Beautiful conditions greeted everyone for the opening day of play for the WBS Prime Sunraysia Classic, following a successful Opening Night function on Saturday night.

The event opened with sectional play of the Women’s Singles, Men’s Pairs along with the first round of the Men’s Fours to round out of the day. The action was fast-paced with six one-hour sessions to begin proceedings.

The Rio Vista Bowls Complex (Mildura BC & Mildura Workers BC) and Coomealla BC were wonderful hosts as many players took to the greens fighting for places in the post-sectional rounds.

There were a number of tied matches throughout the day and a couple of sections where knockout places had to be decided by countbacks. At the end of Day 1, those that were progressing to the knockout rounds are as follows…

Men’s Pairs – Round of 16 Qualifiers

Section Winners:

Mathieson, E. / Ward, M.

Mays, D. / Ward, B.

Ryan, P. / Tonkin, M.

Harford, B. / Press, M.

Bishop, P. / Rhoden, M.

Jansen, R. / Petty, M.

Meyers, P. / Paulsen, K.

McCarthy, B. / Peters, M.

Kelly, A. / Lynch, G.

Next Best Second Places (with BYEs counting as a win in line with COP):

Crook, A. / Lehmann, B. (8pts +19)

Mitchell, C. / Mitchell, N. (8pts +6)

Boxer, C. / Sincock, G. (8pts +5)

Clarke, G. / Holtham, K. (7pts +20)

Horton, B. / Long, W. (7pts +18)

Cass, D. / McLean, I. (7pts -1)

Bloomfield, J. / Brown, D. (7pts -5)

The Round of 16 for the Men’s Pairs will be played on Thu 10^th Sept at 8:30am at the Rio Vista Bowls Complex.

Women’s Singles

Section Winners:

Maundrell, Patricia

Smith, Dianne

Other Qualifiers – Top 4 in Section:

Gorin, Debbie

Walters, Trish

Whiffin, Leah

Finch, Dianne

Waugh, Raylee

East, Alison

The Quarter Finals of the Women’s Singles will be played on Thu 10^th Sept at 11:30am at the Rio Vista Bowls Complex.

All of the post-sectional matches for these two disciplines can now be found on World Bowls Match Center.

Day 2 sees the Women’s Pairs kick off at the Rio Vista BC, with nine sections of Men’s Singles being played across Red Cliffs, Irymple and Wentworth BCs.

The second of the Big Barefoot Bowls Bash (BBBB) Qualifying Nights will also be held on the Mildura BC side of the Rio Vista BC – open to anyone of any age that is new to bowls. The Finals of the BBBB will be on Thursday evening.

Mildura BC – Day 1 (pictured)