Longest-running sponsored event holds up its end at Denison

The 51st edition of the Kailis Australia Day weekend carnival was a hit at Denison Bowling Club.

The event’s five-decade history makes it the longest-standing single sponsored event in Australia, a fact the Denison Bowling Club and Kailis family are proud of, and its popularity continued this time around, with 30 sides converging on the portside venue.

Teams from throughout the State including Carnarvon, Kellerberrin, Mingenew, Three Springs, Mullewa, Geraldton, Northampton, Wonthella, Leeman, Jurien Bay and many metropolitan squads, travelled to the seaside location to participate.

On the day, it was the composite foursome skippered by Carnarvon’s State titleholder and former junior representative Cory Day that reigned supreme, the young gun joined by father Nigel Day, John DeCastro, formerly of Carnarvon and now a Wonthella member, and Mullewa star Paul Johnson, to take five wins and 42 shots in the six-round event.

The quartet, in fine touch all event, ending with the highest aggregate return, were among the top half-dozen on the leaders’ table all weekend, with an average winning margin of just over eight clearly separating them from the quality field.

While player numbers fell by 24 this year, the 120 who took to the three greens created many highlights, with signs the 2022 tournament will be back to capacity.

Conditions were ideal, with the consistent greens allowing every bowl in the book to be played with confidence.

Joe Criddle is club captain at Geraldton Bowling Club.