Ballarat Highlands Women win Silver at State’s Region Sides Championships 2024

The Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region Women’s team have gone through to win the State’s Region Sides Championships 2024 after an impressive display of bowling over this weekend (Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th January) played in Ballarat.

The win by Ballarat Highlands Women’s side compliments a successful season which has seen the team take out the Valerie Page Shield against the Geelong Region team in October followed up be the team’s win in the 2023-2024 Provincial Championships in November, 2023.

The event was managed by Bowls Victoria and played on Saturday using the greens at Central Wendouree, Sebastopol, Victoria and Webbcona.

Sunday’s final was played at Sebastopol Bowling Club by the qualifying sides where players throughout regions complimented the quality of the playing surface on the greens prepared by Sebastopol’s Scott Roberts.

The competition was divided into a Gold section and a Silver section with Ballarat being placed in the Silver section.

The BHBR ladies finished top of their section meaning they will compete in the Gold section of the competition next year.

Throughout the two day competition the rink skippered by Sarah Braybrook led the way winning 20 shots to 11 in their first round match against Gippsland.

In the second match the rink had a 14 to 10 shot victory over their counterparts from Goulburn Murray and in the final game on Saturday won 20 shots to 8.

The final on Sunday morning saw Sarah’s rink take a commanding 22 shots to 8 win helping Ballarat Highlands land 54 shots to West Coast Bowls Region 38 shots.

Sarah Braybrook’s rink comprised – Helena Cyrulo (Lead), Lynette Lock (Second), Amy Newman (Third) and Sarah skipper.

The Leah McArthur rink of Addy Ryan, Michelle Tait, Elizabeth Kierce and Leah skip, won 18-16, while Anne Draffen’s rink of Donna Leeson, Deb Gorin, Debbie Stanaway with Anne skip, managed a 14-all draw.

The Ballarat Highland’s Mens side competed well in the three rounds played on Saturday but failed to progress to play in Sunday’s final.

In the three round matches played on Saturday the team drew their first game with Gippsland on 44 shots a piece, then lost 33 shots to 47 against Yarra Bowls Region before having a good win in their final match against Geelong 42 shots to 35.

Yarra Bowls Region narrowly edged out Ballarat Highlands to go on to play in Sunday’s final which they convincingly won 41 shots to 34 against the Sandbelt Bowls Region and take out the Silver cup.

Visit BowlsLink for all 2024 Regions Sides results.