It shapes up as a massive weekend of bowls in our region.
Saturday has weekend pennant preliminary final match-ups in multiple areas, but Sunday brings about a series of regional finals.
The Goulburn Murray Bowls Region will contest match-ups between the Murray Bowling Area and the Goulburn Valley Playing Area — and it’s a stacked card.
So much so, in fact, that organisers could not fit every regional final into one day at Strathmerton Bowls Club.
Women will compete in the fours, triples, pairs and state singles, with the women’s regional Champion of Champions due for its decider Sunday as well.
The men’s slate consists of fours, triples and pairs action and their state singles final, but the busy slate means mixed pairs and the men's Champion of Champions will be crowned on March 17.
GMBR secretary Stephen McGregor keenly anticipates a “top-line” display of bowls and the opportunities that await victorious players.
“It’s a big, big day,” McGregor said.
“Whoever wins Sunday will go into Bowls Victoria's Champions Week in April, and whoever wins becomes state champion and goes on to nationals.
“We have all the best players here on Sunday from around the two areas.
“Apart from the pennant grand finals this would be the most prestigious day.
“GVPA has dominated the last couple of years, to be perfectly honest, though you never know what’s going to happen on the day.’’
The three one-on-one encounters will headline the day, with Shepparton Park’s Kate Bush set to tangle with Kerry Baldacchino of Cobram for the women’s state singles title.
After emerging victorious in the GVPA’s women’s Champion of Champions, Carla Miles of Shepparton Golf will meet Numurkah Golf’s Katrina Glover.
On the men’s end, Numurkah Golf reappears as Mark Jones goes toe-to-toe with Tallygaroopna’s Mitch Sidebottom.
Tallygaroopna has enjoyed almost as fruitful a year as possible in team and individual pursuits, with Sidebottom and David Daws representing the club as singles winners.
By the same token, though, those at the pinnacle must work on many fronts to sustain success — which has a way of catching up.
“When you’ve won your way through these events, you’ve had to go through four or five (bowlers) in your area,” McGregor said.
“It’ll come up as to how the players recover from playing Saturday in their pennant games.
“It’s a busy time of year over the next two to three weeks getting all the games in.
“It’ll be great play, though. Anyone who goes along to have a look will see some top-line bowls.
“The greens at Strathmerton are excellent, so there are no excuses — you’ve got to perform at your best and if you’re not at the top level you’ll get knocked off.’’