Hibiscus Carnival huge success for Bateau Bay Bowls Club

The annual prestigious Bateau Bay Bowls Hibiscus Carnival held over four days starting on Tuesday, April 9 attracted hundreds of players from all over the Central Coast, Sydney, Newcastle and the North Coast.

Having been restricted in previous years due to the COVID epidemic, the club was determined that this year they would ensure the event was a major success.

With an increase in prize money to $10,000 for 2024, the event attracted more than 450 men and women bowlers.

The standard of play was very high with a large number of State and Central Coast representative bowlers all keen to share in the prize money.

However, the format of play created a very level playing field and player consistency was paramount for the carnival.

Over the four days bowlers had a choice of competing in four different bowls events: men’s pairs (three games, three bowls,15 ends); women’s triples (three games, two bowls,13 ends); men’s triples (three games, two bowls, 15 ends) and mixed fours – two men and two women (three games, two bowls, 13 ends).

Each event required bowlers to play their games on a different green ( two grass, plus one synthetic under the Stingray Dome), which challenged bowlers to adapt to the different characteristics of each surface.

Major winners for the carnival were: men’s pairs Jeff Kelly and Ross McGrail; women’s triples Debbie Preston (sub for Adele Alesio in third game), Mary Leslie and Lucy Meredith; men’s triples Darren Morrison, Ryan Wood and Rod Rewko; mixed fours Terry Hughes, Nathan Malloy, Tes Koutselis and Ann Jesaveluk.

Bateau Bay Presidents Kevin Russell and Karen McKay expressed their delight at the success of the carnival, especially in the way it attracted so many younger bowlers with the youngest being only 14.

A club spokesman said the carnival was another great step forward for lawn bowls on the Central Coast as the Central Coast District Women unified with the men to become a total regional body under NSW Bowls.

With the Bateau Bay Club set to host the NSW State Women’s Division 4 Pennant Finals in May, the club is well and truly prepared for this top-level NSW event.

In the near future, Bowls NSW will announce the teams from all over the state who will be joining the Bateau Bay champions in their quest for the NSW State Division 4 Pennant Flag.