Rodney Stevens

A full field of 112 bowlers will be vying for the biggest prize purse in Clarence Valley lawn bowls history when the best bowlers from NSW and Queensland battle it out in the 2023 $10,000 Club Iluka Stella Seafood Men’s Fours.

Club Iluka Chairman Phil Wrice said entries filled quickly after the club sent out invitations for the two-day tournament over the weekend of February 4 and 5, to bowls clubs in NSW and south-east Queensland.

The Men’s Fours tournament will see 28 teams of four compete over 5 games of 16 ends, Mr Wrice said, scoring 20 points for a win, 10 points for a draw and 1 point per end won, with the winner determined by points.

“There will be 112 players vying for the prize money and first place is $4000, so that’s $1000 each,” he said.

“We have some very highly competent bowlers entered who have won regional and state competitions, so there should be a lot of good competition and high-quality bowls played.

“We have players who won the Queensland pairs championship recently and we have many players who have represented their state and a lot of representative players that have represented their zones.

“We are looking forward to a big weekend of top-quality bowls in the richest tournament in Clarence Valley history.”

Mr Wrice said more than half of the teams entered are from outside the Clarence Valley, which will bring a welcome boost to local businesses.

“Each team consists of four people so they will be staying locally, which is great for the community and great for the town the money that is coming in,” he said.

Generous sponsorship, Mr Wrice said had enabled the club to offer the record $10,000 prize pool for the inaugural tournament under the Club Iluka banner.

“The tournament came about through the sponsorship of Stella Artois, who supply us with beer at the club, they have come onboard as the major sponsor of the tournament,” he said.

“This is the richest bowls tournament in the Clarence Valley’s history, we rang around the other bowls clubs, and they all agreed this is the richest prize money ever.”

Mr Wrice also thanked Complete Metal Industries, Bowling Club Insurance Brokers, LJ Hooker Iluka and Hogues Hot Bread for their generous sponsorship.

Competitors in the Club Iluka Stella Seafood Men’s Fours will enjoy delicious seafood lunches on Saturday, and all you can eat prawns (or an option of chicken) on Sunday.

Spectators are welcome, Mr Wrice said, to take in all the action over Saturday and Sunday as it comes down to the wire in the battle for the first prize of $4000.

“There will be some of the best bowls played in the Clarence Valley all this year on display at Club Iluka over the weekend,” he said.

“Spectators are welcome to come along and enjoy the action.”