Record-breaking Scottish lawn bowler and widely acclaimed GOAT (greatest of all time) Alex Marshall will contest Rich River’s rich annual five-a-side bowls tournament later this week as part of a team being put together by Moama Premier League star Kevin Anderson.
Rochester skips Tim Quinlan and Merv Harvey have both entered teams into the event, which starts tomorrow (Wednesday).
Garth Wiffen is the only other Rochester bowler involved, as a substitute for a Rich River team that has an unavailable player on day one of the tournament.
Anderson, himself Scottish, will combine with Marshall, Liam Fleming, John Worledge and another bowler of Scottish origins, Stuart Whyte, for the $5000 two-day event on February 16 and 17.
And with the Bowls Premier League event being staged only four days later, from February 21 to 25, there may be more big names set to contest the five-a-side event.
Tournament director Peter Moon said this was the first time the club’s premier event had attracted a world champion.
Marshall has won five Commonwealth Games gold medals across a 16-year stint representing Scotland.
He is a seven-time outdoor and 14-time indoor world champion.
Moon said with only five spots remaining in the 20-team tournament there was every chance, depending on the commitments of BPL players, that it could attract more BPL combatants.
Marshall will play with the Brisbane Pirates in the BPL event, facing off against Anderson and his Moama Steamers team of Ryan Bester and Natasha Van Eldik.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we get another team or two from the BPL. They will need to be quick because there are only five spots left and I am waiting on confirmation from a couple of clubs,” Moon said.
Three teams from Mathoura, Anderson’s Moama team, two Rochester teams, a Tocumwal team and a couple of Rich River combination teams are also competing.
Decorated Rich River bowler Stan Barker, who is having a year off from skipper duties with Rich River, will combine with leading Moama skip Kevin Brennan to form the base of another team.
The four that was skippered to the final of Tongala’s RE Dick event by Trevor Nagorka will be back for the event — including Colin Hayes, Eugene Xodo and Graeme Moffatt — combining with former Rich River bowler and now leading Echuca lead bowler Ashley French.
Moon said the event would have bowlers contesting all disciplines, and at some point all in the skipper’s role, with singles, pairs, triples and fours competition.
Moon and Bill McEwan have run the five-a-side tournament for the past six years.