Ferndale Bowling Club hosts Trips tournament

Bowls fans were treated to a weekend of top-notch matches at the Ferndale Bowls Club as the Johannesburg Bowls Association hosted the men’s and women’s trips tournament.

In the women’s final, Linden Bowling Club’s skip Heather Pembroke along with lead Amanda Lloyd and second Ronel Fouche took on Belgravia Bowling Club’s skip Carol Glandfield, lead Peta Smith and second Roxy Tingle.

The match excited supporters but there could be only one winner and after an even contest, Linden emerged as the winners of the women’s trips title.

In the men’s final, it was once again a team of the Belgravia Bowling Club with skip Donny Picketh playing alongside lead Fanus Viviers and second Wayne Perry. They were competing against the Italian Bowls Club’s skip Giani Gatli, lead Nick Techman and second Russel May.

The competitive nature of the two teams had the supporters on the edge of their seats but it was Picketh’s Belgravia team that won the men’s finals match.

The association’s president Anselm McLean was happy with the quality of the competition and said they hosted 10 tournaments a year such as the singles, pairs, fours, pro 10 and mixed pairs.

“We have 38 different clubs in the district and we try to give each club a chance to host a prestigious tournament, but what matters is the quality of the lawn,” said McLean. “We want to see top players competing against each other in a top quality facility,” said McLean.

His sentiments were shared by Ferndale Bowls Club president Tina Straw who was beaming with joy as the two teams in the finals displayed their talents to the fullest.

“It is an honour to host the competition and our club and lawns are the best in the west, so we are very happy,” said Straw.”The teams in the final have played well the whole weekend and deserve to be competing against each other.”

In March next year, the Ferndale Bowls Club will host the inter-provincial tournament and the community is invited.