By Judith Tuckey
TWEED Byron put in a strong performance to take their second inter-district ladies bowls title in a row at Ballina Bowling Club late last month.
Blessed with perfect spring weather, 128 bowlers converged on the Cherry Street club for this annual competition of three games – each of 15 ends.
Each of the four districts in region one – Northern Rivers, Clarence River, Mid North Coast and Tweed Byron – entered a squad of 32 players.
The eight teams from each district then prepared to fight for district, for glory and, of course, for the trophy.
Competition at this event is always quite fierce, but off the greens there was a wonderful aura of camaraderie amongst the contestants as old friendships were renewed and new ones made.
Thursday afternoon, the Tweed Byron ladies won seven games out of the possible eight against Northern Rivers to place them in top position on the leaderboard on day one.
Come Friday and round two in their confrontation with Clarence, the ladies scored a further 7.5 points to hold their place in top position with no change to the place-getters.
In the third and final round, the Tweed girls were up against a tough Mid North Coast side.
It was imperative that they win two rinks to hold on to the lead. The Mid North Coast side definitely had a different idea! They entered the seventh end of this nail-biting contest holding six rinks against Tweed Byron’s two. But it wasn’t over yet! The Tweed Byron girls dug deep into the concentration pot, stepped up a notch, knuckled down, and came home winning four rinks. This absolutely splendid effort cemented an overall win at this year’s tournament – following their success in 2012.
Two successful inter-district campaigns in a row! How good is that! Congratulations to this wonderful TBD squad. You are the greatest.
Final results: Tweed Byron 18.5 points, aggregate 390; Mid North Coast 13.5, 370; Northern Rivers 8.5, 284; Clarence River 7.5, 312.
A big thank you goes to the Cherry Street Ballina Bowling Club, hosts for this year’s challenge, for their wonderful friendship and hospitality during this event.