Rodney Stevens

Some of Australia’s top lawn bowlers will take to the greens at Club Iluka over the weekend of February 10 and 11, competing for more than $10,000 in prizemoney in the Clarence Valley’s richest bowls tournament, the Stella Seafood Men’s Fours.

Club Iluka Chairman Phil Wrice said after the success of last year’s event, word had spread around the bowls community and all the 112 entries in 28 teams were filled quickly.

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.

“The second placed team will receive $2000, third $1000, then teams from fourth to seventh will get $400, a lucky team who is drawn will win $400, and there will be five round winners prizes of $320.

“We have got a good representation from the local clubs, Maclean, Yamba, GDSC, Brooms Head and Evans Head, plus they are coming from far afield as well.”

A new feature of the 2024 Stella Seafood Men’s Fours. Mr Wrice said, is the Calcutta draw, to be held at Club Iluka from 6pm on Friday, February 9.

“The teams are auctioned off, all the money from the auction goes into a pool…there will be 28 winners, each of them will win a team and whatever team they win, they get half whatever that team is auctioned for,” he said.

“The rest of the money goes into another pool and out of the 28 people who win the auctions, if they buy the team that wins the tournament, they get 70 per-cent of the pool, the person with the team that comes second gets 20-per-cent, and third 10 per-cent of the pool.”

Without the generous sponsorship of Stella Artois, Mr Wrice said they would not have had such a successful inaugural tournament in 2023, which they are looking to build on in 2024 and beyond.

Mr Wrice also thanked Iluka IGA, Hogues Hot Bread, Complete Metal Industries, and Accolade Wines for their generous sponsorship of the 2024 event.

Games start from 9am, with a free breakfast for competitors from 7.45am on Sunday, plus they will enjoy lunch provided on both days, including all you can eat prawns on Sunday.

With many entrants coming from beyond the Clarence Valley, Mr Wrice said the tournament will provide a welcome economic boost for Iluka following the school holidays.

“We’ve got entrants coming from Hervey Bay, South West Rocks, Broadbeach, Helensvale, Tweed Heads, and Burleigh Heads,” he said.

“It’s a pretty big event for the whole Iluka community as well, because you’ve got people booking accommodation and people will go out to eat at different times.

“Plus, it helps boost tourism in Iluka because people come and play bowls and they see what we’ve got to offer, and they think I’ll come back for holidays, and they tell their friends about how wonderful Iluka is.”