The week prior to the event saw the greens receive a large amount of water from the heavens and led to a lot of entries asking if the event would go ahead. Fortunately, the Kempsey Macleay Bowling Club has terrific green keepers in Craig and Grant, and they combined to make the greens playable, albeit a little slower.

Twentysix teams contested the four-game tournament with $5200 in prizemoney up for grabs.

President Ron Kennedy officially welcomed teams from Toongabbie, Kew, Urunga, South West Rocks, Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Hat Head, Crescent Head, and Kempsey to the event.

After the first game, the players had time to socialise, discuss their game and have lunch while scores were sorted and posted on the scoreboard.

Team I (Hat Head) hit the lead with 35 points followed by Team K (Kempsey RSL) and Team Z (a composite team) on 33 points. Three teams were equal third on 31 Points, Team M (Toongabbie), Team S and Team X (both Kempsey RSL).

After lunch teams set out to the greens with rain again threatening. This held off allowing the game to finish without interruptions.

At the end of Saturday’s play Teams I and S were leading the event with 64 points, Teams Z and K were equal second on 63 points, and three teams equal third (Teams X, A and M) on 61 points.

Day two commenced at 9am and some early calls to the umpire were made to measure the legal length of the jack.

As the game progressed the sun peeped through the light cloud changing conditions of the green once again as their surface dried and their speed quickened.

Another change as the breeze became stronger challenging players to once again adjust their weight and grass (width they have to bowl). At the completion of their 18 ends, teams ventured in to the clubhouse to get ready to have a roast dinner and to relax before their fourth and final game.

With the leaderboard updated, Team S (Mark Borger - Skip, Kempsey RSL) led the Tournament on 96 points followed by Team K (Neil McCudden - Skip, Kempsey RSL) 95 points, third was Team M - 91 points, fourth Team J - 89 points with fifth Team Z on 82 points.

Going into the last game, teams set out to play their hardest, even though some were out of contention for the first five places.

There was a prize of $200 for a lucky team drawn from those who were not in the main prize money, the only stipulation, the whole team had to be present for the draw.

With the rain holding off, all teams completed their games in dry but breezy conditions. The two local RSL teams, who were leading the event, faced each other in a nail biting finish.

Both teams were neck and neck until the last end with Team S finally taking the game by one bowl and half an inch over Team K.

On completion of the weekend tournament all results were double checked before prizewinners were determined.

President Ron thanked all the Sponsors of the event, the players for competing, the committee of the Kempsey RSL Men’s Bowling Club, ladies of the Kempsey RSL Women’s Bowling Club, the cooks and bar staff of the Bowling Club, Rocky Stone (Bowls Co-ordinator) Greenkeepers Grant and Craig and umpire Eric.

He then called on David Dyet owner of Kalite Pty Ltd transport company, major sponsor of the weekend event for the past eighteen years to present the prizes.

Lucky Team ($200) Team L (Kempsey Heights) Paul Holden (skip), Roger Gill, Brett Stephens, J Kinloch.

Equal Fourth (5th -$200 and 4th - $400 prize combined ) Three Wins, One Draw and 42 Ends, Team A (South West Rocks)- Ben Crotty (skip), Roy Miscall, Michael Howard, Ian Simpson and Team Z (Composite Team)- Craig Donaldson (skip) Greg Brimms, Barry Smith, Dale Scrivener.

Third ($800) Four Wins 39 Ends, Team J - (Hat Head) Gordon McKay (skip), Christian McKay, Kim Brett, Richard Lee.

Second ($1200) Four Wins 40 Ends, Team M - (Toongabbie) Mick Radcliff (skip), Todd Lonergan, Garry Foggerty, Adam Waters

First ($2400) Four Wins 47 Ends, Team S - (Kempsey RSL) Mark Borger (skip), Ian Keast, Chris Kennedy, Tony Steele.

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