We had 16 bowlers on Wednesday, March 13 for Social Bowls. Winners were Mike Valentine and Danielle Thompson winning 16+18.

Runners Up were Jason Gosper and Chris Dunn winning 16+8. Marble 19 came out and the Margins were 6, 8, 18 & 21. The Jackpot this week is $105.

The Parkes Services Club Power Play Pairs came to an end on Thursday, March 14. The winners were Overall with 27 points the Unbelievable.

Runners Up on a count back with 24.5 points were the Up 'N Comers.

Third place was the Railway Rhinos with 24.5 points. Round 1 winners were Peak Performance with 12 points and the winners of Round 2 with 13.5 points were SAC Balls.

We thank the Parkes Services Club for their kind and generous ongoing support.

On Saturday March 16 we had the Round Robin section of our Handicap Pars, with 40 player taking to the greens we had to get to a top 8 for the Knockout Finals on Sunday, March 17.

Pool 1 saw one team go through Helen Clark and Steve Clegg.

Pool 2 had two teams go through Jan Griffith and Mike Phillips; and Frank Van Opynen and Darryl McKellar.

Pool 3 had Shane Hodge and Cody Hando.

Pool 4 saw two teams also Toby Tanks and Junior Thorne; and Ricky Frame and Nev Kirwan.

Pool 5 also had 2 teams go through with Myra Townsend and Greg Howlett; and Dave Littlewood and Peter Job.

In the Qualifying Finals Hodge and Hando defeated T. Tanks and Thorne, Van Opynen and McKellar defeated Littlewood and Job, Clark and Clegg defeated Griffith and Phillips and Frame and Kirwan defeated Townsend and Howlett.

In the Semi Finals Helen Clark and Steve Clegg defeated Ricky Frame and Nev Kirwan and Shane Hodge and Cody Hando defeated Frank Van Opynen and Darryl McKellar.

In a thrilling final that went to the wire with only one shot in it Helen Clark and Steve Clegg defeated Shane Hodge and Cody Hando to be our 2023/24 Handicap Pairs Champions.

This week we have Social Bowls on Wednesday, March 20 at 1pm.

Names in by 12:30pm and as always everyone is welcome with loan bowls available at the club.

This weekend we see the Inaugural Lawn Bowls as part of the Parkes Masters Games.

This event is for anyone over 40 years old and you do not have to be a member of a club you can be any gender, it is open to men and women.

We start at 1pm Friday, March 22 and if you would like a game head down to the club by 12pm. we also play on Saturday, March 23 at 8am, 1pm and 6pm BPL style bowls. For more information co tact Lewi on 0419 126 465.

In the Club on Friday, March 22 we have Happy Hour 5-7pm, Monthly Mega Raffles, Meat Tray Raffles, Joker Draw ($2,450.00), Badge Draw ($150.00), Free Jumping Castle, Parkes Masters Games, the Bistro serving their amazing meals from 6pm and The Sensational Alice coming in with Karaoke from 8pm.

See you at the Railway! Toot Toot!

By Paul Lewin

On Sunday afternoon Wilbur Harris took on Greg Townsend in the Minor Singles Semi Final in front of a small crowd. Greg started well winning a few ends to gain the lead 4 to 2. Wilbur won the next few ends but was still down 5 to 6.

Greg kept the pressure up to lead 8 to 6. This was the last time Greg would be in the lead. Wilbur playing consistent bowls won three ends in a row to take the lead 10 to 8. The game went back into the balance at 12 all.

The sprinkles of rain became more consistent with the bowlers and the marker Bernie taking a short break. Once back on the green Wilbur handled the damp conditions better, taking control, leading the game 16 to 13. Wilbur kept the pressure on to lead 20 to 14 and then coming home 25 to 15.

This was a great game to watch with both bowlers playing excellent bowls. Wilbur now goes on to play Mick Simpson. Thanks to marker Bernie Mitchell.

On Saturday eighteen brave bowlers took to the green on a day when the sun just seemed to have that real burning feel.

On the TV rink Ron Hornery, Al Affleck and John Wright took on Ray Jones, Bob Freeman and Col Mudie. Wrights team took off to a flying start leading 9 to 1 in the 5th end.

Col Mudies team came running back gaining a 4 in the 8th to only be down 8 to 9. John Wrights team took off at this stage winning one end by 4 and another end by 5 to lead 23 to 13 towards the end.

Somehow Col Mudies team grabbed a 7 to make the score look good.

They then allowed Wrights team a 5 but grabbed a 3 in the last for a final score Wrights team 28 to 23.

The next rink John Corcoran and Col Hayward played Mike Valentine and Rob Irving. This was a game of two halves.

John and Col by the 11th end were in the lead 15 to 4. Mike and Rob decided this is not on and played consistent bowls to only go down 17 to 19.

On rink 4 John Ward and Col Miller played Ian Simpson and Steve Ryan. Ian and Steve started strongly, leading 8 to 0 in the 5th. John and Col took a while to get going and by the 14th end the score was 12 all but from then on Ian and Steve were on fire to run out winners 24 to 13.

The last game Greg Smith and Tony Riordan played Col Woods and Gary McPhee. Col and Gary were handling the pressure well and were never headed for the lead and by the 16th end were leading 22 to 13.

They relaxed a little to let Greg and Tony gain a 5 on the 17th then a couple of 1s Col and Gary winning 24 to 20.

On a cooler cloudy Saturday afternoon 30 bowlers hit the green ready to roll. Rink 1 John Ward, Bob Freeman and Steve Ryan played Ron Hornery, Col Woods and Rob Irving.

Robs side slowly but surely lead the game from start to finish but they did allow Steves team a 4 in the 14th and 4 in the 15th ends to make the score closer. Robs team won 25 to 17.

The next game was a game involving the big guns. Brian Townsend and Mick Went taking on Guy Ellery and Mick Simpson.

Brian and Mick had a slow start and by the 11th end were down 5 to 10 with Guy and Mick enjoying their bowls and by the 14th end were leading 13 to 8. Brian and Mick found their form winning the last 5 ends to come home the winners 15 to 13.

On rink 3 Col Hayward and Gary McPhee took on the visiting Tom Furey and Dave Reilly. Tom and Dave came home easy victors 30 to 12.

Rink 4 Rod Ford and Geoff Smith took on Ray Jones and Jacob Townsend. Ray with his stick and pacemaker and Jacob played consistent bowls running out winners 22 to 10.

Rink 5 Maureen Miller and John Wright took on Jo Simpson and Col Miller. Jo and Col got off to a slow start allowing Maureen and John to lead 15 to 7 in the 12th.

John was on fire taking out the opposition shot bowls at will and backed up by Maureen they were just too good on the day winning 18 to 12.

On rink 6 Mark Glasheen and Col Mudie played Bruce Deland and Mike Valentine. Welcome back Bruce. Mark and Col took hold of the game and by the 10th end were leading 12 to 4.

Bruce and Mike were putting down some great shots but the effervescent Col just kept putting his bowls in a winning position backed up by Mark.

They won the game 20 to 9. The last game young Ethan Lacey and Warren Bevan took on Fred Masurit and Rob Lacey.

This score card was marked "Us and Them." The game was tight from start to finish with the Them team winning 21 to 16. No doubt after they read this, I will be told who was who.

By the time this is published we will have two teams playing in the state championships at Dubbo. Brian Townsend and Mark Dwyer will be playing in the Senior Pairs and Kim Evans and Jan McPhee will be playing in the women's Open Pairs.

We all wish these players all the best they have maid our club proud to get this far.

By Col Miller.