Gundagai District Services Bowling Club

14/09/2026

Gundagai Services Bowling Club News
By Kitty McJack
RIVERINA TRAVELLING BOWLERS
What a stellar day was had by all last Sunday when the Riverina Travelling Bowlers visited for a day of bowls. Under a beautiful blue sky, 42 keen bowlers took to the greens for a day filled with laughter and banter. Two games of 10 ends were played between the 14 teams with Charlies Choice the decider for teams. This meant that teams were mixed (men/women/travelling bowlers/Gundagai bowlers) and the camaraderie on the day was contagious. The Tom French skipped team of Tom, Jim Holland (TB) and Carolyn Buchanan (TB) were the winners on the day. Second place was skipped by Helen Lott. Helen was joined by Peter (TB) and Mal (TB). While third place was skipped by Wal (TB) and had two Gundagai bowlers Bronwyn Naughton and Ben Reichel. Congratulations to them on some fine bowling. A sausage sizzle lunch, ably cooked by BBQ chefs Wayne Carthew and Mick Houstein, was enjoyed by all. A huge thankyou to the Riverina Travelling Bowlers for organising the bowls and the raffle.
An invitation was extended to Gundagai Bowlers if they would like to join the Riverina Travelling Bowlers. The Travelling Bowlers visit small clubs on the second Sunday of each month. If you are interested in joining in some fun bowls $10 will gain you membership for 12 months. Applications are available if anyone is interested.
SOCIAL BOWLS
On Tuesday 8 September, 13 bowlers turned out for a game of triples and a game of fours (with a swinging lead). Di Brennan skipped her side to victory against Terri Craig’s trio. Some very nice bowls were played by Cecily Luff and Leslie Attwood in Di’s team. Leonie Maynard and Wendy Nicholson joined Terri also displaying some great bowling skills. However, Di’s trio came out on top on the day 19 shots to 6.
In the second game, Helen Lott, Robyn Hockey, Judy Moore and Pip Fitzpatrick (1 bowl) started strongly against Lynne French, Mary McCormick, Jann Brooke and Pip Fitzpatrick (1 bowl) leading the way 7 shots to 3 after only 5 ends. Lynne’s team started clawing their way back and put a halt to Helen’s team advancing past 11 shots. The final score after 16 ends was Lynne, Mary, Jann and Pip 14 shots to Helen, Robyn, Judy and Pip 11 shots.
On Thursday 9 September, six men bowlers played a game of triples. The Mick Hostein team of Mick, Graham Luff and Col Harris were victorious on this occasion over Joe Bond, Wayne Carthew and Tom Wright – 20 shots to 11 over 16 ends.
Saturday 12 September saw a game of fours being played. Wendy Nicholson, Joan Dunn, Di Brennan and Bronwyn Naughton took on Joe Bond, Mick Houstein, Grant Duncan and Eric Weston. The ladies started well leading over the first few ends when the men picked up a six to take the lead. The ladies then picked up their game but were unable to forge ahead enough to take the game. The final score after 12 ends was men 16 shots to the ladies 11 shots.
REPRESENTATIVE BOWLS
The Southern Highlands team for the Riverina Murray Shield has been decided. Congratulations to Sharon Armstrong (skip), Mandy Shoard, Anne McCauley and Deb Akers (team 1), Gail Rowlands (skip), Bronwyn Naughton, Jess Wright and Lynne French (team 2) on your selection. These ladies will play at the Temora B & R Club on 17-18 October.
MEN’S MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The draw for round 1 of the Men’s Major Championships, to be completed before Monday 5 October, is as follows:
John Peterson V Graham Luff
Bob Smart V Graeme Tickner
Peter Gailey V Mick Houstein
Jasper Smith V Matt Armstrong
Peter Smith V Eric Weston
Mitchell Goodsall V Ben Reichel
Grant Duncan V Joe Bond
Tom French – bye
Good luck gentlemen!
DAVE AND MABEL TOURNAMENT
A reminder that the Gundagai Dave and Mabel Tournament will be held on 14–15 October.
Volunteers are still required to assist with the running of this important event on the club calendar. If you are able to help with supplying a salad or a sweet treat, helping to BBQ, selling raffle tickets or running errands please add your name to the sheet on the bowls noticeboard. Remember, many hands make light work.
MEAT RAFFLES
Another reminder - Gundagai Bowling Club will take over the weekly meat raffles at the club as of this Friday, 18 September.
This will be a great fundraising opportunity for the club. Anyone willing to assist with ticket sales is more than welcome to join the fun at the Club on Friday night. Come along, catch up with mates and support our bowlers!
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
Several tournaments are scheduled across the Riverina. Bowlers interested in forming teams should keep an eye on the club noticeboard.
Upcoming events include:
· Cootamundra Ladies’ 3-Bowl Pairs – 19 September
· Club Tumut Men’s 2 Bowl Triples – 19-20 September
· Young Open 2-Bowl Turnaround Triples – 23 September
· Narrandera B&R Club “The Bidgee Classic Fours” – 3–4 October
· Club Tumut Mixed 3 Bowl Pairs – 10-11 October
· Junee Ex-Services Memorial Bowling Club Ladies 3 Bowl Triples – 13 October
· Temora Mixed Pairs Tournament – 21–22 October
· Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club Triples Tournament – 4 November
· Harden Open 3-Bowl Triples – 7–8 November

10/09/2026

Just a reminder that the Travelling Bowlers will be here on Sunday. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun. 10am registration for a 10.30am start. Sausage sizzle lunch.

07/09/2026

Gundagai Services Bowling Club News
By Kitty McJack
RIVERINA MURRAY PRESIDENT’S CUP
Gundagai was well represented in the Riverina Murray President’s Cup, held at West Wyalong over the weekend.
Players from Gundagai and Tumut joined forces to form the Southern Highlands representative team, taking on the Riverina Murray Club Group Areas, including Southern Riverina, Riverina, Southern Slopes, South Western and Wagga.
Although Southern Highlands did not take out the competition, the team played excellent bowls across five games over two days and can be proud of its efforts.
The best-performing Southern Highlands team was skipped by Gundagai’s Bob Smart, who guided his team to four wins from five games. Congratulations to Bob Smart, Mick Houstein, Sharon Armstrong and Ben Reichel on a consistently strong weekend.
The other Gundagai team, skipped by Tom French, recorded two wins. Tom French, Mark Niemkiewicz, Bronwyn Naughton and Jess Wright faced some strong opposition but bowled consistently throughout the five games.
The remaining Southern Highlands teams were made up of Tumut bowlers. Like Tom’s team, they experienced mixed results but are to be congratulated on the way they represented the region.
It was a terrific weekend of bowls, with Southern Highlands players mixing it with some of the region’s best bowlers. The atmosphere across the greens was wonderful, with plenty of banter, camaraderie and enjoyment.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Once again, the weather was against us and only Tuesday bowls went ahead.
In a game of triples, Terri Craig, Judy Moore and Mary McCormick recorded a narrow 9–5 win over Lesley Attwood, Wendy Nicholson and Robyn Hockey.
In the other match, Helen Lott and Leonie Maynard bowled beautifully to defeat Eric Weston and Lynne French, 28–8.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Only three club championships remain to be played in 2026, with nominations closing on 13 September.
Nomination sheets for the Minor Men’s, Major Women’s and Major Men’s championships are on the bowls noticeboard. If you are interested in nominating, please do so promptly, as nominations close this weekend. The more nominations received, the more interesting the competition will be.
REPRESENTATIVE BOWLS
Anyone interested in nominating for the Southern Highlands representative teams is encouraged to do so as soon as possible, with nominations closing shortly.
Men are invited to nominate for the Bing Wallder Shield, to be played at Holbrook RS Bowling Club on 10–11 October.
Women can nominate for the Riverina Murray Shield, which will be held at Temora B&R Bowling Club on 17–18 October.
TRAVELLING BOWLERS
A reminder that the travelling bowlers’ rescheduled visit will be held on Sunday, 13 September.
Anyone interested in taking part in this day of social bowls is asked to keep the date free. Entry is $15, which includes bowls, a sausage sizzle and a day of fun and laughter.
SOCIAL BOWLS
With spring having arrived, let’s hope social bowls can become a more regular fixture.
Social bowls are held every Tuesday, with registration at 10am for a 10.30am start. Bowls are also held on Thursdays and Saturdays, with registration at 12.30pm for a 1pm start.
New and visiting bowlers are always welcome. Social bowls provide a great opportunity to enjoy some fun, exercise and social interaction while learning a new skill. There are no barriers to taking part, with club bowls available for use.
Come along and join in the fun.
DAVE AND MABEL TOURNAMENT
The Gundagai Dave and Mabel Tournament will be held on 14–15 October.
Volunteers are needed to assist with the running of this important event on the club calendar. If you are able to help, please add your name to the sheet on the bowls noticeboard.
Remember, many hands make light work. The more volunteers we have, the more smoothly the tournament will run.
MEAT RAFFLE FUNDRAISERS
Gundagai Bowling Club will take over the weekly meat raffles at the club from 18 September.
This will be a great fundraising opportunity for the club. Anyone able to lend a hand is asked to speak with Gail, who will be very grateful for your assistance.
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
With spring approaching, a number of tournaments are scheduled across the Riverina. Bowlers interested in forming teams should keep an eye on the club noticeboard.
Upcoming events include:
• Cootamundra Ladies’ 3-Bowl Pairs – 19 September
• Club Tumut Men’s 2 Bowl Triples – 19-20 September
• Young Open 2-Bowl Turnaround Triples – 23 September
• Narrandera B&R Club “The Bidgee Classic Fours” – 3–4 October
• Temora Mixed Pairs Tournament – 21–22 October
• Coolamon Sport & Recreation Club Triples Tournament – 4 November
• Harden Open 3-Bowl Triples – 7–8 November

07/09/2026

Hello Bowlers!
This is a very tight turn around! If you would like to nominate for the Southern Highlands Bing Wallder Shield (men) or the Riverina Murray Shield (women), nominations close on Wednesday 9 September at 4pm. Bing Wallder is being held in Holbrook on 10-11 October. Riverina Murray Shield is being held in Temora on 17-18 October. Nomination sheets are on the Bowls noticeboard!

05/09/2026

Good luck for day two Southern Highlands!

04/09/2026

Good luck to the Gundagai bowlers who will join bowlers from Tumut to form the Southern Highlands team, competing in the Riverina Murray Presidents Cup to be held in West Wyalong over the weekend. Congratulations on your selection and good luck on the green!

Send a message to learn more

01/09/2026

Gundagai Services Bowling Club News
By Kitty McJack

It has been a case of hit and miss for social bowls recently, with inclement weather disrupting play. However, whenever the sun has appeared, a keen group of bowlers has been quick to take advantage and head to the greens.

On Tuesday, 18 August, 10 bowlers turned out for a roll-up. In the pairs, Leonie Maynard and Joannie Dunn recorded a narrow 14–13 win over Wendy Nicholson and Robyn Hockey.

The triples saw Terri Craig, Tom French and Pip Fitzpatrick defeat Jann Brooke, Pam Watling and Mary McCormick, 20 shots to 9.

Seven bowlers braved the chilly conditions on Thursday, 27 August. The closely contested game saw the lead change hands regularly before Mick Houstein, Graham Luff, Liz Haberecht and Col Harris claimed an 11–10 victory over Joe Bond, Grant Duncan, Chris Haberecht and Col Harris.

Saturday, 29 August, brought glorious winter weather, with blue skies, no breeze and sunshine warming the greens. In the pairs, Helen Lott and Leonie Maynard proved too strong for Terri Craig and Wendy Nicholson, winning 18–7 in a game played in good spirits.

The triples match was a game of two halves. Mick Houstein, Tom Wright and Graham Luff started strongly and led until the eighth end, when Grant Duncan, Gary Cotterill and Lynne French lifted their game. Grant’s team finished strongly to claim an 18–12 victory.

Let’s hope the weather gods are kind from now on, allowing social bowls to become a regular fixture every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Everyone is welcome to join the club for fun, exercise and, importantly, the chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Tournament results and representative bowls

On Saturday, 29 August, Gundagai was represented at the Wagga Rules Club Graded 5-6-7 Pairs tournament. Jess Wright and Bronwyn Naughton formed one team, while Wes Wright and Mark Niemkiewicz made up a second team. Although neither team was successful on the day, reports indicate it was a great day of bowls.

This weekend, nine Gundagai Bowling Club members will represent the Southern Highlands at the Riverina-Murray Presidents Cup in West Wyalong. The event is regarded as one of the pinnacle sides competitions on the Riverina-Murray calendar, with teams from Southern Riverina, Southern Slopes, Riverina, South Western, Wagga and Southern Highlands competing against the region’s best bowlers.

Gundagai is part of the Southern Highlands team, joining bowlers from Tumut. The teams include Tom French as skip, with Mark Niemkiewicz, Bronwyn Naughton and Jess Wright in one quartet. Bob Smart will skip the second quartet, alongside Mick Houstein, Sharon Armstrong and Ben Reichel. Lynne French has been named team manager.

The Gundagai Bowling Club wishes all representatives the very best of luck as they take to the greens for this important event.

Club championships

As the year has progressed, the club’s championship competitions have continued. The club is now approaching the pointy end of the season, with just three championships remaining.

Nomination sheets for the Minor Men’s, Major Women’s and Major Men’s championships will be placed on the Bowling Club noticeboard. Anyone interested in competing is encouraged to add their name.

Travelling bowlers’ visit

The travelling bowlers have rescheduled their long-awaited visit for Sunday, 13 September. Anyone interested in taking part in this day of social bowls is reminded to keep the date free.

Entry is $15, which includes bowls, a sausage sizzle and a day of fun and laughter.

Upcoming events

Social bowls are held every Tuesday, with registration at 10am for a 10.30am start, and on Thursdays and Saturdays, with registration at 12.30pm for a 1pm start. New and visiting bowlers are always welcome.

With spring approaching, a number of tournaments are scheduled across the Riverina. Bowlers interested in forming teams should keep an eye on the club noticeboard.

Upcoming events include:

Cootamundra Ladies’ 3-Bowl Pairs – 19 September

Young Open 2-Bowl Turnaround Triples – 23 September

Temora Mixed Pairs Tournament – 21–22 October

Harden Open 3-Bowl Triples – 7–8 November

The Gundagai tournaments will be held in October. Volunteers will be needed to assist with the running of these important events on the club calendar.

A reminder that Bowls will be the recipients of the Friday night meat raffles at the club in a few weeks. This will be an excellent opportunity to raise funds for future events. Members interested in helping with the raffles on a roster system are encouraged to contact Gail.

18/08/2026

Gundagai Services Bowling Club News
By Kitty McJack

Bowlers Back on the Greens!

It has been a refreshing change to see sunshine and bowlers back on the greens after a stretch of wet winter weather. Unfortunately, the Travelling Bowlers cancelled their visit to Gundagai, missing out on a perfect day for bowling with not a cloud in the sky.

Last Saturday, a spirited group of ten players gathered for social bowls, relishing the opportunity for companionship and fun. In an exciting game of triples, the team of Eric Weston, Lesley Attwood, and Wendy Nicholson faced off against Grant Duncan, Tom Wright, and Joan Dunn. Despite Grant’s team starting strong and taking an early lead, Eric’s team clawed their way back into the game. Ultimately, Grant’s teams lead proved too great, allowing them to secure victory with a final score of 24 to 16.

In pairs, the competition was fierce between Ben Reichel/Lynne French and Bronwyn Naughton/Terri Craig. Keeping everyone on the edge of their seats, the lead kept changing hands until the last end. However, Ben and Lynne managed to clinch a narrow victory, finishing at 16-13.

On the weekend, a team of Gundagai bowlers hit the road to participate in the Junee Jokers Qube triples tournament. Sharon, Armstrong, Paddy Murphy and Jodie Murphy made the trip across. Photographs shared on the Jokers’ page indicate that all participants enjoyed a fantastic time, showcasing the vibrant community spirit within the sport.

Looking ahead, the Riverina Murray Bowls Presidents Cup event is on the horizon, with Southern Highlands selecting eight Gundagai bowlers to represent our community. The teams include Tom French (skip), Mark Niemkiewicz, Bronwyn Naughton, and Jess Wright in one quartet, while Bob Smart (skip), Mick Houstein, Sharon Armstrong, and Ben Reichel will make up another. These matches are scheduled to take place at the West Wyalong S&C Bowling Club on the first weekend in September. Best of luck to all our bowlers as they take to the greens for this important event!

In community news, the bowlers will take over the Friday Night Meat Raffles at the club in a few weeks time. This is a great opportunity to raise funds for future events. Any members interested in helping out at the raffles on a roster system are encouraged to reach out to Gail.

Upcoming Events:

Social Bowls are held every Tuesday (10am for a 10.30am start), and Thursday and Saturday (12.30pm for a 1pm start). New and visiting bowlers are always welcome.

It's an exciting spring season, with various tournaments lined up across the Riverina. Interested bowlers should monitor the noticeboard for team opportunities. Upcoming events include:

Cootamundra Ladies 3 Bowl Pairs on September 19

Young Open 2 Bowl Turnaround Triples on September 23

Temora Mixed Pairs Tournament on October 21-22

Harden Open 3 Bowl Triples on November 7-8

Don't forget, our Gundagai Tournaments are scheduled for October. Bowls NSW is currently accepting entries for the Rookies Pairs and Mixed Pairs. Interested participants can head to the Bowlslink page for nominations.

Let’s keep the momentum going and enjoy this vibrant season of bowls!

15/08/2026

Bowls information Update 😊
Gundagai Services Bowling Club News
By Kitty McJack
Gundagai bowlers test their skills at State finals
Gundagai's lady bowlers have returned from the BCiB Women's Pennants State Finals after testing themselves against strong opposition from across NSW.
Although they did not progress, the Gundagai contingent produced several competitive performances, including a narrow opening-round loss to eventual finalist Lake Cathie.
In the first match, Terri Craig, Pam Watling, Jess Wright and Gail Rowland made a slow start and trailed Lake Cathie 8-1 after five ends. The Gundagai combination fought back strongly to level the scores by the 19th end, before Lake Cathie pulled away late to win 20-15.
Lesley Attwood, Di Brennan, Bronwyn Naughten and Helen Lott made a flying start in the other rink, racing to a 10-0 lead after five ends. They remained in front throughout the match and held off a late Lake Cathie challenge to record a 21-19 victory.
The overall result went down to the final end, with Lake Cathie prevailing 39-36.
Gundagai faced Aberdeen/Muswellbrook in round two, with Lynne French replacing Craig in Team 1.
Gundagai led 7-4 after five ends and still held a narrow 18-17 advantage after 19. However, Aberdeen/Muswellbrook finished strongly to claim a 21-18 win.
Team 2 trailed 10-3 after 10 ends but fought back to level the score at 11-all after 15. Aberdeen/Muswellbrook then found another gear, outscoring Gundagai 9-1 across the final six ends. The opposition secured the round 41-30 overall.
The final round pitted Gundagai against a young and well-drilled Merrylands outfit.
It proved a difficult encounter for Team 1, which went down 36-8. Team 2 fought hard but was also defeated, with Merrylands taking the match 59-26 overall.
Despite the results, the Gundagai women gained valuable experience competing against bowlers from other regions. A highlight of the week was meeting Australian representatives Karen Murphy and Aaron Teys, with the group managing to secure a quick photograph with the pair.
Social bowlers enjoy a different format
Tuesday's social bowls was a quieter affair, with nine of the club's women away contesting the State finals.
Mary McCormack, Wendy Nicholson and Leonie Maynard played a game of consistency, in which each bowler competed individually rather than in the usual team format. By all accounts, the final scores mattered less than the enjoyment of the game and the opportunity to sharpen their skills.
Saturday's social bowls attracted several visiting players, with two games of triples contested.
In the first game, Pete Robinson, Grant Duncan and Tom Wright lined up against Mick Houstein, John Holland and Wright, who played two bowls for each team. Mick's side took the honours 18-11.
Joe Bond, Carol Dowell and Rob Warner enjoyed a convincing 25-6 victory over G Purcell, Graham Luff and Wendy Nicholson in the second game.
Autumn tournament cancelled
Unfortunately, the welcome winter rain forced the cancellation of the club's Annual Autumn Tournament.
The travelling bowlers who had planned to attend will instead visit on Sunday, August 16. The club will be hoping for a fine winter's day and plenty of bowlers out on the green.

06/08/2026

Some smiling faces here 😊
Our lady bowlers caught up with Karen Murphy and Aaron Teys who were at the State Pennant finals.