Thursday August 31 and it was the last of our District competitions for the year 2023 and kicking off the State Triples at Grafton District Services Club it was a win to Yamba’s L. Duncan, J. Coulter and W. Ballantyne defeating G. Johnson, V. Hall, S. Jacquin (GDS).

Moving on to Tuesday September 5 and in continuing good playing conditions for the morning games results were: – V. Falvey, C. Johnson and P. Ryan (Maclean) d B. Owen, S. Youlton and C. Byrum (Maclean); M. Parker, M. Jenner, H. Atkinson (Yamba) d L. Duncan, R. McPherson (sub for J. Coulter, W. Ballantyne (Yamba) and a close one with L. Briggs, R. Duncan, M. Swan (Iluka) d K. Power, M. Toovey and D. Walsh (GDS) by a mere 2 shots. R. Haselum, M. Grimes, J. Parkes (Maclean) d M. Sales, J. Gebetsberger, A. Bunn (South Grafton).

Semi-finals in the afternoon saw C. Caldwell (sub for M. Swan), L. Briggs, R. Duncan defeated by R. Haselum, M. Grimes and J. Parkes who moved through to the final on the following Thursday.

Also, through to the final was M. Parker, M. Jenner and H. Atkinson after their defeat of V. Falvey, C. Johnson and P. Ryan.

The Senior Triples morning games saw T. Shorten, M. Elliott, M. Firth (GDS) defeat M. King, H. Nichols, C. Nixon (South Grafton); K. Toovey, K. Mogler, M. Gosper (Iluka) d J. Madden, J. Beaumont, C. Cole (Yamba) and G. Wakefield, A. McLean, M. Arthur (Iluka) d P. Stichbury, M. Baugley, Z. Ferrington (Red Rock).

Lunch over, players refreshed and it’s into the semi-finals hoping for a win and a place in the finals of the Senior section.

Results as follows: in the battle between the Iluka teams, it was K. Toovey, K. Mogler, M. Gosper defeated G. Wakefield, A. McLean, M. Arthur for their spot in the final on Thursday. And GDS’s J. Pugh, D. Lawson, A. Williams cruised to a win over their fellow clubmates T. Shorten, M. Elliott and M. Firth for their finals spot.

Thursday 7September 7 and the four teams from State and Senior Sections are ready to battle it out for the respective titles.

 In the State Triples it was Maclean’s R. Haselum, M. Grimes and J. Parkes who took this year’s State District Triples Champions 28-21 after a tough game against Yamba’s M. Parker, M. Jenner and H. Atkinson who had to settle for the runners-up title.

And in the Seniors final Iluka’s K. Toovey, K. Mogler and M. Gosper proved too good for J Pugh, D. Lawson, A. Williams (GDS) taking out the final with a 22-15 win.

Congratulations to both the winners and runners-up and also well done to all who played in the earlier games showing some fine form on all rinks.

Thanks Grafton District Services for hosting the Championships and to all officials and umpires who kept the games running smoothly.

Jude Pryor