Victoria seals Nationals four-peat
Bowls Victoria’s State Representative Bowling Arm Team has won its fourth National Championship title in succession.
Three wins in the fours and two of the three singles matches against Queensland in the morning session on the final day was enough to secure the outstanding fourth title win for the Armed Vics.
State Arm Bowling Coordinator and Bowls Victoria Board Director Phil Gude expressed his delight with the side being able to successfully defend the national title for the third time in a row after first winning the title in 2013 at Corowa BC.
A title defence in 2014 at Beresfield BC (NSW) followed by victory in South Australia at Tranmere BC in 2015 saw the Armed Vics being the hunted for this year’s event in Queensland, with the host state entering the National Championship arena for the first time.
“I am very proud of the Victorian Arm Side in the level of success it has achieved, the sportsmanlike way they went about the business of playing and the great ambassadorial role they play in helping to encourage the further development of Arm playing as an option for people no longer able to deliver a bowl in the normal way,” Mr Gude said.
“This side competes at least to Division One Metro standard and some even better than that. They are a well balanced unit that has flexibility and are prepared to play where asked which makes selection adjustment at these events easier.
“Cheers to the Armed Vic Sides 2013, 14, 15 and 16. You have done us proud!”
It was a very busy schedule of matches over the three days of competition with a daily roster of Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours matches being contested on a state versus state basis for a variety of individual shields and the overall National Bowling Arm Championship Cup donated by Bowls Australia.
Victoria successfully defended every individual shield it contested, including Victoria and Queensland Day 3 battle for the Trevor Harker Shield, named in honour of the inventor and maker of the first bowling arm device who made it to help out a mate who needed something to allow him to continue to play the sport of Bowls.
Everyone playing in this event owes a debt of gratitude to Trevor for his ingenuity in being able to craft a device that has since been technologically advanced in many areas to enable many thousands of bowlers to keep actively participating in the game.
Day 1 report and results
Day 2 report and results
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