Dr Jack Petchell enters Bowls SA Hall of Fame

by Marketing on April 21, 2021

The late Dr. Jack Petchell’s great list of achievements within the sport of lawn bowls at club, state and international level will be acknowledged at the upcoming Bowls SA awards night with his induction into the Bowls SA Hall of Fame.

Fondly known as ‘Doc’, he joined the Sturt Bowling Club in 1938, and he remained with the club for all but one season, which he spent with the Adelaide Bowling Club to play with a close friend, he returned to Sturt and played until 1968 when he passed away.

In this final year he won the Club Championship singles, adding to the eight previous Club Championship Singles titles achieved.

He also won numerous other club titles.

Besides being a very successful bowler, he served the club in many various positions from a committee member to eventually becoming President.

Held in such high esteem at the club, he was awarded Life Membership and his name still sits above the entrance to the club.

His remarkable bowling achievements are numerous.

He represented South Australia early in his career and was judged by many to be the complete bowler.

For a number of years he was considered to be an automatic inclusion as a skip in the South Australian team.

One of his greatest achievements came in 1947 when he won the Australian Singles Championship (21-20 in the final), from a field of 1500.

This event was held in Melbourne and it was noted and spoken of a number of times of the great sportsmanship shown throughout and after the game to his opponent.

In the 1959/60 season he was the first in South Australia to win both the State Singles and the Champion of Champion Singles titles.

These feats saw him awarded Bowler of the Year.

He was on four occasions the winner of the State Singles championship, three times State Champion of Champions Singles winner, and successful in many other state events.

A true champion and a great ambassador to our sport over his shortened 30-year career.

To get your tickets booked for the awards night, click here or contact the Bowls SA on 8234 7544 or email reception@bowlssa.com.au.