Goulburn Murray Bowls Region combatants have been decided upon for the upcoming summer of bowls.
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The newly-named Goulburn Valley Playing Area and Murray Playing Area are comprised of essentially the same clubs as the Goulburn Valley and Murray bowls division competitions were.
Some ex-Central bowls division outfits have moved across to join the ranks of the Goulburn Valley for the upcoming season though, as part of the revamped Bowls Victoria region structure which was designed to streamline the work of volunteers and administrators.
The GMBR boasts more than 2200 bowlers and will have 24 clubs in the GV playing area and 13 in the Murray ranks.
Alexandra, Yea and Eildon — along with the full complement of Seymour and Seymour VRI teams — are the additions to the GV area.
The teams comprising each division for both playing areas will be confirmed in the coming week, with the recent Victorian coronavirus lockdown scuppering any chances for a meeting.
But some decisions have already been made about the structure of each competition.
The top five GV weekend pennant divisions will be 16-a-side, the next two 12-a-side and the final division eight-a-side.
The top five midweek pennant divisions — to be played on a Tuesday — will all have 12-player teams and division six will be eight-a-side.
In the Murray ranks, the weekend pennant structure will move to 12-a-side and create an extra competition.
Division one, a pair of division twos and division three will hold this structure, with division four hosting eight-player teams.
Midweek pennant —- on a Friday — will be two divisions of 12-player teams.
As recently reported, the GMBR board has also been set, with Alan Rogers elected president and Stephen McGregor secretary.
Ann Argent, Grace Kenworthy, Archie Ellis, Joe Luci and Marg McDonald will join them on the board this summer.
“The majority of bowlers will hardly notice any changes to their usual routine, whilst it may take a while for clubs to get used to the new routine of administration via the region, everyone will eventually accept these changes as the best for bowls,” Rogers said.
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“The purpose of the new region is to maintain the high standards of those volunteer administrators who came before and continue to organise and run bowls within our large region.
“Whilst both playing areas will run along similar lines and the same playing dates for both pennant competitions and state games there will be some slight variations required.
“Although already played on the weekends in Murray in a move from the tradition in the Goulburn Valley playing area of playing state games during the week, all state games both male and female will be held on weekends, thus further accommodating all bowlers.
“(This is) apart from the 60-and-over games which will be conducted on weekdays to accommodate a lack of weekends to fit games in as required by the Bowls Vic schedule.
“The addition of five clubs from the former Central Bowls Division — Alexandra, Eildon, Seymour, Seymour VRI and Yea — into the Goulburn Valley playing area will add a slight strain on travel distances for some clubs, however, it will also add additional competition thus invigorating the area.”
GOULBURN VALLEY PLAYING AREA
Alexandra
Avenel
Colbinabbin
Dookie
East Shepparton
Eildon
Euroa
Hill Top (playing pennant as Tatura-Hill Top)
Kyabram
Merrigum
Mooroopna
Mooroopna Golf
Murchison
Nagambie
Rushworth
Seymour
Seymour VRI
Shepparton Golf
Shepparton Park
Stanhope
Tallygaroopna
Tatura (playing pennant as Tatura-Hill Top)
Violet Town
Yea
MURRAY PLAYING AREA
Barooga
Berrigan
Cobram
Finley
Jerilderie
Katandra West
Nathalia
Numurkah
Numurkah Golf
Picola
Strathmerton
Tocumwal Golf
Wunghnu
Shepparton News editor