Super Sixes proves hit with all
The feedback was good. The future looks great.
The Super Sixes tournament, featuring many of Victoria’s best male and female bowlers competing in a shortened version of the game over a seven-week period, has been a hit with participants, spectators, organisers, and a host of other interested parties who may look to stage similar tournaments of their own.
Mulgrave Country Club was the pilot club for a different shape of bowls – with Victorian Open tournament director and Bowls Victoria Deputy President Barbara Gilbert pulling it all together.
After some rain delays in the opening two weeks, the tournament featuring 16 teams of six – went ahead every Wednesday night for seven weeks.
It thrived, with the Roy Girls and Mitcham Magic winning the women’s and men’s competitions respectively.
But the big question was whether a tournament which it is hoped can help boost participation in bowls among the time-poor was a success.
Play was done and dusted within two and a half hours and the competition over in less than two months – a blessing for those without the time to commit to six months of Saturday afternoons.
“It was fantastic,” says Barbara.
“The feedback from players is that they enjoyed the quicker, sharper format. Most of the game were finished in two hours and no more than two and a half. You play, you finish, you go home. Hopefully others will do it around Victoria.
“They’re not hard tournaments to organise, and we’d love to see others try it.
Barbara has also offered to provide advice for Regions, Divisions, or Clubs to run similar tournaments, and those interested in talking through how best to run Super Sixes tournaments can contact her directly.
