BHBR Women’s Fours team finish Runners-Up in 2023 State Championships at Bendigo East Bowling Club
The Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region’s Sandra Grano, Sally McCracken, Elizabeth Kierce and Janine Roberts, made it all the way through to the final of the 2023 State Championships at Bendigo East Bowling Club, finishing runners-up to a composite team from the Ovens & Murray Bowls Region.
Hailing from the City Oval Bowling Club, the in-form four faced tough opposition in Bendigo and did a fantastic job.
They faced quality opponents in every match, including star Victoria bowlers Anne Miles and Kylie Whitehead in the final, and were gallant in defeat.
Skip Janine Roberts enjoyed the challenge of facing an opponent of Kylie Whitehead’s calibre.
“As a team we did a great job together to make the final and we went down by just 5 shots to a very good side,” Janine said.
“We were with them for a while in the final but Kylie is a brilliant bowler and her ability to get clutch shots when it mattered was the difference in the end.”
“It’s not easy to win your own region event, there are so many good players around, so getting through to the final in the State Championships is something we can be proud of, especially how we combined as a team.”
“You can’t go so far in an event like this without all four of us playing our part and we all performed very well together and gave it our best shot.”
The State Champions Week – Women’s Fours event was played on Thursday, 27th April 2023 and final score was 17-12 in favour of the Ovens & Murray.
Congratulations to Sandra, Sally, Elizabeth and Janine on a great effort in Bendigo.
City Oval’s Joel Clark also finished runner-up at the 2023 State Championships in the Novice event.
Joel lost by 4 shots to MCC’s Tim O’Meara from the Yarra Bowls Region, making it two silver medals for the club.
A top effort by Joel to acquit himself so well against the state’s best novice bowlers.
Add Victoria’s Brenton Coad winning gold in the 2023 State Championships Champion of Champions Singles event, and the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region has something to build on next season.
Ovens & Murray and Ballarat Highlands Finalists
City Oval’s Women’s Fours Road to the Final
To qualify for the Women’s Fours event in the State Championshiips you must win the Ballarat Highlands Bowling Regions Women’s Fours event first.
Sandra Grano, Sally McCracken, Elizabeth Kierce and Janine Roberts defeated the Clunes team of Eileen Spong, Jodie Lythgo, Valerie Jackson & Jenny Cameron 23-8 to qualify for the 2023 State Championships in Bendigo.
Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region
BHBR 2022/23 Women’s Fours
RD 1: BYE
QF: 21-4 Libbi Stewart, Stephenie Fothergill, Korinne Lenecke & Kaye Cornish (Ballarat)
SF: 17-11 Jennifer Shepherd, Leah McArthur, Joy Feltham & Loris Gullock (Webbcona)
F: 23-8 Eileen Spong, Jodie Lythgo, Valerie Jackson & Jenny Cameron (Clunes)
>>> View BHBR 22-23 Women’s Fours results
2023 State Championships
The State Championships are made up of the 16 Women’s Fours winners from all 16 regions across Victoria and played as a knockout event.
2022/23 Women’s Fours
RD 1: 14-7 Composite team from Wimmera Bowls Region
QF: 14-9 Shepparton Park team from Goulburn Murray Bowls Region
SF: 21-6 Altona team from Metro West Region
F: 12-17 Composite team from Ovens & Murray Bowls Region
>>> View 2023 State Championships Women’s Fours results
Sandi Grano & Liz Kierce at Bendigo East Bowling Club
Featured photo: Sally McCracken, Sandra Grano, Elizabeth Kierce and Janine Roberts