Thursday August 24

The greens at Maclean were the venue for the 2023 State and Seniors Fours. Heading off the day there were four rinks in the State Section and two rinks in the Seniors Section the byes to come out in Tuesday’s semi-finals.

Winners in the State Section and moving on to Tuesday morning’s games were teams L. Briggs; G. Wakefield; R. Duncan and Skip (M. Swan of Iluka); B. Owen; C. Causley; M. Grimes and Skip (C. Byrum of Maclean); L. Duncan; J. Coulter; C. Ritale and Skip (W. Ballantyne of Yamba) and L. Rae; S. Youlten; W. Haselum and Skip (J. Parkes of Maclean).

And in the Senior Section the winners through to Tuesday’s semis were C. O’Dwyer; P. Stitchbury; M. Baguley and Skip (Z. Ferrington of Red Rock) and J. Pugh; D. Lawson; A. Williams and Skip (B. Murray of Grafton District Services).

Tuesday August 29

A fine day in Maclean to complete the District Fours for 2023. The semi-finals in the morning games saw the State teams of Wendy Ballantyne and Judy Parkes go to battle with the Yamba team coming out victorious for a place in the afternoon final. Scoreline for this game was 22-16. And on the other side of the semi, it was Carolyn Byrum’s team who overcame Michelle Swan’s team by a very narrow margin – 17-15 setting up a final against the Yamba team. 

In the Senior Section and with the bye and their first foray into the competition were J. Madden, J. Blair, C. Cole and J. Beaumont (Yamba) who came up against the girls from Grafton District Services. In the wash-up it was Bev Murrays team who defeated the Yamba side 20-12 and thus a place in the afternoon’s Senior Fours final.

The Red Rock team lead the way for most of their semi against the Iluka team of P. Kennedy, K. Toovey, M.  Mogler and Skip M. Gosper (bye) – also earning their place in the final with a 20-13 Win. 

Lunch and a break and it’s back on the greens to battle it out for the final.

In the State Section final and off to a flying start the Maclean girls won the first two ends but Wendy and team countered with a 3 to level. Yamba continued to hold the lead to 7 – 5 when Maclean notched up a 5 taking the score to 10-7. But following that Wendy and Co fought back hard – and from the next end’s 3 shots up – continued to hold the lead for the remainder of the game stretching the score out to a final 26-12.

A big well-done to all players and hearty congratulations to the winners of the 2023 District State Fours Championship – Yamba’s Lois Duncan, Julie Coulter, Carol Ritale and Wendy Ballantyne.

And in the Seniors final it was Bev Murray and her team who set the pace taking the lead early and never losing it for the entire game despite the best efforts of Zoe and her crew who all played very good bowls throughout the game – but Bev and her team were not to be denied their lead and held off to a finishing score of 20-10.

Well done all players and congratulations to the Grafton District Services team – Jo Pugh, Dawn Lawson, Annette Williams and Bev Murray for attaining the 2023 District Senior Fours Championship.

Thanks to the umpires, officials and greenkeepers and a big thank you to Maclean Club for their hospitality throughout the competition.

Jude Pryor