22-23 BHBR Novice Singles winners Joel Clark and Amanda Rayner take on State’s best at Musgrave
2022-2023 BHBR Novice Singles winners Joel Clark (City Oval) and Amanda Rayner (Diggers Rest) represented the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region (BHBR) in the State Championships Novice Singles event on Sunday, 12th February 2023 at Mulgrave Country Club.
Both Joel & Amanda represented the region in outstanding fashion with Joel winning his way through to the Men’s Novice Singles Final at Bendigo in April, and Amanda reaching the semi finals.
It was a fantastic achievement by both BHBR players against the state’s best novice bowlers.
City Oval’s Joel Clark is scheduled to play MCC’s Tim O’Meara (Yarra Region) in the State Champions Week – Novice Men’s Singles Final on Sunday, 30th April 2023 at Bendigo East Bowling Club and is looking forward to the contest.
“It’s a bit overwhelming going from a region event to state event and it was pretty full on to start with,” Joel said.
“I got a bit of a confidence builder after winning the first game and then I was down in the second game but worked my way back by getting bowls in the head and getting myself back to even.”
“The last game was very close, and Jack was a good bloke to bowl against.”
“He kept putting bowls in the head, but I managed to get in front and stay in front to get it done.”
Joel credited his fellow City Oval bowlers and in particular his coach, Leigh McKenzie following his victory.
“The club’s been great and I play pennant with Leigh, so he has been a great help along the way,” Joel Said.
“I’ve got no shortage of bowlers to prepare me for the final in a couple of months, including Heath, Gavin and Ben, who also made it to state week in Bendigo.”
Heath Fumberger, Gavin Mann and Ben Morris (City Oval) won the region triples this season and will join Joel in Bendigo to represent the region at State Champions week.
Joel’s coach Leigh McKenzie was a happy man following the event.
“It was a fantastic effort by Joel,” Leigh said.
“Three close games and a lot of concentration for the novice event and he played some brilliant bowls.”
“He faces a tough opponent in the final, but he knows what to do and has the confidence to do it.”
Congratulations to Joel on winning through to State Champions Week and good luck in the final.
Men’s Novice Singles Results
Last 16 Round
Joel Clark 21-7 Chris Taylor (Footscray Park – Metro West)
Quarter Final
Joel Clark 21-19 Mark Bentley (HillTop – Goulburn Murray)
Semi Final
Joel Clark 21-18 Jack Taylor (Castlemaine – Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields)
>>> View Men’s Novice Singles results here
FINAL
Joel Clark VS Tim O’Meara (MCC – Yarra)
Sunday, 30th April 2023 @ Bendigo East Bowling Club (9.30am)
Diggers Rest bowler Amanda Rayner performed very well in the Women’s Novice Singles event making it through to the semi finals.
Amanda defeated Lynne Thomas (Phillip Island – Strzelecki) 21-13 in the Last 16 round before winning her Quarter Final clash 21-19 against Sonya King (Hawthorn – Yarra).
Jen Le Cerf (Ocean Grove – Geelong) proved too strong for Amanda in the Semi Final, winning 21-15 in a hard-fought match.
Congratulations to Amanda on a great performance at Mulgrave!
Women’s Novice Singles Results
Last 16 Round
Amanda Rayner 21-13 Lynne Thomas (Phillip Island – Strzelecki)
Quarter Final
Amanda Rayner 21-19 Sonya King (Hawthorn – Yarra)
Semi Final
Amanda Rayner 15-21 Jen Le Cerf (Ocean Grove – Geelong)