Hundreds will pack the bustling greens on Ogilvie Ave daily for the nine-day carnival held from May 4-13 in what’s become a staple on the local sporting calendar.
Blue skies and immaculate greens greeted bowlers for Thursday’s Men’s and Ladies’ Pairs carnival opener, with Mixed Fours to be held on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Dan Scott Memorial Mixed Pairs.
Echuca’s Rhonda Gallagher has taken over the majority of organising duties this year from long-serving life member Don Hicks, who she credited for his outstanding contribution throughout the nearly five-decade-old carnival.
And while shouldering duties has provided some sleepless nights for Gallagher, she was pleased to see the popular event begin without a hitch.
“It’s great for the district,” Gallagher said.
“The weather’s great and most players arrived on time. We have a few new faces, and no-one’s missed out.”
The start of the Echuca carnival puts in motion what can only be described as a smorgasbord of bowls action.
Echuca’s carnival will lead into the start of Moama Bowling Club’s event, which begins next Saturday, May 13 with the Mixed Fours, highlighted by the George Lynch Men’s Sectional Fours.
“Players who come up for our event often stay for Moama’s one,” Gallagher said.
Both carnivals provide an economic boost for the twin towns as well, one that was missed with the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 carnivals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Across the border, Moama Bowling Club will host the Champion of State Pennant competition starting on Saturday.
Pennant champions from all 16 bowls regions in Victoria will descend on the greens at Moama to determine the best teams in the state.
The Steamers’ division one midweek pennant premiers, progressing from the Bendigo-Campaspe-Goldfields (BCG) regional championships, will begin their campaign on Monday, May 8 from 8.30am, playing five rounds before Tuesday’s final should they progress.
Towards the end of May, Echuca and Moama will also combine to host the Region Sides Championships.
The 14-player squad selected by the BCG selection committee teams will compete against the other 15 regions at Moama and Echuca from Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28.
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