A strong start in the first four games proved to be the edge needed to clinch the title of this year’s Redlands Retirement Village Shield.
Eight teams took part in the annual Redlands Retirement Village Shield held in August, but victory escaped seven of the teams as Tranquil Waters earned the right to have their name engraved on the coveted lawn bowls trophy.
Held in conjunction with Seniors Week at Salford Waters Retirement Estate at Victoria Point, the competition saw the teams come together for the friendly, yet competitive clash.
After bowling regularly two days a week, the Tranquil Waters team were quietly confident, according to team member Margaret Cassidy.
“We are very competitive and we hadn’t won for a few years,” she said. “We were quietly confident and realised when the first four games set us up.
“The first four we won by big margins and I turned to the team and said: ‘I think we could win this’.”
The team - comprised of Margaret, Graham Bray, Barry Moore and Janice Sichter - ended the day tied at 34 ends with Aveo Village.
The results reverted to the shots won with Tranquil Waters winning at 76 shots to Aveo’s 66.
Thrilled with the win, Margaret said the team triumphantly returned to Tranquil Waters, trophies and shield in hand, singing along to ‘We are the Champions’.
While the competition saw many returning winners, it too had those looking for a first time win.
Wellington Manor player Keith Redpath said their team gave its all, but was unable to secure its first victory in the competition.
“It was a very enjoyable day – a friendly competition, but one everyone was striving to win,” Keith said.
“Unfortunately we’ve never been winners and weren’t yesterday either, but we didn’t disgrace ourselves. “The closest we have got was the year before last, when we were one point away from winning.”
The competition is run on the basis that the team who wins acts as host the following year. Tranquil Waters will now host the event for 2018.
Wellington Manor team member Norma Forrest had positive words for both the hosts and winners.
“We had a lot of fun – it was a really good day and the lunch put on by the hosts was really good,” Norma said.
“The winners from Tranquil Waters deserved it – they are really nice people.”