Players representing champion clubs across the region got on the highway and made a sizeable trip to Gippsland for the prestigious Victorian Open over the course of last week.
Tallygaroopna dynamo Mitch Sidebottom is no stranger to taking his talents out to the biggest stages and he presented at the ready in three competitions across the nine days of action.
Where his star shone brightest was in the mixed pairs where he formed a duo with Carla Miles of Shepparton Golf, ordinarily a rival outfit.
The GVPA all-star twosome made it out of sectional play despite a setback in group stage play, advancing all the way to the semis before falling to Melton duo Chelsea Pollock and Todd Trewarne in a 10-9 heartbreaker.
Had the two advanced to the decider, they would have met some familiar faces in Moama’s Cass Millerick and Kevin Anderson, who ultimately claimed the top prize.
He would actually align himself with Moama in a technical sense, teaming with fellow Redleg David Daws alongside border bowler Matt Robertson in a men’s triples side which went all the way to the final two.
On the lush greens of Traralgon Bowls Club, though, Sidebottom would again find himself on the losing end against Anderson, whose trio took gold in a handy 17-7 win.
Striking out on his own, Sidebottom also competed in the men’s singles and yet again moved out of his block into knockouts.
It wasn’t to be at the deep end, however, as international representative Matt Flapper managed to just pip him 21-20 in a round of 16 epic.
Summing up a week of elite quality bowls, Sidebottom was satisfied.
“Tally has no female members at the moment, but I’d teamed up with Carla at the GV mixed pairs and made the final there,” Sidebottom said.
“We lost one of our sectional games where it was hard outside with the slow greens, but once we got indoors onto carpet, we bowled exceptionally well.
“Definitely, the top end of players around here can compete anywhere around the state; to do it at Traralgon just goes to show the strength of the area.
“It was fantastic to see some familiar faces in the deep end.”
The Goulburn Valley gun made a stark admission as to his fortunes in the game, though.
“I’ve always been better at singles than team events — not that I want to be, but I can just get out on my own,” Sidebottom said.
“I lost a very tight game against Matt Flapper, who’s played for Australia multiple times. He was just better than me in the big moments, but I walked away with my head held high.
“Carla played outstanding bowls, and likewise with Daws and Robertson in the triples; we played some terrific games along the way.”
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