Local bowlers triumph at national championship

By Robert Muir

Dec 17, 2024

In their national winning tee shirts, Anne Miles and Claire Sanders. Photo by Les_Garbutt

Three Ovens and Murray lawn bowlers were in the winning Victorian teams at the 2024 Over 60 Women’s Australia national sides at Tweed Hills Queensland.

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Competing in October for the Betty Collins OAM Trophy from the O and M were Anne Miles -YMGCR, Claire Sanders – Yarrawonga and Mary Paton – Myrtleford.

Victoria recorded excellent wins, dropping just one match, in the sixth round, to Canberra. The scores were: Round 1 – Vic 73 WA 51 Round 2-Vic 62 QLD 49 Round 3 -Vic 89 Tas 39 Round 4 -Vic 67 NSW 44 Round 5 -Vic 62 SA 42 Round 6 -Vic 59 ACT 66 (only loss) Round 7- Vic 82 NT 32.

The Vics were the only team to win six out of seven matches. Queensland were runners up with five matches.

“We all bowled as a team,” Anne told the Yarrawonga Chronicle. “If you can achieve that you are more than half way to success! Everyone then played their individual roles to secure the win.”

It was national title number four for Anne and Claire, with three Over 60 Australian Women’s sides and one Australian ladies Fours which also included Kylie Lavis of Wodonga and Laureen Smith YMGCR. Laureen has three national titles.

In other great news, on the second day of the O&M ladies triples at Myrtleford last Sunday, Anne, Laureen and Claire won against Kylie Lavis, Wodonga, Rhoanna Smith ( Laureen’s daughter) and Jan Hermassoo ( both from Wangaratta), the final score being 25/13. The victors will represent O&M at the Victorian state finals next year.

By Robert Muir

Journalist