Membership Benefits!

Sunday May 16th 2010 saw 88 very eager and excited participants gather at the Benowa ‘Bee Hive’ Bowls Club for the inaugural staging of the 5th Grade Barefoot Lawn Bowls Championships. 

We were warmly greeted by tournament director Warren ‘Kirkow’ Carey and his diligent committee of Ivan Hill, Bryan Ross and late recruit treasurer Lisa Rowlands. 

There was a great cross section of the GC rugby community in attendance ranging from Mayoral aspirant Tom Tate and his wife Ruth to the youngest of the Kooga family, 3 year old Connor Brant. 

Other dignitaries included QCRU Board member Ian Shapland, RGC Board Members Grahame Thompson, Mike Woodbry and Tom Tate with chairman Murray d’Almeida making a guest appearance during his hectic schedule, 5^th Grade founding father Grant Batty, man about town Terry Jackman, frequent flyer and sailor extraordinaire Mal Canning, RGC Sponsors Kim and Tyron Brant from Kooga, Mike Plehan from WPIAS, Tom Tate from the Islander Resort Hotel, Chris Strachan from Sew Simple Embroidery and Hans Torv Hot Tomato. 

Hans and his good mate John Hoare were only to stay for an hour but got caught up in all the excitement and were among the last to leave. 

The Breakers senior management was also there along with a large group of players from the Premier team. 

Once the briefing was completed by the professional team from Benowa the bowling began in earnest – the greatest challenge for some was to get the bowl to bend the right direction consistently. 

After 2 hours of much laughter (and frustration) the bell rang to tell us the bowling was over and to move inside and gather at the bar – very similar to rugby actually - a means to a social end. 

‘Kirkow’ and his off sider Bryan Ross had the dubious task of working out who actually won using a formula even more complicated than the Duckworth Lewis system. 

In 3^rd Place was the Kooga team

2^Nd was shared between Matt Carey’s Young Guns (Matt, Jake, Ben and Harry) and Tim Rowlands’ Oldies (David and Lyn Gamson, Grant Batty, Lisa Rowlands)

1^ST place and congratulations to Mike Plehan and his team representing WPIAS (Reg Williams) 

All in all a great afternoon and evening with all wanting to know when it will be staged again……….stay tuned. 

Our next outing will be revisiting Boomerang Farm for the 2^nd leg of our Masters Golfing extravaganza. 

Remember if you’re driving past the ‘Bee Hive’ and feel like a drink call in and mention RGC and you will receive A 1 service – especially on a Thursday evening 

P.S. Don’t be surprised to see Kim Brant bowling there on a regular basis.. like a duck to water.