Inexperience no barrier as Goulburn Railway Club claims second place

Up against 27 other teams, many of whom had decades of combined experience, Tilley and Burns had each played lawn bowls for less than three years.

"They are relatively new bowlers, approximately three years each, and Carol is their more experienced player," Goulburn Railway Club ladies' president, Cheryl Corby, said.

"I watched some of their games, they have very big margins, and it was very exciting for us to have them here."

For their efforts, the Goulburn team took home the second-place prize of $1,200, having only been beaten by the composite team of Jenny Clark (Marylands), Leanne Smith (Oak Flats), and Kim Suckley (Dapto Citizens).

This was the second time the composite team won the tournament and they took home a $1,500 prize for their efforts.

"To all of you bowlers, lovely ladies, who have come here to support this club, it's been wonderful," Suckley, the captain, said.

"We've met some lovely people again, every time we go to these tournaments we meet more people and make more friends, it's just fantastic."

Throughout the course of the weekend, 84 bowlers plied their trade on the Goulburn Railway Bowling Club greens, with a great variance of skill and experience on display.

"I think it went fabulously well, we had 84 players from a wide variety of places," Corby said.

"The bushfire-ravaged areas still managed to get here. Malua Bay and Tomakin as well, so it was just fabulous, a big effort."

The effort from clubs across the state to attend the tournament, Corby said, was indicative of the sense of community within the lawn bowls society.

"It's the community of bowlers, we just enjoy each other's company and support each other," she said.

"They'll come to our club and play, we'll go to their club and play."

Most of the bowlers in attendance were pleased with the weather, which held up well despite looking ominous on Sunday morning.

The tournament's two major sponsors were the Goulburn Mulwaree Council and the Gullen Range Wind Farm.

Goulburn council mayor, Bob Kirk, attended the presentation ceremony after the competition had concluded and congratulated the players and the club on a great weekend of bowls.

"Congratulations to everybody but congratulations to the bowling club to the great tournament just put on," Cr Kirk said.

"That you attract bowlers from all over the place, we love it when people come to visit us and stay and play and enjoy the hospitality from all over town."

A report on the men's tournament, which took place across Thursday and Friday, will be published later this week.

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