Champion of Champions

Champion of Champions winner Paul Glanvill of Berrigan Bowls Club

The winners of the Murray Bowls Playing Area Champion of Champions singles at Strathmerton last Sunday were both first time winners and both had reasons to celebrate.

Paul Glanvill from Berrigan was playing in his fifth Champion of Champions event and this year was the first time he had progressed past the first knockout round.

Paul not only won four matches on his way to the title, but included in his scalps two of Murray Bowls’ highest rated players, Numurkah Golf’s Geoff Sutcliffe and Tocumwal Golf’s Chris Philpot.

Paul’s draw bowling was exceptional across the two days, downing Katandra West champion Greg Barr, 25 – 8, Sutcliffe by the same score, Philpot 25 – 19 and Numurkah’s Steve Wyatt, 25 – 22 in the final.

The final was a great contest, with Paul dominating from the start, leading 22 – 9, before Steve staged a wonderful comeback to get to 22 – 21, winning 8 successive ends.

Paul then picked up two shots, and Steve 1 to make the score 24 – 22.

Steve drew two close shots in the next end, but Paul’s last bowl will stand in his memory for a long time, as he played a magnificent bowl to get the shot and win the game.

Karen’s path to the final started with a bye in the first round, then a 25 – 12 win over Rachel Head of Berrigan.

She then took on Barooga Sports’ Ruth Burnett and survived a marathon 33 ends, winning 25 -24.

In the final, she met Tocumwal Golf’s Leigh Hansen, who had also played a marathon semi-final, beating Numurkah’s Linda Isted in 34 ends, 25 – 23.

Leigh took an early lead, moving to 15 – 9, before Karen started to play some excellent draw bowls and Leigh lost her rhythm somewhat.

Karen went on to a 25 – 18 win, which was emotional for her as her mother had passed away just a couple of weeks earlier.