Lawn Bowls
27 January, 2025
Albrecht and Watson crowned Champion of Champions
Judith Albrecht (Dimboola Bowling Club) and Gavin Watson (Sunnyside Bowling Club) were crowned the Wimmera Playing Area Lawn Bowls Champion of Champions at the Horsham City Bowling Club on Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26.
Albrecht defeated Jillian Coutts of the Sunnyside Bowling Club, while Watson defeated Allan Thompson of the Coughlin Park Bowling Club.
The Champion of Champions is a competition contested over a weekend between all Wimmera Playing Area Region club champions.
The ladies' entries were Judith Albrecht (Dimboola), Jillian Coutts (Sunnyside), Pamela Cramer (Nhill), Karen Shawcross (Serviceton), Wendy Sleep (Coughlin Park), and Maree Van Kempen (Kaniva).
In round one, Coutts defeated Maree Van Kempen 25-20, and Albrecht defeated Cramer 25-19. Coutts defeated Shawcross 25-14 in the semi-finals, and Albrecht defeated Sleep 25-11. In the final, Albrecht defeated Coutts 25-14.
In the final, Albrecht took an early lead and extended it to lead 24-12 at one point, one away from victory. Coutts fought back valiantly and won two consecutive ends, but Albrecht held on to win her second Champion of Champions title.
"It's a good feeling to win," Albrecht said.
"When I was one away, I thought I only just needed one, and I got one."
When asked what she loves about lawn bowls, Albrecht pointed out the social aspect.
"It's a good social game," Albrecht said.
"You meet many different people from different clubs that you wouldn't normally come across, and it's just good socially."
Entries for the men were Matthew Anderson (Goroke), Kevin Clyne (Horsham City), Mick Coutts (Natimuk), Russel Crouch (Kaniva), Darren Gebert (Nhill), Robert Grieger (Horsham Golf), Peter O'Loughlin (Dimboola), Roger Osborn (Edenhope), Allan Thompson (Coughlin Park), Ian Tink (Serviceton) and Gavin Watson (Sunnyside).
In round one, Crouch defeated Osborn 25-16, and Tink defeated Coutts 25-15. Thompson defeated Anderson 25-14 in the quarter-finals, Crouch defeated Tink 25-18, Watson defeated Gebert 25-24, and O'Loughlin defeated Clyne 25-21. Thompson defeated Crouch 25-13 in the semi-finals, and Watson defeated O'Loughlin 25-9.
In the final, an electrifying game was played between Thompson and Watson. In a topsy-turvy match, it was neck and neck. Thompson had the lead 13-12, but an end won by Watson put him up 14-13. Thompson took the next end to lead 15-14 before Watson fought back to lead 16-15.
With his last bowl, Watson won that end to extend the lead 17-15. Then, when the scores were 20-15, Thompson bowled an amazing bowl, which Watson matched in the following bowl.
Watson continued his momentum to win 25-15 in a memorable finale. This was his first win on his third attempt after being knocked out in the first round on both occasions.
Watson was thrilled after the win.
"I am exceptionally thrilled to finally win something like this and thrilled to be representing the Wimmera Playing Area going forward. I hope to do them justice and win or lose, I will give it my best shot and hopefully get some support in some way, shape or form," Watson said.
"Winning this doesn't mean you're the best player in the Wimmera. The way the system works is that you must win your club event before contesting this. I am the champion of champions, and I am thrilled.
"I think it feels like an acknowledgement of the effort you put in. I am fairly loud, and when my back isn't hurting, I run down the green like a bit of a Yahoo, and I think some people think I am a goose and things, but it's validation that people can say, 'Hey, the guy can bowl a little bit as well', and I am pleased about that."
Following his previous first-round exits, Watson said he felt he had a chance to be the champion of champions entering the semi-final.
"You want to bowl as well as you possibly can. You can say you can try your best, but that's an oxymoron, and your best is your best," Watson said.
"I played well on Saturday, and I thought I was a chance if I brought a similar effort. You don't think you will win, and I knew I was two wins away.
"Allan played fantastic. He was a credit to the Coughlin Park Bowling Club. No game is ever easy, and winning your club event to get here is significant, and winning multiple matches was fantastic.
"When you score high double figures, it says you are right in the game, and it was an excellent performance by both of us."
When the lead was 20-15, Watson said he was starting to get nervous.
"I already had a sore back, and my legs started going, and yes, you do get nervous in those situations," Watson said.
"If I lost, I certainly wouldn't have used it as an excuse, but honestly, it was hurting a lot.
"At that last end, I got four, but Allan could also easily have gotten four, and he would have been only trailing by two and right back into the match.
"Until you are shaking hands, nothing is achieved."
