The Mount Gambier RSL Bowling Club held its annual 2-day Men’s Fours competition over the weekend of 15th and 16th May. This prestigious competition had main sponsors of The City of Mount Gambier, Dycer Construction, KFC and Commodore on the Park.
Numerous other sponsors also supported the club to make the weekend one of the most successful ones ever. The competition attracted thirty teams of Men’s Fours being represented from the following bowling clubs: Ascot Park (Adelaide), Warrnambool, Warrnambool City, Deddington, Horsham City, Kingston, Nhill, Millicent, Hopetoun, Naracoorte, Robe, Edenhope, Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier RSL and numerous composite sides. The format for the weekend was to play a total of 8 games consisting of 4 games of 12 ends on each day with the team finishing with the most points over the 2 days being declared the winners.
There was to be prizes for the first 6 places and also for the individual day winners. The weather was changeable with Sunday being the most inclement, but all games were completed with some of the best bowlers being on show from around the South Australia and Victoria regional areas.
After the first day’s play there was only 5 teams which were undefeated, and it was clear that things were going to be close at the end of the competition. The second day continued to produce some tight games and other teams found their form and came into the running for prizes.
At the conclusion of the competition, it was the strong team from Ascot Park (Adelaide) skippered by Mark Denton which hung on to take out the main prize with 7 wins and a total of 123 points for the weekend.
Close runners-up were from the Mount Gambier RSL Bowling Club and Millicent Bowling Club skippered by Michael Fox with 7 wins and 120 points. Bill Richards led a composite side to third place with 6 wins and a draw to register 118 points.
Andy Ashby skippered his Mount Gambier RSL Bowling side to 4th place with 5 wins and a draw and 109 points. Jack Vanser from Kingston skippered his composite side also to 5 wins and a draw and 108 points to finish 5th and the final prize position went to the Strawb Masters skippered team who had 4 wins and 3 draws to finish on 105 points.
Winners for day one were the Mount Gambier RSL team skippered by Lawrie Franklin and day two winners was another composite side skippered by Adam Wilson (Mount Gambier).
All the presentations were performed by Mount Gambier Mayor Lynnette Martin who expressed her congratulations to all bowlers, helpers and sponsors in making this a major success for the City. It was a major coup for the Mount Gambier RSL Bowling Club to hold this event and attract such a fine array of bowlers to perform and they look forward to next year’s event to continue its successful patronage.
Day One Winners in the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: A. Heesemans, D. Beaman, L. James and L. Franklin. 
Runners Up of the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: G. Fox, N. Tobin, B. Roper and M. Fox. 
Day Two Winners in the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: B. Bremner, B. Masters, A. Wilson and S. Denton. 
Third Place in the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: B. Wittwer, R. Cox, J. England and B. Richards. 
Fourth Place in the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: P. Wilson, G. Ellis, R. Corner and A. Ashby. 
Fifth Place in the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: B. Armfield, P. McCallum, R. Willmott and J. Vanser. 
Sixth Place in the Mount Gambier RSL Men’s Fours. Left to Right: A. King, M. Gregg, B. Kemp and S. Masters
