However it was a close one with Drane getting the money on a countback from Parkes golfer Graham Smith and Garry Pyrmont (Forbes). All three scored 25 points.

The Forbes pair of Ted Morgan and Geoff Coles just fell short of the winning score on 24 points. Only 23 players faced the starter with Parkes numbers well down providing only five players.

The encouragement award was won by Alex McKinnon (Forbes), who also took out the B grade nearest the pin on the par three 18th hole. Parkes player Dub Rogers was the A grade nearest the pin winner.

Forbes took out the Mick Miller Shield by 144 points to 103. It is interesting to not that prior to the Forbes event last week, Parkes led the shield on 2871 points (Forbes postcode) to 2870 points (Parkes code).

This week West Wyalong will host the 18 hole Lachlan Valley veterans competition which is also a qualifying round for the NSW Veterans Medal. The winner from West Wyalong will proceed to the finals at Port Macquarie.

Last weeks results

Top Flights defeated Twist Tops 5-2 with players player going to Keith Rogan for Top Flights and Frank Van Opynen for Twist Tops. High scores were Dave Rogan 140, 100. Hans Christensen 135, 2x 100. Keith Rogan 132, 116. Paul Roberts 122, 101.

Pluggas defeated Strikers 6-1 with players player going to Leah Roberts for Pluggas and Peta Barnes for Strikers. High scores were Darrell Bailey 140, 2x 100. Leah Roberts 134, 112, 105. Michael Dunn 2x 121, 120, 2x 100. Joe Van Opynen 2x 140, 118, 4x 100. Kathy Madden 101.

Warriors defeated Budgies 4-3 with players player going to Ray James Jnr for Warriors and Belinda Boardman for Budgies. High scores were Dale Davis 114, 2x 100. Ray James Jnr 100. Lee Davis 100. Belinda Boardman 106. Brett Jones 2x 100. Jake Tonkin 2x 100.

This Wednesdays Draw

Meeting this Wednesday 14-8-19, at the Tbc 6:45pm. At least one person per team is to attend. If you are unable to attend please contact Leah on 0455 182 228. The hundred club will be drawn at this meeting.

Leah Roberts

Not too much to comment on this week. No Championship matches were played and of course Saturday Social Bowls were cancelled due to the weather.

Thursday, August 8

Thursday, August 1 felt like a spring day but last Thursday the weather left no doubt that we are still in the middle of winter.

However, twenty brave souls defied the conditions and turned out to play (this was quite a lot more than I had expected) to play five games of Pairs with the usual smattering of close and not so close games.

Graham Dixon and Martin Tighe were drawn against John Ward and Col Miller and after fifteen ends the scores were level, 15 all.

With three ends to play John and Col had taken the lead 20-17 but the last three ends were won by Graham and Martin and they ran out winners 20-17.

John Watson and Graham Barby took a 7-0 lead after three ends of their match against Tom Furey and Alan Affleck but after fifteen ends the lead had been reduced to four shots, 15-11.

Tom and Alan then found some form and won six of the last seven ends, scoring twelve shots to two, and won the match 23-17.

Gary McPhee and Gordon Dickson also won their match against Arthur Corbett by seven shots, winning 27-20.

Rob Irving and Ray Jones were too god for John Carr and Bruce Deland 24-15. In the remaining game Col Mudie and Paul Hevers had a comfortable win against Warren Bevan and Bob Freeman.

Annual General Meetings: The AGM's of both the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club and the Men's Bowls Club are coming up in the next month or so and details (which I will publish next week) are on display at the Club.

If you are interested in serving on the Boards of either or both of the Clubs Nomination forms are available and you still have time to get your nominations in.

Badge Draw: The badge draw was not won last week and will be worth $2900 this week. As usual, it will be drawn on Friday night sometime after 8pm when the raffle is finished.

The Rookie

Hello Bowlers, well the nice weather sure brought out the bowlers on Saturday, August 3. We had 30, yes 30 turn up for five lots games of triples.

Winners were Mike Phillips, Luke Cross and Mark ( Paceway ) Francis W 16+18 and runners up Geoff Leonard, Lea Tanks and Chris Dunn W 16+13.

Sunday a championship game of triples with Steve Frame, Ray Griffiths and Steve Torrens versus John Corcorcan, George Greenhalgh and Mike Valentine.

Well it was three all and then Steve got a five. But after that Corcorcan's team fought back to win 20/13.

On Tuesday Ben Mcnaughton played Flippy Fliedner in the major singles semi final. On a 18 second green it was 15 all, Flippy putting in the concentration to go out a winner 31/20.

The final will be held on Sunday 1pm weather permitting between Geoff Leonard and Flippy Fliender.

Wednesday, August 7 another 28 bowlers arrived at the club. Winners Trish Allen (again),Clive Stibbard W22+36. Runner up Bob Freeman and Terry Hetherington W20+20.

Margins were 1,8,11,18,20,36 well marble 20 came out and Bob freeman,Terry Hetherington, Neil Cox (visitor ) and PhilCorcoran (visitor ) won the money.

Next weeks jackpot stands at $28. Not long until the handicapped pairs, get your teams in August 17 for a 9am start.

Friday night Raffles, Members draw $550 Jokers draw $2150 and happy hour 4.30pm till 6.30pm. See you at the railway

It wasn't last year's Rusty Motorbike who got the job done, but Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb still would have plenty of reasons to be grinning after he watched his own Austin storm home and secure a second Louth Cup win in as many years for Robb's stable.

Rusty Motorbike, last year's winner, came home sixth, while his rival Zartini had to settle for third, a place back from last year's second placing.

But there was no doubt or speculation who had won when Austin thundered home across the line, netting Robb an $8,435 prize with astonishing ease, blowing past the field well ahead of even the closest competitor in front of a packed crowd in one of the most unique racing events across the Central West.

The experienced gelding thundered across the finish line a full ten lengths ahead of his closest competitor, the Bryan Dixon trained Outta Space in what was a clear highlight in a banner day for Robb's Nyngan stable.

The outstanding result represents a bounce back to form for Austin, after narrowly missing out on a win in Coonabarabran in his last start, and struggling to place in Dubbo, Coonamble and his home field of Nyngan in the starts before that.

Wendy Peel jockeyed Austin for Rodney Robb, while Clayton Gallagher found success for Robb atop Tapanui, Supreme Legend and Scarpa throughout the day, netting wins in the Shindys Inn Class 3 Handicap, Cobar Rugby Union Maiden Plate and Rice's Back o' Bourke Cordials Splashe Cola Maiden Handicap respectively for their efforts.

Daniel Shirkie