BMS bowlers Mick Storey and Geoff Allan trade Ballarat cold for 2023 Australian Open heat

BMS bowlers Mick Storey and Geoff Allan traded the Ballarat cold for the Gold Coast sun to compete in the Over 60 Men’s Pairs event at the 2023 Australian Open.

It was a smart move, with the lovely Gold Coast weather making for ideal lawn bowls on much quicker greens than back home.

The Over 60 Men’s Pairs is divided into sectional and knockout play with 4 teams in each section playing 3 games.

Winners of each section advance to the Knockout stage where winners continue on to the next round and losers are eliminated.

Mick and Geoff headed to Tugun Bowls Club on Monday, 19th June 2023 for their three sectional games and got off to a great start defeating NSW duo Edwin Mulder and Chris Handley by 15 shots (22-7) in Round 1.

A nail-biting Round 2 match resulted in a one-shot loss (16-17) to WA pair Maurice Buckingham and Maurice Crabb, before the BMS boys bounced back strongly in their Round 3 clash, winning by 13 shots (22-9) against NSW pair Peter Jordan and Warren Binney.

Fortunately for Mick and Geoff, the bowling gods were on their side, as 2 wins and a +27 shot difference afforded them top spot in Section 46 and advancement to the knockout rounds.

Robina Bowling Club was home to their Round 1 knockout match, and they were pitted against fellow Victorians Steve Newland and Laurie Garmston.

The BMS pair were always in control of the match with Geoff leading strongly and Mick steady at the helm, running out eventual 14 shot (21-7) winners.

Proving that the golfing gods can be finnicky at times, their Round 2 opponents were defending champions Ian Stone (NSW) and Scott Franklin (QLD), last year’s winners.

In what turned out to be a great match, the BHBR duo went down by 2 shots (13-15) in a fantastic effort against quality opponents.

Geoff Allan, or “Lollies” as he is affectionately known, was delighted to get so far in the event.

“We faced tough opponents in our last game and gave it our best shot,” Geoff said.

“It feels great to play in the Australian Open and win through to the knockout rounds and play so well as a team with Mick against top bowlers.”

Geoff was quick to add the greens were very conducive to good bowling.

“The grass and greens up here are excellent, and it just helps your bowling,” Geoff said.

“They are very consistent which allows you to bowl more consistently and getting bowls in the head is what it’s all about.”

“It’s been a great tournament and it’s been a lot of fun.”

Fellow BMS bowlers Mick Hughes and Mick Hampson also competed in the Over 60 Men’s Pairs event in Section 52 where they finished third.

The pair lost their Round 1 match by 8 shots, then won their Round 2 match by 10 shots, before losing their Round 3 game by 11 shots to the eventual section winners.

Partners Bernadette Hughes and Di Hampson played in Section 6 of the Women’s Over 60 Pairs event where they managed to win one of their three games.

Another BMS bowler, Julia Holton, partner of Mick Storey, competed in Section 11 of the Women’s Over 60 Pairs with her sister, Elizabeth Kierce from City Oval.

The pair finished second in their section with 2 wins and managed to qualify for the knockout stages as a lucky qualifier courtesy of their superior shot difference.

In the knockout rounds Julia and Elizabeth Kierce defeated Shirley Taylor and Diane Paulsen (NZ) in Round 1 (22-13), Lyn Briggs and Kaylene Toovey (NSW) in Round 2 (20-9) before bowing out to Queensland’s Val Jackson and Adele Pershouse by 4 shots in Round 3.

It was an outstanding effort by Julia and Elizabeth to make the last 16 at the 2023 Australian Open and bodes well for the pair in the new Over 60 championships next year in Victoria.

Congrats to all on a fine job competing against the best players in the land.