One word to describe today’s weather was “eerie”; it was still, warm and gloomy all at the same time...............until the rain came down, thankfully just as we were all leaving the green. Edithvale really had a great day today with 4 sides up! And.... another 2 points for our Div 1 side.

Div 1 Section 3 took a bus to Montmorency to try out their carpet. Bob Steele arranged and drove the bus to and from and thankfully all survived! Thanks Bob, the rain sodden return was not in your contract. Albert Chung’s rink was, this week, the only team up, but nice to have one. They won by 1 (19-18). RK Costolloe’s rink was down 9 (19-28), Peter Woodbridge’s rink down 32 (14-46) and Bill Morton’s down 2 (19-21). Final score 71-113 (-42)

DIV 1 SEC 3: Montmorency 16-113 Edithvale 2-71 ,Clayton 2 14-90 Vermont South 4-85 ,Heathmont 16-109 Lilydale 2-85 ,Burwood District 16-112 Richmond Union 2-79 ,Coatesville 16-94 Burden Park 2-78.

Div 3 Section 7 entertained Glen Eira McKinnon’s 2^nd side at home on “A” green and had a very good win collecting 16 points and 45 shots. (125-80). Rinks skipped by Don Chambers, Graham Linley and Tom Preston were up by 14, 17 & 18 resp. Glen Baskett’s rink kept losses to a  very respectable 4.

DIV 3 SEC 7: Berwick 5 4-84 Hampton Park 14-95, Cranbourne 3 2-89 Bentleigh 2 16-91, Edithvale 2 16-125 Glen Eira McK 2 2-80, Parkdale 14-87 Mordialloc 2 4-81, Mulgrave CC 4 18-114 Noble Park 2 0-69.

Div 5 Section 7 visited Glen Eira McKinnon’s 4^th side at their home, also winning by a handsome 81.25 (138-81.25). It was a full on battle for the drinks here with Michael Cameron, Bob Baird and John Cracknell skipped by Bill Newman up against teammates Phil Westmore, Paul Gough and Bob Davis skipped by Bernie Hambridge both on +27. On percentage 35-8 beat 43-16 so Bill Newman’s rink were the victors. Only Bill and Bob were there to collect and happy indeed to do so. Harold Ritchie’s rink won 28-16 for +12 and Ray Costolloe’s rink 32-16.75 for +15.25. Very nice indeed.

DIV 5 SEC 7: Coatesville 3 16-115 Dandenong Club 3 2-82, Highett 16-112 Pakenham 4 2-69, Glen Eira McK 4 0-56.75 Edithvale 3 18-138, Hampton RSL 2 13-96 Richmond Union 3 5-76, Hampton Park 2 16-100 Armadale 5 2-90.

Div 6 Section 7 saw Parkdale’s 2^nd side visit us and play on our “C” grass. It was a close one and although Barry Bertram’s rink were down 12 (13-25) Barry was elated with the final side score ...a win by just 1.25! Well done! Joe Musco was up 10 (30-20), as was Ray Costolloe (25-15), with Kevin (Sonny) Watson down 6.75. Final score 85.25–84. Phew!

DIV 6 SEC 7: Sandringham 2 18-147 Hampton 4 0-60 ,Edithvale 4 14-85.25 Parkdale 2 4-84 ,Burden Park 4 14-94 Waverley Golf 3 4-84 ,Bentleigh 3 16-84 Chelsea 2 2-70 ,Mentone 4 14-104 Noble Park 4 4-76.

Div 7 Section 7 played away at Cheltenham against their 6^th side and also won 95- 76 (+19). Don Shields and Terry Cheshire’s rinks were both down by 4 and Marg McConvill and Pam Bryant were up by 14 and 13 resp. Cheltenham was lucky to have several new first time bowlers in their side, and boy did they pick up as the day wore on. I don’t want to be there next time around? Well done Jim, Matt and Bill of Cheltenham.

 DIV 7 SEC 7: St Kilda 4 18-114 Sandringham 3 0-78, Cheltenham 6 4-76 Edithvale 5 14-95, Parkdale 3 2-90 Willow Lodge 16-116, Hampton RSL 3 16-133 Black Rock 3 2-71, Keysborough 4 NA Coatesville 5 NA.

“Special Effort Night” has come and gone again for another year, but the food just keeps getting better thanks to the “Very Special Effort” put in by Shirley Liddicoat and her helpers, from memory, Carole Ryan and Joan Bickham. Also contributing to the success of the evening where Bar Boys, Bin Boys, Bucket Boy (Bernie, Bernie, Bernie), the BBQ Boys and even a Barrel Boy (Billie). In fact if it starts with a “B” it or they were probably in there helping!

Peter Woodbridge is the Lucky Boy and there’ll be a few people waiting for his return from today’s Pennant game at Montmorency. It might be a long wait but what the heck, true friends will no doubt want to be there share his good luck, er... sorry, I mean congratulate him.

Neil MacLean was also lucky, winning second prize. His table was happy to share his good fortune. 

Fay and Ray operated a great raffle table with a tasty food basket, a fruit basket and a large box of chocolates.

Isabel and Frank produced a large bunch of Gerberas for President Robert to present to Shirley in appreciation of all the work she has tirelessly put in.

Robert Leitch, as he always does on this day each year, also presented Fay Costolloe with a large bouquet of flowers. It was her birthday! and she was working! Congratulations Fay and thanks for all your work throughout the year, your a marvel. 

Thanks to all for a great night!  

There were no complaints about the weather today. It was bowls friendly and put everyone in a good mood especially if you won, but if you didn’t you shouldn’t be too perturbed, they were only little losses.

A1 won by 12 courtesy of Barb Overson’s rink of Jeanette Barrett, still on fire following her Pairs win, Janice King managing her new bowls beautifully and Elaine Burns who ditched the Jack upon request more than once, and had a great day. (Their final score 28-14 for +14). The Side consequently defeated Mentone on their synthetic helping out Deb Sherry’s rink who rallied well to deliver a draw, and Pauline Cousens’s rink who were down 2. Overall score 72-60 (+12)

A2 had a slightly better win (+17) defeating Mentone’s Second Side at home on grass by 85-68. Shirley Liddicoat’s team won 31-28 (+3), Nan Parsons 32-16 (+16--she’s blitzing them at the moment) and Merna Anderson kept losses to a minimum going down just 2 (22-24).

B1 lost overall at Berwick 68-73 (-5). Barbara Etheridge’s team had a 9 shot win (30-21), but Norma Sutherland’s team went down 6 (21-27) and Marg McConvill was down 17-25 (-8). It’s always difficult playing Berwick at home, and the A1’s have that pleasure next Tuesday......give us all the clue’s you’ve got girl’s!

B2 played at home against Carrum’s second side losing 62-69 (-7). The highlight here was Joan Bickham’s rink’s win by plus 18! (30-12), they won the drinks but left before the scores were in. If you want to collect your prize and have your photo taken for the web story and in the gallery----please make a point of waiting at least until all scores are in! Barb Harrington’s rink went down 18 (15-33) and Vivienne Gibbs by 7 (17-24).

It was the VLBA’s Beyond Blue Day today, and in keeping their cause forefront in our minds everyone was asked to wear something blue---not a problem at Edithvale and Mentone. We are all decked out in blue anyway, but we all took it one step further with wearing blue ribbons and bracelets.  Umpire for Mentone’s A1’s, Glen Baskett of Edithvale, took photos of each rink playing at Mentone (Sandringham was also there).

Our best winner’s there were as pictured Janice, Jeanette, Elaine & Barb.

Thanks Glen for the photo and good luck in your "International Umpires" exam this Sunday!

Edithvale Bowlers Neil MacLean, Jim Brown and John Bryant played off in the Final of the Group 15 Triples at Cheltenham today, coming in as Runners up, after 16 ends, to Greg (Bladesy) Blade’s team from Coatesville.

They defeated another Coatesville team by 3 shots in the Semi Final.

Both games were played in good spirit and conditions on the day were perfect.  

The Final of the Ladies Championship Pairs was won today by Deb Sherry and Jeanette Barrett who defeated Paula Cobley and Suzanne Webber in a display of consistent and precise bowling, 22-9. It was done and dusted at 17 ends. Deb and Jeanette were able to score a 4 and 3x3’s in the 11 ends they took from their opponents, while Paula and Suzanne struggled for numbers mustering only 3X2’s in their 6 ends won. Nevertheless all put in some brilliant shots, and the odd drive or two, in a game most enjoyable to watch. President Barbara was on hand to Umpire proceedings.

The two Semi Finals of the Men’s Championship Pairs were likewise enthralling.

John Lyons and James O’Brien took it right up to eventual winners of the first Semi, Bill Morton and Gordon Rees, losing by just 2. It was the 6 shots down on the 5^th end (Ouch!) that did their dash, but they did enjoy the experience immensely.  So near but so far, they just run out of ends. Better luck next year boys and well done for getting there.

The second semi was between Albert Chung and Glen Baskett and, Rob Leitch and John Clark. Albert and Glen were up 18-15 on the 14^th end but collapsed losing the last four ends by a 3, 2, 1 and 1putting John and Rob into a Final against Bill and Gordon set down for Sunday 13^th December.

The other game played today was a second round match of the Ladies Club Singles won by Irene Trupke. Irene defeated Marg Burke in a game that won the admiration of the gallery.

It was a sad start to the day when Burden Park held our Div 1 rinks to single digit scores on “A” green in the pre-break session.  The visitors came into the clubhouse with scores more attune to the game of cricket than bowls.  (Scores like 1-25, 1-24). Fortunately our players came out fighting in the second half and put on a spurt that pegged back the opposition proving that they had a whole lot more in them. A really gutsy fight back!

Div 1 Lost to Burden Park 71-121 (-50) (We were more than 60 down at afternoon tea, with less than half the game played, so well done guy’s and girl for lifting a notch!) 

RK Costolloe (with Neil Jamieson, Bob Hasler and Rob Leitch) was 30-22 for +8 (and you got us another 2 points- so thanks!)

A. Chung 21-36 for -15, P. Woodbridge 10-31 for – 21, B Morton 10-32 for -22.

DIV 1 SEC 3: Montmorency 18-103 Heathmont 0-82, Richmond Union 2-66 Clayton 2 16-100, Vermont South 0-64 Coatesville 18-122, Edithvale 2-71 Burden Park 16-121, Lilydale 16-104 Burwood District 2-78.

Div 3 Also had a dismal day away at Cranbourne, again, as with our 1^st side collecting a bare 2 points. Neil MacLean down 23-33 (-10), Kevin Breen down 16-30 (-14), Tom Preston down 15-37 (-22) and the only winners here were Glen Baskett’s team of Andrew Benson, Lawrence Jones and Gordon Rees,  by a formidable 32-13 (+19).

DIV 3 SEC 7 Noble Park 2 16-120 Parkdale 2-73, Cranbourne 3 16-113 Edithvale 2 2-86, Glen Eira McK 2 16-109 Berwick 5 2-81, Bentleigh 2 0-64 Mordialloc 2 18-118, Hampton Park 18-135 Mulgrave CC 4 0-63.

Div 5 was our only side to play and win. They played Dandenong Club on “C” green at home winning 119-80 (+39). Top scorers were Harold Ritchie’s rink of Ray Weston, Walter Trupke and Pauline Cousens 36-8 (+28) and Alan Kennedy’s rink of Monty Meadows, Lisa Williams and Neil Lewis 36-15 (+21). Bill Newman’s rink was down 4 (22-26) and Ron Smith’s down 6 (25-31)

DIV 5 SEC 7 Edithvale 3 14-119 Dandenong Club 3 4-80, Glen Eira McK 4 0-64.5 Hampton RSL 2 18-122, Pakenham 4 17-115 Hampton Park 2 1-75, Richmond Union 3 14-103 Highett 4-96, Armadale 5 0-87 Coatesville 3 18-101.

Div 6 picked up 18 points against Bentleigh 3 as they failed to field a side. It was disappointing for all concerned to be prepared to play and at the last minute be left game less. Handy for the rest of us though as the shout “Umpire” went out in dizzying monotony and Phil Westmore, sitting the day out, was available to oblige and to help out Walter Trupke on his first official engagement as a newly qualified Umpire. (Congratulations Walter!)

DIV 6 SEC 7 Waverley Golf 3 12-81.25 Sandringham 2 6-78, Bentleigh 3 0-0 Edithvale 4 18-15, Hampton 4 2-52 Mentone 4 16-141, Chelsea 2 18-159 Noble Park 4 0-66, Parkdale 2 18-130 Burden Park 4 0-75.5.

Div 7 hosted Willow Lodge on our synthetic in a close but interesting game. Interesting in that on paper they were Willow Lodge’s best 16 players (they only have one side) and had come down from Div 6 this year and we were playing our 65^th – 80^th best that had just come up from Div 8? A bit like David and Goliath. They of course had many Club Champions in their side, one a 9- time champion.

DIV 7 SEC 7 Cheltenham 6 16-119 Hampton RSL 3 2-85, Sandringham 3 17-113 Parkdale 3 1-72, Black Rock 3 18-15 Keysborough 4 0-0, Edithvale 5 2-100 Willow Lodge 16-112, Coatesville 5 4-74.75 St Kilda 4 14-95,

Margaret McConvill’s rink of Ruth Ulmer, Michael Cameron and Chris Wardle had a great game winning 37-11 (+26). It was Michael’s first game for the season; he’s given up sailing for bowls and on today’s performance will be a great asset to the club.

Don Shields did well also to lose by only 1 (28-29), Terry Cheshire’s rink were down 20 (14-34) and Pam Bryant’s down 17 (21-38).

Pictured ....those who came second in the drinks race (winning by 26 shots) were Michael Cameron, Margaret McConville and Chris Wardle (absent Ruth Ulmer).

The winners of the drinks (on +28) were Harold Ritchie’s rink but alas I don’t think they stayed to collect.