Meet the Mandurah APL Teams: Margaret River
Player Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September 2016 The Margaret River Bowling Club will be appearing in their 1st Mandurah APL Cup. A member of the Leeuwin Bowling League, Margaret River is 277 kilometres south of Perth in the heartland of Western Australian wine and surfing country.
Originally known for Hardwood Timber and agricultural production it wasn’t until the 1970’s that grape growing, wine production, surfing and tourism started to help transform Margaret River into the town it is now. With world renowned food and wine festivals, international surfing competitions and tourism activities including the famous Mammoth Cave located in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park; the Margaret River region is a place all Western Australians will visit at least once and then want to return time after time.
Affiliated as a bowling club in 1962 with President Mr B Boulter (hotel manager), Vice President Mr P O’Farrell (labourer) and Secretary/Treasurer Mr R Duncan (storekeeper) in charge, Margaret River were the proud owners of a seven rink couch green planted three years previously and a membership of twenty one men and twenty ladies.
Presently the Margaret River Bowling Club is like many country clubs with recent fluctuations in membership but ultimately a slight decline over the last few years with a 2015-16 membership of 35 men and 21 women. Now boasting a club house available for function hire and two synthetic greens, the club not only offers regular competition for club members but also two rounds of corporate bowls with one before Christmas and one in the new year..
For the 2016 Mandurah APL Cup Margaret River will be represented by Lyn Colmer, Leith Bussell and Colin Nairn. Margaret River will choose their 4th player through the APL draft; whether they choose a male or female player will be the mystery on draft night.
Lyn Colmer is the most experienced player having been a member of the Western Australian State Team in 2005 as well as being a Metropolitan Premier League Pennant winner in 2010. With numerous club, league and zone titles to her credit 2014 was an especially successful year at club level with wins in the club singles, pairs and triples championships. A solid 2016 with wins in the club and league fours was topped off by a terrific women’s countryweek ending with an equal 3rd placing in the blue ribbon singles event.
For the past 15 years Leith Bussell has represented the Margaret River Bowling Club with distinction within the League and the Zone. A two times club singles, triples and fours champion, Leith has been representing the Leeuwin League in Inter League Round Robins since 2000. A five times representative for the strong South West Zone in Inter Zone Round Robins, Leith has also represented the Zone twice in games verse the Western Australian State Team.
Colin Nairn is the relative newcomer to the team having first played in 2007. Beginning his bowls at neighbouring Augusta, Colin won the Augusta Club Novice Singles Championship in 2008, going on to finish 2nd in the Leeuwin League Novice Championships. In 2016 Colin almost took out his first major singles championship but had to settle for the runner up position in the Margaret River Club Singles.
While Margaret River may not have the names that some other competing teams are sure to have, if they can add a strong player through the draft they may cause a surprise or two. What is certain is they will represent the Leeuwin League with distinction and to the best of their abilities.
