The big scores continued during the week at the Orange Tenpin Bowl, led by another onslaught from the usual suspects in the Monday Scratch Singles, with Mark Lijic, Steve Reil, June Reil and Jason Belmonte all shooting well over 1200 for the six game series.
League leader Lijic topped the quartet with a 1277 block, rolling games of 206-259-222-205, coming home with 686 for his last three games.
June Reil continued her brilliant form in the league, including a centre record four-game block recently, with a nice 1243/6 series. Reil started brilliantly with games of 252-206 (650/3) then finished the night with 207-204.
Steve Reil was also in bright form, shaping a 1254 series. After a slow start Reil shot a hot middle block of 239-213-245 (697) before a disaster in game five. He recovered in the last game though, adding a 234.
Junior City champion Jason Belmonte fired an early 200 game then closed out with 224-235 (641/3) for a 1226 six game set.
On a night of high-scoring there were a number of other good games including Chris Collins who opened with 215-202-217 (634/3) and Wally Price 223-209 (610/3). Also doing well were James Dubbelde 227, Les Gunner 233-222 (614/3), Tim Irwin 222 and Mick Moorby 222-247-201 (607/3).
Jonathan Thatcher blitzed the field in the Sunday Restricted Singles with games of 208-204-233 for an 837/4 series. Other good games were bowled by Brian Shaw 212, Tony Irwin 204, Bob Waddell and Mick Moorby 219.
In the Tuesday Ladies Singles Rhearne Trudgett fired a 259 game ahead of Marilyn Schwenke 203, Melanie Brown 203, Sharon Trudgett 232 and Tennille Smith 214.
Allan Priest shot a 212 in an unidentified league while Melissa Johnston shot a great 225 game in the Monday Mixed Singles which was 81 pins above average.
Personal best games this week were recorded by Roger Qummou 140, Kathy Qummou 107, Matthew Ripps 150, Duncan Jepson 148, Tania Caltabiano 125, Eileen McClure 112 and Angela McClure 117.
***
The second round of the South-West zone Country Challenge was held at the Dubbo Bowl last weekend with the Orange teams performing reasonably well in the competition, with the women's team moving from third to second and the men doing the opposite, slipping from second to third. Scores seemed below average for most players on apparently tough lane conditions.
Bonnea Wiseman did best for the women's team, averaging173 in winning six of nine games. Dianne Gee averaged 168 and five from six matches while Marilyn Schwenke finished with a 160 average but had tough opponents, winning just three of ten games.
The opposition was much friendlier to Judy Streatfeild and Gwen Britt who both managed to win six of nine games, averaging 155 and 154 respectively. Lyn Handel was well below her bets, shooting a 143 average and winning three matches.
The team went into the round in third place, 20 points behind first, and climbed to second but are now 24 from the leaders Canberra. Bathurst crashed from first to third ahead of Wagga, Dubbo and Mudgee.
He men's team started the weekend in second spot, just six from the lead but slipped to third and now trail the front-runners Wagga by 14 points. Previous leaders Canberra dropped back to second while well behind Orange are Dubbo, Bathurst and Mudgee.
For Orange, Alan Collins and Wally Price did well, averaging 188 and 187 respectively. Collins won six from eight and rolled games of 210-244. Price won seven of nine games and shot high games of 215-222.
The other players for Orange all bowled around the same. Their averages were Henry Phillips 179, Ken Wiseman 178, David Hayward 177 and debutant David Rosser 172.
High games from those bowlers were Hayward 210-212 and Phillips 200-236.
The next County Challenge round will be in Orange on the weekend of 8-9 May.
Upcoming events include the New South Wales Country Championships at the Bankstown Bowl this weekend and the New South Wales Country Tenpin Open in Orange next weekend.
The Country Open is worth $5,870 and 41 entries have been received to date. Those players will roll ten games in next Saturday's qualifying round with the top 32 players returning on Sunday for a further six games.
At that point the field will be cut to the top ten who will roll another four games before a final cut to the top five. The top five then contest a stepladder final to decide the winner who will walk off with $1,000 cash, a trophy and shirt and free entry to the year 2000 tournament.
There is a good representation from local bowlers with Mark Lijic, currently holding the centre's highest average, one of the leading prospects. He finished third in last year's event. Also expected to be fighting for a place in the top ten are Jason Belmonte (winner of the recent Country Masters), Jason Brown, 300-shooter Jason Osborne, Steve Reil (4th last year), June Reil (6th last year) and last year's leading qualifier David Hayward.
Out-of-town bowlers include William Hoole (4th in the Country Masters), State rep Mark Donaldson, Tony Murray (winner 1999 Liverpool Cup), Chris Groot (9th last year) and Donald McCrae.
John Leo, ball driller from Nu-Vision Bowl in Chester Hill, with 30 years experience will be in attendance over the weekend to answer any questions about your bowling equipment.
Another tournament to watch out for is the 1999 Bathurst Mountain Skins on 22-23 May worth $3,000.
***
Photo of the winners from the recent Gutterstopper Championships:
Left-to-right: Jessi Channon (3rd), Nicky Meyers (2nd), Amanda Harvey (1st), Matthew Cox (1st), Roger Qummou (2nd) and Joseph Fedele (3rd).
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