Big bowls season set to start in Mid West as Batavia league expands competition

The Batavia Bowling League season will begin early next month with the annual mixed Wildflower Fours at Mullewa.

Wonthella will hold its Ladies’ Open Fours a week after Mullewa’s event runs on August 7, with the men hitting the park on August 28 at Wonthella for the Open Fours, a weekend that has grown in strength in recent editions as metropolitan sides travel to take part.

Denison, Northampton and Geraldton will take centre stage with men’s and women’s open tournaments throughout September, giving players multiple outings before the official home-and-away season.

With local stars now starting pre-season build-up, the open events will feature increased competitiveness as all eyes turn to the premier fixture, the pennants.

A Wonthella side featuring bowlers like Paul Williamson, Paul and Michael Walton, Kerry Easton, Mark Adam and David Melling will be one to watch. Additional squads from Wonthella and Denison mean the men’s premiership will return to 10 sides this season, with 200 players taking to the park across two divisions each week.

The home-and-away season for the men has been extended almost a month, with the grand final series to follow the annual country week carnival on March 26-27 at Denison on the new synthetic greens. Women’s grand finals will be in February.