BOWLS
The Traralgon RSL Bowls Club crowned two new club champions to cap off the 2017/18 season.
Shirley McKenzie was triumphant in the women’s ahead of Kathy Smiles while Morice Gardiner took out the men’s title over George Cargill.
The pair had their names added to the perpetual shields and were crowned club champions at the presentation night on Sunday, April 29.
McKenzie put her championship win down to pure concentration but admitted the pressure of competing alone was somewhat daunting.
“When you play with other people in teams you’ve got two or three people on your team, but when you’re on your own it’s wholey, solely you and if you muck it up, you muck it up,” she said.
“But it was really exciting and I’m very humbled to win … it’s lovely.”
Despite winning the highly coveted state triples three times, McKenzie said the club championship win topped all other achievements.
“This is pretty high … the highest actually,” she said.
The Traralgon resident’s first foray into lawn bowls came about through the influence of husband Ross.
“Ross has been at the club a few years and I used to come and watch,” McKenzie said.
“They kept asking when I was going to have a go and one day just stuck a form under my nose and I signed it and here I am.”
On the men’s side of the draw, Gardiner topped off a stellar year which included wins in the triples and fours.
“This year I’ve been very consistent and just played really well,” he said.
A member at Traralgon RSL for three years, he said the club champion crown was close second to another achievement.
“This is close, but I won the West Gippsland over-60 singles four years ago.”
In other news from the Traralgon RSL Bowls Club presentation night, stalwart Patricia Warfe was presented with an 80th year badge from Bowls Victoria and is now a super veteran of the club.
