THE Bendigo pair of Amelia Bruggy and Andrew Brown went one better than last year, but couldn’t crack it for the state title after going down in Friday’s mixed pairs final at the Bowls Victoria State Championships.
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On the final day of the state championships competition at the Bendigo East Bowling Club, Bruggy and Brown – representing Bendigo-Campaspe – were defeated 21-12 by the Ovens and Murray team of Les Spencer and Laureen Smith.
Brown and Bruggy finishing runners-up comes 12 months after they were third last year.
Scheduled to go over 18 ends, the game was over after 17 when Spencer and Smith held an unassailable nine-shot advantage.
For the winners, it was an emotional victory, with Smith forced to substitute in for the ill Joy Johnson.
“I had big boots to fill substituting in for Joy and it’s great to be able to win it for her… luckily I was able to put a few good bowls in,” Smith said.
Smith and Spencer broke the final wide open on the 13th end when they picked up six shots to take an 18-10 advantage.
The Bowls Victoria State Championships will be played at Bendigo East again next year.
2016 Bowls Victoria State Championship winners:
Men’s Champion of Champions Singles – Paul Twyerould (Rosebud).
Men’s Singles – Phillip Thorn (City of Echuca).
Men’s Pairs – Dan Irwin, Mike Irwin (Heathmont).
Men’s Triples – Jamie Pearce, Chris Ball, Nathan Murray (Yarraville/Footscray).
Men’s Fours – Cameron Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Nathan Wilson, Anthony Flapper (Essendon).
Women’s Champion of Champions – Carla Krizanic (Sunbury).
Women’s Singles – Chloe Stewart (Kyneton).
Women’s Pairs – Desma Budd, Amy Gloury (composite).
Women’s Triples – Nicole McKenzie, Marilyn Forrest, Robyn Dennis (San Remo).
Women’s Fours – Mikayla Long, Lisa Trewarne, Tiffany Brodie, Carla Krizanic (composite).
Mixed Pairs – Laureen Smith, Les Spencer (Club Mulwala/Yarrawong Mulwala Golf Resort).
Leading Region – Ovens and Murray.