Lawn Bowls
22 January, 2025
Clyne adds club singles to illustrious career
On Saturday, January 4, and Sunday, January 5, Horsham City Bowler Kevin Clyne finally achieved something that has alluded him for 35 years - a Club Singles Championship.
Clyne defeated Colin Morrell 25 shots to 17 to secure his first club championship crown after being runner-up five times in the past.
A former pastry cook, Clyne ran the Warracknabeal bakery before moving to Horsham. While running Clyne's Bakery, now known as Brumby's in Horsham, one of his employees invited him to play bowls, and he started in 1990.
Clyne is regarded as one of the Wimmera's top bowlers, and when you look at his resume, you can see why.
At the Horsham City Bowling Club, he has been a Pairs champion on 12 occasions and a fours champion on 13 occasions. He has won 15 weekend pennant titles and two midweek.
In the Wimmera Bowls Association, he has been a pairs champion of champions three times and a fours champion of champions four times.
In the group three category, he has twice been champion in pairs and triples and a fours champion on five.
He has been a fours champion in the Victorian Country and runner-up in the fours championship.
He has had most of his success in the State Championships.
He won singles in 1996, 2005 and 2006, was a pairs champion in 1997, 1998 and 2001, triples in 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2023, and 2025, and a fours champion in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2025.
In 2004, he won the over-50s champions triples and champion of champion triples. He has also won the state over-60 pairs four times, in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023, and the over-60 singles once in 2020.
Clyne reflected on his career and said the club singles win meant everything.
"It meant the world to me, especially being runner-up on so many occasions," Clyne said.
"It's the one that everyone strives to win because it's special being a club singles event.
"A lot of people were happy for me. I have been bowling for a long time, and finally, winning is special."
In the final, Clyne got a 24-12 lead. He described the final and how he was nervous.
"It was horrendous conditions being windy," Clyne said.
"Gusts of wind shifted the ball off course, and it was difficult to bowl in. I had a nice patch during the game.
"We were neck-and-neck until 9-9, and then the next seven or eight ends, I got a run on, and I got to 21-12, and then when I got to 24, and he was on 12, I started to get a bit nervous.
"He ended up getting to 17, and finally, I won the measure on the last end to win 25-17.
"Colin has won it eight times in the past, and I have been a runner-up to him before, so finally getting the win is special."
RECORD OF BOWLING ACHIEVEMENTS - KEVIN CLYNE
HORSHAM CITY BOWLING CLUB
Singles: 2025.
Singles runner-up: 2006, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2022.
Pairs Champion: 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2019, 2022.
Fours Champion: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024.
Division 1 Pennant: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021, 2022.
Midweek Pennant: 2022.
W.B.A
Pairs Champion of Champions: 1994, 2001, 2006.
Fours Champion of Champions: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005.
STATE
Singles Champion: 1996, 2005, 2006.
Pairs Champion: 1997, 1998, 2011.
Triples: 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2025.
Fours: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2025.
Over 50s Champion Triples: 2004.
Over 50s Champion of Champion Triples: 2004.
VICTORIAN COUNTRY
Fours Champion: 2000.
Fours Championship: Runner-up 2000.
Over 60s Pairs: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023.
Over 60s Singles: 2020
GROUP 3
Champion Pairs: 2008, 2011.
Triples: 2011, 2015.
Fours Champion: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2015.
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