Champion of State Pennant is back
Champion of State Pennant is back.
Moama Bowling Club and Bowls Victoria will combine to reinstate the Champion of State Pennant series on the State Calendar of Events in May 2017. This will enable Region Pennant-winning teams from all over Victoria to pit their skills against each other in the ultimate test of bowls supremacy.
The best club teams from Victoria’s 11 Country Regions, plus Melbourne‘s Metropolitan Pennant competition winner, will take part in the championships. There will be separate events for both Saturday and Midweek Pennant competitions conducted between the 5th and 11th May 2017.
Champion of State Pennant will be the first major event held at Moama Bowling Club’s new world-class bowls facility – scheduled for completion in late April 2017.
“Moama Bowling Club feels this is an integral element of the sport of bowls in Victoria and we were very keen to see the event reinstated,” Moama Bowling Club Sport Administrator Zane Mikin-Laurie says.
“Bowlers across the state have been missing a genuine finale to Pennant. We are happy to be able to support Bowls Victoria to have this event reinstated for the upcoming season and moving forward.
“We feel this is the perfect event to showcase our new purpose-built bowls facility.
“We are building what will be one of the leading bowls facilities in the country, if not the world, and we feel that Champion of State Pennant will be the perfect event to showcase our facilities to all Victorian Pennant players.”
As part of the $5 million bowls redevelopment, Moama is building four new greens – two undercover and two outdoor.
The impressive new set-up will also have world-class spectator facilities, with a new state-of-the-art clubhouse, deck, spacious viewing areas and seating allowing people to watch top-quality bowls in comfort either indoors or outdoors.
Champion of State Pennant was discontinued three seasons ago, but there had been overwhelming demand from players – particularly those in regional areas – to bring back the popular event.
Regional members had repeatedly called for the reintroduction of the event at recent meetings conducted by Bowls Victoria around the State.
Bowls Victoria Chief Executive Graeme Bridge says Moama Bowling Club approached Bowls Victoria with a proposal to revive the event and provide resources to offset the costs.
“It has been high on the priority list for people to have it reintroduced, and this is an opportunity for both country bowlers and players from the metropolitan area to showcase their skills in a State Final,” Mr Bridge says.
“We thank Moama Bowling Club for their generous contribution, and note it would not have been possible to conduct these events without this support from Moama.
“It’s fantastic that Champion of State Pennant will be the first major event to be held at Moama’s new facility which is going to be a showpiece venue for bowls in Australia.”
What Moama Bowling Club’s $5 million redevelopment will look like
