2025 Prestige Medley: The Ultimate Spectacle!
In the last weekend of March, 216 of South Australia’s best bowlers will go head-to-head in regional combat as the Women’s competition gets underway at Playford Bowling Club and the Men’s competition returns to Modbury Bowling Club. The 2025 edition of the Bowls SA Prestige Medley sees Metro West (Region 12) looking to defend both crowns.
Region 1
South Eastern (M)
2024 Prestige Medley: 0-5
2025 Country Round Robin: 3-4
Side changes: 6
South Eastern (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
2025 Country Round Robin: 4-3
Side changes: 1
A fresh side for the South Eastern Men, a rare change of all 3 skipper positions for the 2025 edition. A good mix of clubs represented who will hope to build off an encouraging country round robin tilt. Polar opposite on the Women’s side, with prestige continuity the name of the game with all 3 skippers (Pepper, Kotz & Richards) retaining their positions.
Region 2
Yorke Peninsula (M)
2024 Prestige Medley: 1-4
2025 Country Round Robin: 3-3-1
Side changes: 5
Yorke Peninsula (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 2-3
2025 Country Round Robin: 3-4
Side changes: 3
Geater-Johnson, Steinwedel, Trowse and McPharlin are big additions to a YP side that went 1-4 in 2024. Alongside stalwarts like the ever-steady Robert Scott and current Over 60s State Rep Don Bennett it is hard to predict another cellar dwelling performance. 3 changes for the Region 2 ladies in a Moonta heavy side. Cavanagh and Dennis again combine in the pairs after a spotless record at Playford 12 months ago.
Region 3
Upper North (M)
2024 Prestige Medley: 2-3
2025 Country Round Robin: 6-1
Side changes: 3
Upper North (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 0-5
2025 Country Round Robin: 2-5
Side changes: 5
A strong Laura contingent, an unchanged skippers line from 2024 and winning form in CRR, sees Upper North selectors banking that running it back will prove more fruitful than last year’s mid table finish. Five returnees for the ladies of Region 3, who will be desperate to improve on last years result. An unchanged pairs lineup of Coe & Lynch, who posed a 2-3 record last time out gives a platform to build on.
Region 4
North Eastern (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 4-1
2025 Country Round Robin: 3-4
Side changes: 4
North Eastern (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
2025 Country Round Robin: 3-4
Side changes: 2
Four changes for a 4-win side from 2024, including the experience of Kapunda’s Adrian Green and Preston Kaufer joining brother Mason. The ‘Berri nice’ triples combination of Hill, Kaufer & Hill will have a big impact on the fortunes of this side. A very even spread of clubs represented in the North Eastern women’s side, including a former State Singles winner in Nuriootpa’s Kate Blacksell and Katrina Green of Kapunda who skips the Triples this year fresh off a club singles win and Div 1 Pennant.
Region 5
Eyre Peninsula (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
2025 Country Round Robin: 4-3
Side changes: 4
Eyre Peninsula (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 2-3
2025 Country Round Robin: 5-2
Side changes: 4
Bettering a 3-2 record in 2024 should be a clear target for the Eyre Peninsula contingent who return five players from 2024. Wrigley in the pairs a key man with four bowls as Country Carnival singles champ. In some lovely symmetry, five return for Region 5’s women. Including all three skips of Edmunds, Baldock & Larwood. Recent good form in the Round Robin should have the EP ladies targeting a finals berth.
Region 6
Eastern (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
2025 Country Round Robin: 2-5
Side changes: 4
Eastern (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
2025 Country Round Robin: 1-6
Side changes: 5
Twin 3-2 records for the Eastern outfits in the last edition of this competition show that they are not that far off the pace, particularly the Men who had a +29 shot difference. Sue Hutchinson moves from triples to pairs hoping a discipline switch can steady the ship.
Region 7
Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 1-3-1
2025 Country Round Robin: 5-2
Side changes: 3
Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 1-4
2025 Country Round Robin: 7-0
Side changes: 3
Based off Round Robin form, Region 7 are coming in hot! A strong on paper back end for the Men will hope for a turnaround from 2024. McLaren Vale clubmates Whiley & Binns combine as a dangerous duo in the fours. An unchanged skipper’s lineup for the Region 7 Women has seen the selectors largely keep the faith and back an undefeated Round Robin. Country Carnival 2024 Single’s Champion Rachel Wolfenden appears at 2 in the triples.
Region 8
Lower North (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 2-3
2025 Country Round Robin: 1-6
Side changes: 2
Lower North (W)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
2025 Country Round Robin: 3-4
Side changes: 3
Greenslade & Day will aim to recreate the success of a pairs combination that only lost one game for the Region 8 Women in 2024. Despite a 2-3 record in 2024, the Men of Lower North were only -8 on shots, victims of the cutthroat nature and quality of the competition. Jordan & Greg Kotz return to a skippers role but mix it up by switching disciplines.
Region 9
Metro North (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
Side changes: 5
Metro North (W)
2024 Prestige medley: 3-2
Side changes: 2
Our host region takes to the 2025 edition hoping for better fortunes after finishing second in their sections. Brenton Bain of Two Wells breaks up a Salisbury/Modbury duopoly. North’s women will head to Playford with two changes to their squad and a reshuffle that will see Prospect-Broadview teammates Miles & Caufield combine in the pairs.
Region 10
Metro East (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 5-0
Side changes: 4
Metro East (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 1-4
Side changes: 5
Changes abound for the Metro East contingent looking to go one better. State Representatives Nathan Black and Jono Voigt are big name inclusions for the Men, while fellow ‘Reds’ Laini McGorman and Tamzin Jenke join a Women’s side that historically have played the role of favourites with 4 wins in the last 10 tournaments.
Region 11
Metro South (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 0-4-1
Side changes: 5
Metro South (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 5-0
Side changes: 1
A single change to the Souths women’s side will aid their ambition to improve on last year’s runner up, Ascot Park’s Chris Thulborn will hope for another undefeated campaign as she again skippers the Fours discipline. The Men boast 3 current State Representatives in Davis, Denton and Percy who will hope to lead the Souths to a better record than last year.
Region 12
Metro West (M)
2024 Prestige medley: 5-0
Side changes: 2
Metro West (F)
2024 Prestige medley: 4-1
Side changes: 7
Magnets well and truly moved for the defending champions in both the Men’s & Women’s sides. West Lakes Gatto & Fields combine in the pairs discipline as the only returning members of last year’s victors. For the men, positional changes see Halls (pairs) and Trenorden (fours) sitting in a skippers chairs this year in a predominantly Grange & Holdfast Bay side.
A sincere ‘Thank you’ to Playford Bowling Club and Modbury Bowling Club for hosting once again, Team Managers for their time and effort and congratulations to those selected for their Regions. Good bowling!
