The Mount Gambier District Indoor Bowls Association opened its 2022 season last Thursday night with the Miller Timber Joinery/Mount Gambier Isuzu Utes Mixed Triples Championship.

Mount Gambier District Indoor Bowls Association president Stephen von Duve opened proceedings by greeting all players and invited the association’s patron Athol Malseed to roll the first jack.

The association’s patroness Shirley Gifford then rolled the first bowl and the 2022 season was officially open for business.

The Mixed Triples Championship was warmly received with 23 team entries, but none could stop the team from the Saints club of Shirley Gifford, Jennifer Bowering and Gary Bowering defeating the combined Post-Tel and Saints team of Kevin Burn, Veronica Opie and Stephen Von Duve in the first Semi-Final 10 shots to three.

In the second semi-final the Wandilo Water Rats team of Nicola Bowditch, Brad Errock and Tony Bowditch took victory over the inform combined team from Post-Tel and Wandilo of Jason Kuring, Fiona Pearson and Zac Pearson nine shots to three.

These results set up a final between Saints and Post-Tel/Wandio sides and a winner was difficult to choose.

But the decider was a little one sided with the Bowditch team scoring four out of the first five ends to earn a comfortable 7-1 shot lead.

But the Bowering team did not give in and scored on the last two ends to make things interesting.

But the Saints fell short of victory to give the Wandilo Water Rat team of Brad Errock, Nicola and Tony Bowditch victory.

The trio enjoyed the perfect start to the season, not only claiming the first Association championship for the year, but also the Miller Timber Joinery/Mount Gambier Isuzu Utes Mixed Triples Championship seven shots to five.

In the consolation final the Post-Tel team of Lorraine Van DenHoogen, Jim Pearson and Craig Pearson defeated the hard trying team of Kathy Gray, Bob Hink and Val Alma from the Moorak Club to beat them eight shots to four.