State Championship Week 2018

Ben Morthorpe and Barry Wilkinson, Singles Finalists

CABRAMATTA’S Ben Morthorpe walked away from the 2018 NSW Bowling Greenkeepers Association State Championships, at Ballina RSL Bowling Club, with two championship victories.

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The Finals of the Pairs and Singles were contested on Thursday (10 May) with the 28-year-old Morthorpe eligible to represent NSW at the 2020 Australian Federation Week on the Gold Coast in Pairs and Singles.

In the blue ribband event – Championship Singles – Morthorpe and Barry Wilkinson had a right dual for supremacy.  Wilkinson was in his fifth Singles “Big Dance” having twice won, in 1982 and 1988, along with being runner up in 1983 and 2004.

Wilkinson, 70 is a retired greenkeeper from Coonabarabran.  Wilkinson ensured Morthorpe wasn’t going to be granted an easy passage to being crowned the NSW Champion.  The duo were locked at 18-all, chasing 31 shots for victory, after 24 ends before Morthorpe started to forge ahead.

“I was pretty excited to make the two finals,” Morthorpe said.  “To win one I would have been happy but to win two is awesome.  “The whole week has been quality, it’s hard, playing long days and the blokes you play are good mates.”

Morthorpe teamed up with Cabravale Diggers Brent Norman for a thrilling 22-21 Pairs victory over Royal Sydney’s John Flaherty and Wilkinson.

“Very happy, especially playing with my old apprentice, we get on great and to win it with him was excellent,” Norman said after the Pairs final.

In the Plate Non Championship Pairs Final Port City’s Nigel Perry and Josh Greenhalgh from Lismore Heights were beaten 10-9 by Gloucester’s Ray Cooper and Wade Turner (Queanbeyan).

Greenkeepers from far and wide around NSW, 42 in total, commenced play on Monday and enjoyed competitive bowls and social interaction with their peers.  The NSW Bowling Greenkeepers Association State Championships will again return to Ballina RSL Bowling Club in 2019.

“We are delighted to announce that Ballina RSL Club Limited are major sponsors of the event,” said Northern Rivers Bowling Greenkeepers Association President and host Greenkeeper Duncan Elphick.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

Singles championship: Quarter-finals: Ben Morthorpe (Cabramatta) 25 d Steve Berger (Wee Waa) 20, Barry Wilkinson (retired, Coonabarabran) 25 d Brian Anderson (retired, Tuncurry) 19, Josh Greenhalgh (Lismore Heights) 25 d Luke Wade (Helensvale) 7,

Peter Watts (Belconnen) 25 d Damien Miller (Young) 24. Semi-finals: Morthorpe 31 d Greenhalgh 25, Wilkinson 31 d Watts 25.

Final: Morthorpe 31 d Wilkinson 24.

Pairs championship: Semi-finals: Ben Morthorpe (Cabramatta), Brent Norman (Cabravale Diggers) 24 d Pat Nichols (South Lismore), Jason Stewart (Greta) 20; John Flaherty (Royal Sydney), Barry Wilkinson (retired, Coonabarabran) 27 d Damien Miller (Young), Rod Crean (Lawson) 18.

Final: Morthorpe, Norman 22 d Flaherty, Wilkinson 21.

Read about our 2015 and 2016 events at South West Rocks.