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January 26th 2009

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VLBA Round 12 Review CLUB RESULTS
CLUB NEWSLETTER NOV/DEC (pdf) COACHING SECTION
JANSEN, NEW CLUB CHAMPION CLUB COACHES
LAMBIS ARTICLE (pdf) COACHING ARTICLES
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JANSEN, NEW CLUB CHAMPION

Posted 27/12/08

Ray Jansen was simply brilliant in his match against Peter Stewart to take the Club singles championship 25/13 on Tuesday 23/12.

Stewart won the first 2 ends to lead 3/0, but from there on it was a case of “anything you can do, I can do better” from Ray ‘Rowdy’ Jansen, who put on a show of draw control and driving accuracy we haven’t seen on our show-green since the club was in Premier division 6 or 7 years ago.

The almost doubled final score suggests that Peter wasn’t up to the challenge for such an esteemed event, but he was. It was simply a case of Ray being able to repeat his skills with a consistency that ultimately was the difference between these two champions, on a free running 14 second green in gusty conditions.

Take for instance the ends 9 to 16. On every occasion Stewart held shot with a bowl either touching or no more than 10cm from the jack.

Jansen either drew his shot off, or drove him off to take one or more shots.

It was totally intimidating to Stewie who must have been wondering what more he had to do to win an end.

Jansen must have had 7 drives for 6 target hits which either claimed the shot or killed the end. His accuracy and explosive impact was devastating.

Stewie did take 3 shots on the 12th when he pushed the jack back to his own bowls and Jansen missed the first of only two running shots for the entire matches 27 ends.

Yet ironically on the 20th end, with the score 17/9, Ray played his worst end of the match with no bowls closer than 6-feet, yet he still collected 3 to put the match out of Peter’s reach.

Ray Jansen was the deserving winner of the club singles championship.

Geoff Mathers.

 

 

WOES IN THE WET

Posted 17/12/08

6th placed Yarra Valley gave our top-side ladies a lesson in how to play and win on a wet track, when they took the 2-points by a comfortable 15 shots, after being only 10-down at the half-way mark.

It was disappointing to let this match slip going into the long break, as KHSC now just cling on to 4th place with 6 rounds to play, and it’s allowed a lower team to come into the finals mix when we could have held a 2-game margin.

Carole Price said after the loss, “We just don’t know how to play on wet slow greens, and they had it mastered.”

It’s an amazing thing really.

There is only one simple rule when it’s wet, or slow & sluggish.

“Bowl to move the jack every time.” Just be slightly overweight, then you won’t be short!  Bowls 10’ behind are better than being 6’ short!

What happens is we try to draw to the jack with finessed shots that fall short & stay out wide in the draw line. The other vital benefit on delivering to ‘move’ the jack is that you will have bowls behind the head too, - so when the jack does move, with both teams trying to do the same thing, you’ll always be there to score from it!  Surely the coaches and skips tell you that before any matches begin on wet/slow turf!!?

Barbara Gilbert, the big winner last week, fell over by 8 shots after leading 10/9 at the halfway mark, but then her rink dropped a five on the 13th that effectively ended their day, and they never recovered after losing 10 out of the next 14 ends, & that included losing 14 shots over 5 ends right after the break.

We’ll have to hold an enquiry into what the opposition serves for arvo’ tea because Elaine Matthews too dropped 9 shots over 4 ends right after the break, but came home strongly to draw the rink 26/26.

The second rink draw of the day was Phil Major at 23/23 scoring a face-saving 5 on the last after dropping 7 of the last 10 ends.

Pat O’Meara’s rink too was unable to stop the late main-scoreboard deterioration, when her rink lost 8 out of the last 11 ends to go down 17/24.

It’s becoming a worrying  trend to see winning opportunities turn sour with our rinks being out scored disproportionately over the final ends. ”It must be something we eat during the break, or maybe what we don’t eat, and so we get tired & lose concentration.

The hot shots of the day though were Maisie Ford who put on a polished leader performance for Pat O’Meara, and Elaine Matthews who worked tirelessly to skip her team to a rink draw after leading 26/24 having scored a 4 on the 23rd, but then dropping 2-singles to tie 26/26.

KHSC now meets lowly Eltham  at home on the 20th January. A must win match if we want to play in the finals.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

B-1’s ON A ROLL.

The B’s are looking hot with another convincing win last Tuesday against Eltham by 20 shots. including 2-1/2 rink wins & one loss by 1 shot on the last end of the match.

Now solidly entrenched into 2nd place they line up against Greythorn on the 20 January to start the finals countdown.

Zelda Aronson had held a 17/8 lead with 9-ends to play, but then lost 7 of ‘em to slip below the radar by only one-shot 19/20 for a valuable rink result.

And Elaine Hopkins had the same run-home troubles when her rink dropped 9 shots by losing the last 5 of 6 ends when leading 20/16, but they still finished with a 26/26 draw to help keep Eltham out of the equation of having any chance  to win the match.

The big winner was Jill Donaldson’s rink of Lea Bay (3) Dorothy Norman (2)

Joan McCarthy (L) who raced away with the match 27/14, and with Sylvia Rimpas’s rink adding another 5-shots up, it was enough to take the 2 match points.

The 16 girls walked off the green with very deserving  pride after dominating 2/3rds of the season in 2nd place, going into the holiday break.

“Go Kites.”

Geoff Mathers.

 

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JANSEN v STEWART - FINAL

Posted 17/12/08

In-form top-side skip Ray Jansen sent a chilling message out to Peter Stewart, who will be his opponent for the Club Singles Championship next Tuesday, when he gave his Pennant-team 3rd Graeme Spry, a thorough spanking, in the semi-final yesterday.

It was a pity there were not more there to witness the slow strangulation by Jansen's brilliant performance on the 15+ synthetic green.

Spry got away to an excellent start and looked like he had the green speed and line all boxed up, drawing shot after shot within a mat length, but at 5/4, that's when Ray took over & put his red 'Internationals' to some serious work.

He was 3 down at the head and moved the 'cake' for two, -  6/5.

He was 3 down on the next end and draw a perfect resting toucher.

Then 4 down at the head, and killed the end.

2-down on the next, he drew off the jack for 3-up.

This pattern followed end after end. A classic display of intimidation.

After these continuous heart-breaking shots from Jansen, Spry began to lose his line & weight control, and the match just slipped away.

There was virtually nothing Graeme could do to shake Ray off, who simply blazed away to an overpowering  25/8 win to put him in the final against Peter Stewart, - now scheduled next Tuesday afternoon. (At a time to be confirmed.)

Peter Stewart showed some (retired) school-teacher smarts, by offering himself as the semi-final marker. As he said, "so I could get a close-up look at my competition," for what would be his first singles championship win either at Kew (before the merger) or KHSC.

It promises to be a tightly fought final as both players are in excellent form, and interestingly, Stewart is Ray Jansen's 2nd this week in the round-12 against Rosanna.

Geoff Mathers.

 

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KHSC WHITEWASHES HURSTBRIDGE.

Posted 15/12/08

VLBA Pennant Round 11 - Match Reports

Divisions, A-1 & B-1

What a thrashing. Our VLBA Pennant A1’s absolutely blitzed Hurstbridge (8th) at home this week in Round-11, more than doubling their score with an all rinks win. (123/59.)

Barbara Gilbert’s rink of Con Doherty (3), Fran Jeffers (2) & Cheryl Muttock (L) was the ‘bolter’ who tore the heart out of the match, winning 37/12 after they had raced away to lead 22/11 by the 18th end, - and then just to make the win a certainty, they rattled off another 15 shots in the last 7 ends to be unstoppable.

Pat O’Meara’s rink got a scare over the 12/13th ends when Hurstbridge won both by 4-shots to get to within 2. But then Pat & her rink took over (Jan Mosley (3), Carol Price (2), Maisie Ford (L) winning the next 8 of 12 to run away with the 25/16 win.

Phil Major led an impressive 15 shot win 33/18, - but amazingly with only 7-end losses for the entire match they gave away 3 x 4’s & 1 x 3 = 15 shots from the 18 points scored by Hurstbridge over just THREE ends. The other 22 of Hurstbridge’s ends produced only 3-shots.

Elaine Matthews was ‘steady-as-she-goes’ never letting Hurstbridge get a look in again after giving them a 3-end start & trailing 2/3. It was curtains for Hurstbridge from then on as KHSC won 8 of the next 10 ends and closed the rink score at 28/13. John Scerri filled in as her second for the absent Betty Collins.

That all adds up as 123 shots to 59 and puts us in 2nd spot on the ladder equal with Blackburn, and 6 points behind Montmorency, - with next weeks pre-Xmas-break round against 5th placed Yarra Valley, on their turf.

Yarra Valley too had had their score doubled this week by 4th placed Box Hill on their home plastic. But Yarra Valley won’t be a ‘gimme,’ although KHSC is expected to take the 2-points with a similar positive performance like this week’s win against Hurstbridge.

 ……………………………………………………………………………………

B-1’s LOSE IT ON THE LINE.

KHSC lost their Round 11 match against Bennettswood in a breath-taker to go down by only 2-shots right on the line.

At the 88th end, the main board was locked together 82/82. 4-ends later we’ve grabbed a 6-shot lead. And that lead dropped to 3 shots with only 4 ends left to play.

Unfortunately, our only rink winner for the day, Sylvia Rimpas and her team of Jean Floody (3),  Valerie Saakstarui (2) & Moira Ann Beresford (L) who had almost whitewashed Bennettswood & led 34/14 by the 24th end, - let a 5 slip by them on their 25th.

When added to Jill Donaldson’s 2-shot loss on her last end, the 3-shots gained by Zelda Aronson & Elaine Hopkins were not enough to hold the match points, and we blew it on the line by two.

Sadly it was a case of Bennettswood scoring 12 shots over the last 8 ends of the match to KHSC four when we were leading on the main board by 6 at the 92nd. We just couldn’t hold them back after a very spirited  first half when we led 58/41, but managed only 30 shots to 41 after the break.

Jill Donaldson and her team were 2-up at the 16th after a slow start, but dropped 8 shots over the next 2 ends to go down 18/28.

Elaine Matthews rink of Connie Crea (3), Beverley Cox (2) & Judith Hamilton (L) spent their entire 25 ends playing catch-up, sticking their nose in front for the first time on the 20th end after scoring a 3, only to drop a 3 on the next, - regain the lead 19/18  on the 23rd with a single, - then dropped another 3 and could only score a single on their last to go down by a credible one.

Zelda Aronson (S), Di Birch (3), Joan Rudolph (2) & Jocelyn Patience (L) had led right through to the 16th at 16/14, but then their bowls must have gone flat, as the rink dropped the next  7 ends in a row and 8 of the last 9 ends to go down 20/26. “Could it have been something in the afternoon tea?”

An exciting but disappointing round 11 after looking like winners only a heart-beat from the line, so we’ll make up for it against Eltham next Tuesday on our turf, and go into the Xmas break with another win & a huge smile on the board.

Go ‘Kites’

Geoff Mathers

 

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CAROLE PAYS THE PRICE

Posted 11/12/08

On a cloudless but gusty day (11/12), with the front show-green running 13+ seconds, and in front of around 50 spectators, - Fran Jeffers won her first Club Singles Championship defeating Carole Price 25/23 on the 28th end.

It was a Nip-&-Tuck affair with the lead changing 6 times over the 3-1/2 hours that grew into one of the most exciting finals over the recent past.

After jumping away to a 10/2 lead by the 7th end, Carole Price scored only 4 shots over the next 9 ends, which saw her lead whittled down to one @ 14/13.

Carole had won the early ‘long’ ends due to too many loose and wayward bowls from Fran who had clearly started nervously, - but she began to get the feel for the green and a more relaxed delivery, - so from the 7th end she was getting her bowls tighter over the long ends than Carole, who was putting in only one out of her 4 on each end at that time. Carole persisted with the long ends when she did get the mat, but to her chargrin & surprise of the spectators, everyone was expecting her to lay down the challenge reverting to the ‘minimum’ distance, to try & break Fran’s rhythm. But she didn’t & Carole persisted with long ends & nothing less than ¾ to full distance. She was challenging Fran equally over the same distance, and unquestionably paid the price by sticking to that length, because Fran just kept getting her bowls closer.

At the 26th it was obvious both girls were feeling the pressure with a loose & open head that Carole finally won with 3 shots taking the score to 23/22, - and then rolls another ditch-to-ditch end to start the 27th. Fran holds the shot, but loses the end when Carole draws inside her shot about 30cm wide.

It’s now 23/23 all.

As expected Carole rolls the jack the full length and puts her fist bowl a foot wide & just in front on her forehand.

Fran plays her first, with a perfectly weighted forehand, and turns Carole’s bowl over once to hold a very close shot, - but with 6 bowls to come,…

Price    (2nd bowl) –  2m long & too wide.

Jeffers  (2nd bowl) – Forehand, - falls 4’ short but still holds one shot.

Price    (3rd bowl)  -  Backhand too long & into the ditch.

Jeffers (3rd bowl)  -  Forehand runs up to nudge her own shot bowl, but does not change the head. She still holds one.

Price    (4th bowl) -   Backhand too long & wide to move Jack.

Jeffers  (4th bowl)  -  Wide & long.

Fran takes one shot, the mat and a one shot lead to 24/23. It’s a nail-biter!

Danny Price, Carole’s husband, was there to watch the match early, but couldn’t stand the tension, so went off to hit a few practice golf balls. We know how it feels Danny.

As expected Fran rolls the Jack ‘ditch-to-ditch’ to the Club-house end and is a meter+ short with her first down the forehand side.

Carole, obviously gripped by the tension too, is 8’ short with her first.

Fran’s 2nd bowl runs into her own, - she turns it over twice and is only 8 – 10” inches from the Jack, - and the championship.

Carole still choosing to stay with her forehand, draws on every ounce of confidence & positiveness she can muster and coolly draws the shot inside Fran’s and is sitting slightly wide & ‘jack-high’ on Fran’s backhand. The scores are now locked together with 2 bowls to play.

Fran runs down the backhand side with  about 3’ of weight on it, - hits Carole’s shot-bowl cleanly and stays there to hold the shot and the Championship. (The Marker is asked “who holds shot” but says “it’s too close to call”) So, unless Carole is in luck on the measure or can find another miracle bowl. A lot to ask having just  done it one a bowl earlier, it’s an even harder shot now with her last bowl, - which demands her to play a backhand ‘swinger’ up the centre port between the short bowls.

She navigates the shorts, but runs through slightly narrow!

It probably needed a harder running drive to hold the line required over that full distance. Always easy in hindsight.

So this brilliantly gripping final is over and Fran win’s a mighty Club singles championship. Her first.

Congratulations Fran Jeffers and thanks Carole for a very tough & entertaining runner-up performance.

And yes, Danny did come back, but only after the girls had shaken hands!

The final was followed by a very appetising buffet luncheon in true Christmas spirit - shared by all the spectators.

Only one criticism about the match.  All the 8 bowls used were the same colour, displaying the same club sticker, and the insignia on both sets of bowls too was almost identical, in white. So even sitting only 3 metres from the head I couldn’t tell who was who, and I’m sure that would also have applied to the players.

They could easily have just taken the stickers off one set to make it clearer to everyone.

(Photo’s of the event will be filed on the website over the next few days.)

Geoff Mathers

 

 

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AMAZING DISGRACE?

Posted 10/12/08

Round 10 Review

You’ve all heard it 100 times before. Well anyone who’s skipped has.

If you’ve only got one in the head, DON’T drive!!” 

The high risk of taking out your only shot in the head is not a percentage play.

But it still happens, and we saw it again on Saturday in the top side’s match against  Kingsbury, - TWICE!

Firstly, with our skip Peter Scerri thundering at the head and missing everything, including our only bowl there (3rd shot) on the 25th end, - fortunately, so the score didn’t change. He was chasing the extra point with the rink score locked together after a nip & tuck battle right through the arvo’, where his rink had stretched its lead to 20/16 on the 21st  but just couldn’t hold it, and  finished with a valuable 21/21 draw.

But the doozy of them all happened in the rink against Ray Jansen on their last end.  It’s every Skips’ worst nightmare, and nothing compares with this.

Visualise the situation, There’s 8 shots the difference on the main board at the 93rd end.  Kingsbury is on a roll, and has just picked up about 10 shots over the past 4 ends. The Jansen rink has been trailing all afternoon and stands at 21/26 with the last end being played, after grabbing a 5 on the 24th end to give the score some respectability.

Kingsbury is one down as the skips cross, - but only have one in the head after their skip Mathew  Eaton has bowled his first, too narrow. Jansen gets both his bowls within a yard, but we still only hold one shot, - although we have 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th all within 4 feet.

Eaton looks closely at the head and decides they need to go for “numbers’

- so chooses to drive at the Jack to bring in his back bowls. This might have given them 2, maybe 3 shots, but remember, they are still only one down at the head, and only 8 down on the main board with 6 ends still to be played on the other 2 rinks. And they already hold the 2 rink points leading by 4 shots.

Eaton launches a ‘full-throttle’ drive that smacks his only bowl fair & square up its freckle, and both whistle off the green leaving our SIX bowls untouched as shot and as a gift of the rink points, not to mention putting an end to any chance Kingsbury had of winning the match.

We couldn’t believe our good fortune, and their stupidity. Neither could the other 15 Kingsbury boys. There was stunned silence right across the green, hushed in total embarrassment.

Jansen had won the last 3 ends when trailing 14/26 to win the rink points, (27/26) scoring 2, 5 (with his own brilliant 1-foot trail of the jack for 5), and the remarkable 6. That’s 13 shots over the last 3 ends to remain undefeated. His team included Graeme Spry (3) – Geoff Mathers (2) – Peter Stewart (L)

So next time if you’re skipping, and when there is only one bowl in the head, - think seriously before you pull out the driver! If you succeed you are a hero.

But don’t overlook the possible consequences if you misfire.

Kew Heights took 17 points from the match to securely hold top spot by 17 points over Rosanna who we play at home on the 20th December.

Kingsbury, although low on the ladder were not easy meat. In fact there was only a one shot difference on the main board at the break., so it took a lot of work to assert back the authority which was boldly led by Justin Hankinson’s rink of Lachlan Tighe, Ron Makin, & Rohan Sharp. They lead 13/2 on the 8th, 22/9 on 14th, and went on to win the day 30/18. Lachlan said later that “after scoring every bowl for the day you probably could not separate the 4 team members, although Justin did deliver a brilliant Skip’s performance which probably gave him the rink honour.”

Angus MacIsaac had a mighty tussle on virtually every end where tight shots were turned over 2 & 3 times, so it took precise control to take ownership of the head to win the end and their first match win for 3 weeks. They pulled it together over the last 5 ends when we trailed by two and took the points winning 23/20. Angus said afterwards  “it was a terrific match, and a good solid performance from my team to get us across the line by 3 shots. Con & ‘Roller’ Runting regained their form & Ian Feder was a reliable and steadying influence in the win.”

It is critical we finish in the top 2 spots on the ladder as it gives us a home semi-final which is also sudden death. (Only the grand finalists are promoted.)

(1 v 4, & 2 v 3.)

The top side went out in their new Club shirt & trousers on Saturday for the first time, and looked very dapper. It’s a distinguished colour combination featuring the dominant burgundy pants.

UNREMARKABLE LOSS by the TWO’s

Kew Heights were pumped up for their challenge against top-of-the-table Heidelberg Golf on Saturday on their hard and  free-running 17 second plastic, but left with their confidence bruised although in positive spirits as they went down in all 4 rinks by 46 shots, - yet retaining their 4th spot on the ladder.

The only person pleased with their loss, although reluctantly, was bowls ‘President Ron’, who for the first time in 5 weeks has not had to ‘shout’ the bar as a result of the trifecta, and finds another $100 in his skyrocket to put food on the table at home this week. “Only kiddin!”

The match was a reality check on just how good we are against the best in our section.

Their synthetic green was hard, smooth & fast, and the usual swirling wind over the golf course hills was not a factor, yet the green-speed and draw-width seemed to spook many of our side, which became evident as too many of our players continuously crossed the head with wasted narrow bowls!

It was disappointing given that the team had built up confidence by winning it’s last 5 outings. The last 4 matches averaging 3-rinks & 55 shots up, and had beaten Heidelberg Golf at home in round-1, - their only defeat thus far.

Kew Heights was in trouble at the break, down 32 shots, and only improved marginally in the second half losing that by 14 shots.

So it is hard to find excuses.

The reports from all rinks suggest the combination of the Heidelberg Golf team was much too skilled on the day in building heads and displayed more comfort in handling the quick green. They took width, where we refused to, and paid the price. One of our esteemed former members & statistician, Bill Morton always tells us,  Approx. 70% of bowls in a pennant match are delivered narrow, and it doesn’t reduce much from that in the higher divisions. (In Div-1 & Premier it is around 62%) 

All of us ordinaire bowlers just keep on having a mental battle with ourselves refusing to accept the green is wider than the line we are taking, and we should take the required EXTRA grass.

Norm Roughly struck a skip running hot, who told him later that it was his best ever form. Norm said “he turned over end after end when we were holding multiple shots, and there was simply nothing I could do to stop his run.”

“Cheryl Muttock kept us in the match with an exceptional leaders game. She wrapped her bowl around the Jack on no less than a dozen occasions, - only to see it taken off by HG almost every time. She couldn’t have played any better for us.” 

It will be a challenging 2 weeks ahead playing 5th placed Darebin at home, then 2nd placed Greensborough.

The team spirit at the end of the day was positive, - so it’s “let us dare Darebin next week.”

The feedback from our Skip’s about our needs in the second’s is consistent. –

“We must be able to perform better in different conditions, and develop more depth within each rink for each player to know their role in continuously building a head.”

3rds ON A ROLL

Our 3rd side raised the flag on 3 rinks again on Saturday taking 16 points off Heatherdale on their 15-1/2 second grass, which locks them securely into 2nd place. But they host  top-of-the-ladder Donvale this week, - so it will be the first real opportunity to reveal their status as the premier in waiting. A true test of one-upmanship about who’s the genuine flag favourite.

Col Mosley’s form leading for Howard Cheng was excellent, and they just fell short by one shot to claim the club’s 2nd EIGHT for the season, when Angus MacIsaac’s (Snr) bowl missed out on the count on the 15th end to score a seven.

The 3rd side is running hot.

VANISHING VRANTSIDOU

The John Vrantsidou saga demands some comment after last week’s rumours..

As you know he played 2 matches with us after returning from a few seasons playing elsewhere, and we welcomed him back with open arms. Then he pulled out after selection a couple of weeks ago. He said he was taking some time off. Then he declared himself available for selection last Saturday, and was duly selected to lead for Ray Jansen against Kingsbury, and this resulted in players being moved to the 2nd & 3rd sides. We were looking forward to playing with him again. As expected he arrived at Thursday’s practice, but sat on a bench watching for 5 minutes, then walked in and asked for a clearance to Fairfield!!!

We’re  told he went to Fairfield as a spectator on Saturday watching them go down by one shot against Richmond Union.

He’s a beaut bloke, and a very, very good bowler, - but that kind of behaviour leaves me & many others of his friends here just disappointed.

So let’s just get on with it.

Geoff Mathers.

 

 
TENNIS VS BOWLS - Festive Fun!

Posted 8/12/08

 

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MODEL BOWLERS LOOK THE PART

Posted 4/12/08

Our new playing uniforms have arrived!

 

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PRICE STEALS THE POINTS

Posted 2/12/08

Danny Price & his rink stole a win for the club from right under Ivanhoe's nose on their last end last week in round 9 when they scored a critcal SIX for our 3rd side to win overall by 3 shots. KHSC was down with 2 ends to play, but the Price rink steamrolled it with the six. The rink included Sid Warneke (L) Mike Jeffers (2) & Stan Oates (3) and locks them solidly into 2nd position. They travel to Healtherdale (6th) this week for the first of the return rounds.

THE TOP-SIDE took 3-rinks & 28 shots from Diamond Creek at home last Saturday on our 13-14 sec front show-green, which ran superbly, given the heavy rain that had soaked it over the previous 72 hours. Angus MacIsaac's rink was the 2 missing points after leading 12/0 by the 8th end and then 13/5, - but they fell over on the way to the line losing the last 6 of the 7 ends to go down by a handful. Angus said immediately after the match that "the front end of Ray 'Roller' Runting & Con 'CD' Doherty didn't get enough in tight which was the difference today!"

Ray Jansen was the big winner again at 37/16 which included a 7 on the 14th end, - so I said I wouldn't mention which of us it was who didn't get his bowl into the count for a second EIGHT in 2 weeks, didn't I Graeme. (Oooops.)

Peter Scerri is burning up the turf with another dominant but high scoring win (38/31) where 69 shots were counted over the 25 ends, due to too many loose heads, and that cost his rink 9 shots over the last 4 ends.

Justin Hankinsen continues to display his leadership qualities with another win (21/15) which would have been a bigger margin if they had not dropped the last 4 of 5 ends, but his new rink of (L) Lachlan Tighe, (2) Ron Makin & (3) Rohan Sharp appear to have combined well in the absence of John Vransideou (Spelling?) who has taken a few weeks off for personal reasons. The earlier rumour which swept the club that the 'Big-V' had been cleared to Fairfield after only 2 matches back with us was totally incorrect. He has not been cleared, he hasn't asked for a clearance, - he is still in our pennant squad and is now expected to return to pennant play within 2 weeks. And last but most importantly on this issue, we are all looking forward to having him back.

The top-side is performing powerfully and deserves its top of the ladder status, which is due in no small way to the pressure being applied by our second side, which includes many who could step back into a top-side role in a heart-beat should any of the existing 16 drop their standards over a few matches and or miss a few training sessions.

As Lachlan Tighe said in his address to the team before going out to play Diamond Creek, - "You must remember that we ARE the top side, and top teams should EXPECT to win ALL of the time." Well, it's true that we are and we do, with absolute confidence in ourselves and our team-mates, but it's good to be reminded from time to time.

This Saturday sees us play the return match against Kingsbury who took the 10 match points off us in round-1 with only one rink win, to our 3. Kew Heights has strengthened and gone to the top of the ladder whilst Kingsbury have remained amongst the bottom 4 teams and facing the threat of relegation, - so they'll be fired up to to try & repeat their first-up performance.

With the pennant success being enjoyed by the club at present it is exciting and personally satisfying to be playing in any of our 3 x RVBA pennant teams. The outcome in any one is just as important and personally enjoyable to know you have made a solid contribution to the teams & Club success each week.

It has been said by a few through the early part of the season, that it is disappointing and a blow to our egos to have to play in the 2nds at Division-6 level. But the cold hard facts of the matter are that we are only in 4th place in this division. That means there are 3 teams better than us after the first half of the season is now complete.

On that basis, we won't have a team good enough to gain promotion to Division-5 unless we can finish the season in the top-2 grand-final play off. So that's the task we face. It's got nothing to do with the view that Division-6 doesn't offer strong enough opposition! - it does. There are 3 teams playing better than us, and one below us who gave us a thrashing in round 2.

So it would be fair to suggest that any further talk that Division-6 isn't strong enough for our 2nd side at this moment might need to rethink that statement. 

Out on the green it's between you and the jack. Our role is to collectively combine to deliver a match-winning performance at any level & therefore subsequent promotion.  That is a current stated club objective to see our 3 sides promoted next season, and hopefully we'll be in a position then, with extra member numbers, to add a 4th pennant side.

So this week will be the real test for the 'two's' against top-of-the- ladder, Heidelberg Golf out there on their new synthetic. Beat them and we know we are on track, but it won't just happen. It will require plenty of time on our plastic during the week to prepare.

 

Good Shooting,

Geoff Mathers.

 

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Bowls Victoria Draft Constitution

Posted 26/11/08

Draft constitution for Bowls Victoria available here for comment and feedback

The RVBA/VLBA Joint Working Party is pleased to provide all bowlers with the draft Bowls Victoria Constitution and seeks feedback in writing by no later than Friday 19 December 2008 to enable the JWP to act upon recommendations and contributions prior to providing a revised Constitution for the next round of consultations in February 2009.

Click here to view the Bowls Victoria Draft constitution!

 

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PENNANT SHIRTS ARRIVE - PRESENTED THURSDAY

Posted 25/11/08

Members are invited down to the Club on Thursday (26th) for a $5 BBQ and a shirt presentation from 4pm.

 

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BAR OPENING HOURS

Posted 25/11/08

The aim is to have the bar facilities open more often and on a regular basis.

Currently the Bar will be regularly open:

Tuesdays from 2.30pm

Thursdays from 4.00pm

Saturdays from 3.00pm

The Bar will also be open when throughout the week. if your after a drink and the bar is not open, please feel free to approach Manager Gregg and if possible, he will be able to arrange!

The Bar is also Open during some Club functions, Social Functions and on busy days.

 

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XMAS PARTY - RAFFLES, BELLY DANCERS, CROONERS & MORE RAFFLES

Posted 25/11/08

The Kew Heights Christmas Party was held on Saturday night. Over 100 people gathered to celebrate the beginning of festive season and witness a show-stopping belly dancing act. Well done to Rod and John for some light entertainment later in the evening. A big thank you to all who help out with a very successful night.

The Kew Heights Sports Club wishes you all a safe and happy festive season.  

 

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COLD, WINDY & NO PLAY

KEEPS THE WATER RESTRICTIONS AWAY?

Posted 25/11/08

Although Bowls was cancelled due to the weather on Saturday, Victoria received some much needed rain.

Melburnians are being asked to get behind a new water saving campaign to reduce the city’s average residential consumption to 155 litres per person per day.

Stage 3a water restrictions will also remain in place to support the voluntary Target 155 campaign.

The Target 155 campaign was launched today by Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding.

Target 155 will achieve similar savings to Stage 4 water restrictions while offering the community greater flexibility on how to achieve the target.

Target 155 is based on a highly successful campaign in south-east Queensland which saw a large reduction in residential water consumption. A similar program was also used in Ballarat.

Based on current consumption levels the average person in Melbourne uses around 180 litres per day over summer while the average use throughout the year is approximately 165 litres.

Melbourne’s water storages are currently at 33.3 per cent compared with 40.2 per cent at the same time last year.

Monitoring of Target 155 will commence on 1 December, with progress reported weekly.

The Target 155 campaign will be supported by print, radio and television advertisements and a new website which will help individuals to use their water meter to track their water consumption.

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KEW HEIGHTS BUILDING STRENGTH

Posted 18/11/08

Round 7 Match Review

For the first time since the early days of our Premier Division status, the club is re-growing its strength & impact on the lawn bowls pennant scene.

After only 7 rounds of RVBA pennant, the club has it’s 3 teams in the top-4, with the top-side leading its Section and the ladies top-side sitting comfortably in 2nd spot.

And just to add to the on-field success was a 4-rink win by  the boys night-pennant side in their first outing on Tuesday. A highlight of which was the sensation of a ‘maximimum-8’ scored in the match  “by Donvale”- following the wayward running shots of Roger Cousens & then Skip Peter Scerri, who each removed the only 2 KHSC bowls in the head, but it didn’t change the enjoyment of the night or Scerri’s rink win in perfect warm & windless conditions for bowls. More players are encouraged to put their hand up to play a few night pennant matches. Let Con Doherty know which Tuesday nights you’d like to play. (7.30pm to 10.30 lights out. Or 21 ends. Whichever comes first.)

The Club is delighted to have see the return of 4 former Kew Heights Premier division players. All 4 played together in the winning round 6 side against equal top team Reservoir.

Lachlan Tighe (Richmond Union), Rohan Sharp (North Balwyn), Justin “Crusty” Hankinson & John Vransidou (spelling?) (Bundoora).

Our top RVBA side now boasts the inclusion of 9 former ‘Premier’ division players, which places the club in an excellent position to return to Division-1 next season.

For the 4th week in a row the club has enjoyed wins by our 3 pennant sides, which has become a huge drain on the President’s disposable income each week, - when he’s had to shout the bar each time. “Thank’s Ron.”

Round 7  was another solid win for the top side against lowly Hurstbridge with only one rink loss. Angus MacIsaac going down by 2 shots when holding the match before the last Hurstbridge bowl stole back the 2 rink points with a precise dead draw. The 52 shot win puts the club well on top of the ladder led by some brilliant play from Ray Jansen who, over the past 2 rounds has scored a 65 & 64, and Peter Scerri led the way last week winning his first 8 ends and losing only 3 ends over 20, - and new skip Justin “Crusty” Hankinson delivered a polished display to win by 17 shots.  Rohan Sharpe’s leading for Ray Jansen too has been a positive highlight since he started back with us.

He rarely wastes a bowl, & is one of those players who get’s two on at a time, where most of us mortals can manage only one & not often enough. If you get the chance it is worth coming along to watch the Jansen & Sharpe show performing in the same rink each Saturday.

But the highlight of round 7 had to be the maximum ‘EIGHT” scored by Ray Jansen’s rink on the 19th end when leading 21/8. It was 6-up at the change-over when Jansen drew his two close, but Brian Anderson, regarded as Hurstbridge’s best skip, was short with his first and then his last went whistling through the head & into the ditch.

Wow. That’s the first ‘8’ ever for 2 in the rink of Rohan Sharp (L) Geoff Mathers (2) Graeme Spry (3), & Ray Jansen (S).

Anderson said afterwards, “all I was trying to do was draw the shot to cut it down, but I don’t know what got into me to give my last bowl that extra running weight. I was only trying to draw.!!”

Round 8 sees the top side travel to Bundoora on their ‘plastic-fantastic’ where is not unusual for it to be running at 20 seconds for the opening end. As you can imagine, Bundoora use as this lightning speed as a shock tactic to opposition clubs, and it frequently works for both their 2 top sides.

It shouldn’t hold any demons for us, as we are fairly used to playing with confidence of slick greens, so it won’t present the devil to us they are hoping for.

Our second side gave Fairfield a touch-up on their delightfully contained front lawn with a comfortable win, led boldly by Phil Major who is having a stellar season with her bowls & skipping thus far. Reigning singles club champion John Joyce had a super tight tussle before getting over the line, and one of the terrific highlights of the day was to see Bruce Hexter playing 3rd, running and driving with considerable success, after being locked into a leader’s role since he started with the club only 3 or 4 season’s ago. It was a delight to witness and obviously gave him considerable personal satisfaction.

North Balwyn will be a real test for our 3rd side who just keep on getting better and sit proudly in the top 4.

Danny Price is leading the way with his new Dreamline’s, and says they have added another 10 years to his  bowling career as a ‘skip.’

A final word about our lawn greens. The synthetic has already established it’s reputation in 3 seasons as being among the best in the State, - as it is the closest of any synthetic type that runs like you are playing on grass, - and it gives the club brilliant year round bowling in any conditions under lights. One of it major benefits is that it will never run quicker than 15 seconds, and it’s never been timed to be slower than 13.

The front show green started slowly this season,  but is now almost back to it’s lofty position as being amongst the best ‘Bent’ greens in the state running at a very honest 15 – 16 seconds on most summer days.

The ‘Doug Stride’ west green, has emerged as a  championship quality surface this season in all conditions, -& even when it’s been wet it has run quicker than expected and absolutely true, with plenty of draw.

The reason is probably because it didn’t have much use last season. It did not get the attention it has needed with extra use this year, and as a result is now considered the equal to our show green and exciting everyone who plays on it.

It is fair to say that we are proud to have the best of both

lawn greens & synthetic, but if you have the choice, there is no doubt the overwhelming preference of our members is to enjoy rolling on a true free-running lawn green. That is the absolute pleasure of bowling, and why the sport is rightly given the self descriptive name of ‘lawn bowls.’ 

We thank our highly acclaimed Greenkeeper Andrew Rigg, who has also been responsible for the excellent presentation of the newly installed ‘Tiff Dwarf’ green at Ivanhoe, which is now ranked among the best.

Phone, email or just report match highlights each week etc to;

Geoff Mathers

Phone: 9826 6828 (P & B) 0419 578 405

email:  gmathers@bigpond.com

 

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HELP KEW HEIGHTS REACH NEW HEIGHTS

Posted 18/11/08

The Club is embarking on an exciting journey and we want you to be apart of it...

We would love to hear from you if you have any ideas or suggestions, large or small, simply

email: feedback@kewheights.com.au  

 

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MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS

Posted 16/11/08

All Members now have a new three-digit Membership Number.

To find out your Membership Number just ask at the Office or Bar!

 

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HISTORY PROJECT

Posted 16/11/08

Anyone interested in documenting all the names and positions/achievements on the Clubs Honour Boards so that they can be published on the website, please contact Gregg or Sylvia on 03 9817 3936 or

email: info@kewheights.com.au

 

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CLUB FEEDBACK SYSTEM

Posted 16/11/08

If you have any constructive ideas or genuine feedback please email:

feedback@kewheights.com.au

 

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REWARD POINTS SYSTEM

Posted 16/11/08

Members receive up to 5c Credit for every dollar spent at the bar.

These Credits, or Reward Points, can be redeemed on future purchases at the bar. 

You can contributed directly to these credits by pre paying your account.

To redeem your points simply quote your Membership Number at the Bar. 

 

   

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BOWLED OVER BY LOVE ON THE GREEN

Posted 16/11/08

By Tian Skene

For newly-crowned Pan Pacific Masters Games Lawn Bowls champions, Jon and Helen Bosisto, a gold medal win on Sunday is a permanent reminder of how they first met and fell in love. The energetic Tweed Heads pair met playing together in 1995 at the Australian Masters Games - hitting it off instantly both on and off the green. Marrying in September 1999 they have gone on to win a number of major competitions together.
“We only just scraped in with a bronze at that first tournament, but it was a wonderful start to our new life,” said Jon.

“We have never looked back, we’re soul mates and that was clear from when we first met.”

They seemed destined to be together after finding themselves teamed up in a number of competitions. “We got thrown together in a tournament and then two and a half years later it happened again and we landed together,” said Helen.

“Jon wasn’t going to play because he was adamant that he didn’t play mixed bowls but as a favour ended up playing, so again we just happened to be put together and we’ve been together ever since.”

Jon and Helen won all six of their games on the weekend, securing the gold medal in the mixed pairs. “To win this gold medal is a real thrill,” said Jon.

“It reminds me of our first attempt 13 years ago and how that represents to both of us the start of our new lives.

“Thanks to the Masters Games we’re together, if not this may never have happened, fate has definitely brought us together.”

The Bosisto’s have a heavy competition schedule ahead as they compete in the men’s and ladies pairs, mixed fours and men’s and ladies singles throughout the week at the Southport Bowls Club.

Go onto www.mastersgames.com.au  and click on "Latest Games News" (click here)

 

   

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BOARD & COMMITTEE DETAILS:
Board of Management Men's Section Ladies Section
Chairman President President
Bernard Coburn Ronald Makin Pat O'Meara
Treasurer Vice President IP President
Ian Bett Norm Roughley Elaine Matthews
Board Secretary Sen Vice President
Tristen Chen John Scerri Terri Mallett
Angus MacIsaac Jnr Committee Jnr Vice President
Pat O'Meara Norm Roughley Barbara Gilbert
Simon Pippett Stan Oates Hon Secretary
Lois Tweedie Roger Cousens Jan Mosley
John Shelton Danny Price Committee
Advisor David Bloom Betty Collins
Graeme Spry Grant Pickering Beverly Cox
  Ian Feder Jill Donaldson
Tennis Section Selectors Margaret Martin
President Con Doherty Judy Wilson
Simon Pippett Norm Roughley Selectors
Committee Peter Scerri Betty Collins
Jonathon Collett Ian Feder Virginia Crean
Christiana Colquhorn Greens Director Barbara Gilbert
Bill Madafferi Neil Hookey VLBA Delegates
Catherine Murphy RVBA Delegates Pat O'Meara
Jnr Convener Roger Cousens Jan Mosley
Bill Madafferi Ronald Makin