her on percentage.
In the Men’s Fours the team of Craig Pearson, Mark Treglown (Naracoorte), Josh Ferrazzola and Val Alma dominated the competition for the most part of the week.
They proudly brought home the bronze medal.
Other local bowlers also experienced success, despite not bringing home medals.
In his second year of Men’s Singles, Coehen Keppels finished 10th in his toughest competition to date.
The Ladies Pairs teams of Fiona and Keisha Pearson and Jennifer Bowering and Emma Freemantle finished 5th and 9th respectively.
The Men’s Pairs teams of Tony Bowditch and Daniel Langdon, and Zac Pearson with Broken Hill’s Milton Hawke Jr came 5th and 7th.
Bronwyn Hill and her team finished 7th in the Women’s Triples.
Gary Bowering and Thomas Butler along with their teams in the Men’s Triples came in 6th and 8th.
Veronica Opie, Fiona Rochow, Nicola Bowditch and Heather Glynn placed 7th in the Women’s Fours competition.
In the Mixed Fours competition, Tim Radley and Kevin Burn finished 9th with one win and a draw.
Jos Breuker and Shirley Gifford both filled in for Queensland in the Mixed Fours and Ladies Fours and finished in 7th and 8th place.