Five Weeks & Counting

Five Weeks and Counting

Last week we asked you to pull your diaries out and mark down the dates of the upcoming Australian Sides Championships for both men and women. Remember we said April 9-12 2010 at Holdfast Bay Bowling Club but you don’t need to be reminded of that. However pull that diary out again as there is more you should know!!

You may say that you have two youngsters who are wishing to play the game of bowls and a wife or husband who is already involved in our magic sport. On display at the National Round Robin will be the cream of the crop in Australia, a powerhouse of world bowls. Many players will have represented our country at Commonwealth Games level and won medals. You want to watch National Champions, State Champions and State representatives in action. We can understand therefore you asking;

"But what is it going to cost me and my family to enter the venue?"

The answer;

Nothing! Not a brass razoo!!

What will you need to bring?

Seats will be available around the greens but if you are there for the day maybe a small deck chair may come in handy. Don’t forget the hat and sunscreen if it’s hot.

Inside the venue will be coffee vans, "Villi’s" pies and pasties along with "Jack’s Fish Shack" for those who are into seafood. The Holdfast Bay Bowling Club will be running a continual barbecue for at least the first three days of the tournament. There will also be full bar facilities so between the food and a couple of drinks it’s going to cost you a few bucks. There is nowhere in the sporting world that you can get a better deal!!

Breaking news tells us that over the last two days the decision has been made to play the State Night Owl's Final on Saturday April 10 starting at 7.00 pm. For players who are embarking on a bowls career or just enjoying the night competition there could be no bigger thrill than performing on the biggest stage this year.

The prospect even excites dumb Kiwis like me! Now to two of the bowlers we will be watching at Holdfast Bay from April 9;

Andrew Hill – "Swanny" - 32 – Berri

Andrew is the second of the country based players chosen to represent South Australia in the upcoming National Round Robin. At two to Dave Stockham he will impress with his calm demeanour and studied approach to the game.

In season 2008/09 he skipped a Marion rink in the Premier One competition with excellent results. During the off season he returned to his home club of Berri and is presently playing in the Riverland Bowling Association Finals series.

"Swanny" works in a family business and he and his wife Amanda have two young sons, Cameron nearly 4 and Ryan coming up to one year old. These are a few good reasons for returning to home base and the Riverland competition.

Andrew has won the State Singles and if my memory serves me correctly he also won the Riverland Sportsman of the year with that title. He has also been a winner of the Country Fours.

"I am very happy to have been chosen again" he commented. "Our rink went well in the recent series against Victoria winning three games out of five. I am really looking forward to the Round Robin in Adelaide."

As a footnote we should warn you. If you are standing by an eight ball table in a club or hotel and "Swanny" challenges you to a game make sure that it’s for lollipops not hard cash. I am sure that not long ago he was only a couple of games out of making the South Australian side in that sport as well.

Best of luck in April Mate!!!!

Wayne Ruediger - "Rudi" – 33 – Grange

Bowls supporters would have had to have been on a different planet not to have heard the name Wayne Ruediger this year. He is the Premier One competition’s top skip thus far in 2009/10 and will play three to Marion’s Ashley Klose in the Round Robin series.

Rudi began his bowls career at Holdfast Bay, the club at which his grandfather Ron holds legendary status. At 28 he played in the last Round Robin held in Adelaide and will be looking forward to returning to his first club for this year’s event.

Wayne has won numerous State titles and has represented South Australia on 235 occasions. In 2001 he was selected in the Australian under 25 team for the Trans Tasman series in NSW and played in both 2001 and 2002 for the national side.

In 2008 during Grange’s centenary celebrations he was honoured with selection in the club’s "Team of the Century," a rare honour indeed for one so young.

As a greenkeeper he is rated at the top level in South Australia.

We wish you the best of luck in April Rudi. A round Robin win at Holdfast Bay would put the icing on a very large cake!