YELLOW JACKS VICTORIOUS IN THE PRESIDENT’S CUP FINAL 2023

Despite the impending threat of torrential rain, the weather gods smiled upon the HBA to enable completion of the President’s Cup final last Friday night.

Mild conditions at Uraidla allowed Val Deeble’s Yellow Jacks to face of against Butch Mik’s “Red Hot Chilli Peppers” in the final. Val led her triples team of Feli Johnson and Matt Bing to success in the triples, accounting for Joe Rooney, Butch Mik, and Scott Pittaway 25-7. Meanwhile Jay Maslen and Geoff Deeble continued their unbeaten run, downing Cheryl Thompson and Mark Schutt in the pairs 20-9, to secure the overall win for the yellows, and jointly taking out the “player of the series” award.

The third place play off had Brian Scowns blue team, the “Bowling Stones”, take on Sheryle Joseph’s “Goldfinger”. Sheryle Joseph skippered her triples team of Allan Dunn and Sandra Hole to a 13 all draw against Ian Dunning, Richard Crocker, and Jamie Burt. However team mates Paul Arnup and David Wuttke were two strong in the pairs, defeating Leonie Silman and Brian Scown 19-6, to give Goldfinger the third place prize money.

Tony Mik’s “Green Masters” and Cindy Falco’s “Annoying Orange” competed for tail end honours. Neville Mansell and Vanessa Loechel got the Orange team away to a great start in the pairs, leading 14-3 after ten ends. Despite a late comeback by the Greens, they hung on for a 16-9 win. The triples were neck and neck at the half way mark – with Cindy Falco keen to skipper Terry Holding and Ted Robinson to victory. However when Terry Stephen subbed out of the Green team to bring in Mick Glasson, the tide turned, with Mick, Mike Baronaitis, and Tony Mik eventurally recording a 20-7 win – and avoiding the wooden spoon.

The HBA express their appreciation to the host clubs Meadows, Woodside, Gumeracha, and Uraidla – who all put in a huge effort to ensure the success of the event. The HBA President, Dora Fuda, said “the shortened format of pairs and triples attracted an increase in players this year, and it is hoped that the event will continue to attract new and experienced bowlers in the future”.