Top bowlers from around Victoria hit Moama at the weekend.
Some of the leading men in the sport were in town for an Australian Indoor Championships qualifier.
Six clubs, including Moama Bowling Club, hosted men’s qualifiers, while a further four venues held women’s qualifiers, both taking place at the weekend, May 31 and June 1.
Five Moama, two Echuca, and one Tongala representative made up the local contingent at the Moama qualifier, players taking part in three-person group stages on the opening Saturday.
The top player from each of the 15 sections would qualify for finals, taking place on Sunday.
Moama’s Brock Keenan, Peter Campbell and Matt Robertson all progressed out of their sections and into the knockouts, as did Tongala’s Bradley Tinning.
Fellow Moama representatives Jacob Brighton and John Worledge, along with Echuca’s Steve Cunnington and Phillip Thorn, didn’t progress.
In the round of 16, an unfortunate draw saw clubmates Robertson and Campbell facing off against each other, Robertson advancing in the deciding third set.
Tinning also advanced, while Keenan was defeated by Essendon’s Koby Cromie.
Cromie would go on to win qualification, taking down remaining local hopes Tinning, in the semi-finals, and Robertson, in the final, to book his spot at both the Victorian and Australian Indoor Championships.
Cromie took the final in convincing fashion, 11-2, 13-4, Robertson unable to muster his best after a marathon day of bowls.
At Karingal, Moama bowler Olivia Cartwright progressed from the bracket to add local representation to the women’s qualifying group.
The Victorian Indoor Championships will be held at Chadstone Bowling Club on Saturday, July 19.
Regardless of the results, the 10 men and 10 women who qualified at the weekend will also be present at the Australian Indoor Championships in Tweed Heads in August.