Central Highlands bowlers created history on Sunday by winning the elusive Courier Shield for the first time, breaking a drought of more than 30 years.
“This was a terrific and well-deserved victory,” said Central Highlands men’s team manager Gary Dickenson – a former CHBD president and life member – after accepting the elusive shield after the round-robin contest between teams from Ballarat, Central Highlands and Goldfields divisions.
Current CHBD president Glenn Arthur felt it was fitting that Dickenson received the shield after his 20-year involvement waiting for this breakthrough to occur, adding his congratulations to all concerned. CHBD secretary Ian Guymer was also thrilled with the team’s performance after so many near misses since the shield event originated in 1988.
Ballarat division bowlers have usually dominated the annual shield event apart from Central (now in a different region) breaking through occasionally.
Central Highlands has gone close before, as Dickenson well recalls, but Sunday’s effort at Dunolly will now live long in the memory of players, officials, selectors and supporters.
The CHBD players were buoyed when Ballarat struggled to gain momentum in the early games. Entering the final round of matches, the CHBD and Goldfields were tied on points, with Ballarat three behind.
With the pressure on, Central Highlands rinks won three of their last four matches and finished clear-cut winners on 15 points, to capture the shield from Ballarat on 11, and Goldfields 10.
The Central Highlands women’s team also played well in the Complete Shield contest, being defeated by Ballarat by one point (16 to 15) with the outcome in doubt until the last matches were completed.
The history-making CHBD men’s side of 16 players was:
Dean Warner, Ethan Higgins, Phil Minniti, Dan Willis (s), Sam Rogers, Mark Smoljo, Aaron Young, Matthew Bacon (s); Tanner Dickson-Arthur, Troy Williams, Richard Dwyer, Tim Rogers (s); Craig Evans, Adrian Plowman, Peter Linehan, Mark Godbolt (s).
After the presentations, it was announced that eight CHBD players – the most ever – were in the men’s regional side to play at Traralgon later in the season. Those selected were Tim and Sam Rogers, Matthew Bacon and Ethan Higgins (all Gisborne), Dan Willis and Tanner Dixon-Arthur (Bacchus Marsh, and Mark Godbolt and Peter Linehan (Lancefield).
Desma Budd and Christine Plowman (both Kyneton) and Bev Holmes (Lancefield) are in the women’s regional side to play at Swan Hill.
