The Mount Gambier District Indoor Bowls Association opened its 2023 season last week with a Mixed Triples Championship.

President Stephen Von Duve greeted all players and then the official formalities took place with association patron Athol Malseed rolling the first jack and patroness Shirley Gifford rolling the first bowl to officially open the season.

Twenty-three teams contested the Miller Timber Joinery / Mt Gambier Isuzu Utes Mixed Triples Championship, with the combined team from the Saints and Post-Tel club of Shirley Gifford, Kevin Burn and Jennifer Bowering defeating the Blue Lake Bowlers team of Kevin Jones, Emma Freemantle and Thomas Butler in the first semi final 9 shots to 4.

In the second semi final the Post-Tel team of Paul Wilkinson, Zac Pearson and Fiona Pearson took victory over the other team from Post-Tel of Lorraine Van Den Hoogen, Jim Pearson and Craig Pearson 8 shots to 5.

The final had Pearson’s team scoring four on the first end but by the fifth end the Bowering team were only one shot behind.

On the sixth end Pearson scored two shots, to give them a three shot lead going into the last end.

Bowering could only settle for one shot on the last end and fell short of victory to give the Post-Tel team of Paul Wilkinson, Zac Pearson and Fiona Pearson victory and claim the first association championship for the year, 7 shots to 5.

In the consolation final it was the clash of the two Commercial Club teams with the team of Doreen Oakley, John Oakley and Coehen Keppels defeating the team of Phil Bliss, Graham Dent and Gaylene Leggett to beat them 10 shots to 1.