Lawn Bowls
2 March, 2026
Horsham Golf complete iconic clean sweep
Horsham Golf created history in the Wimmera Playing Area weekend pennant grand finals on Saturday February 28, winning premierships in all three divisions.
In division one, Horsham Golf proved too strong for Horsham City, putting on a dominant display to win 91-46.
In division two, Horsham Golf led most of the way before defeating Nhill, while division three saw Horsham Golf prevail 51-47 in a thrilling contest also over Nhill.
Horsham Golf Club president and division two player Craig Turvey said he was proud of the club for a momentous season, winning four out of five premierships across both the midweek and weekend pennant competitions.
“It’s been a great week and an amazing season for the club,” Turvey said.
“To win division two in the midweek pennant was a great start.
“I obviously hoped we would win all three today but to get even two would have been fantastic.
“To win all three is just magnificent.”
Adding weight to the premierships was the resilience the club showed throughout the season.
“We have 44 players at the club and just 38 who were available for the weekend pennant to fill 36 spots across the season," Turvey said.
“We’ve had numerous players affected by illness and one of our members tragically passed away early in the season.”
In the division one match, Horsham Golf swept all three rinks, opening up the game after an initially close start.
In rink one, the team of Ross Barnett, Stephen Harris and Geoffrey Bald, skippered by Ash Batchelor, defeated the team of William Hogan, Graham McDonald and Duncan Bottoms, skippered by Ron Dolby, 31-19.
Horsham Golf’s rink two team of Robert Grieger, Heath Miller and Denis Ballinger, skippered by Gavin Walter, won 29-16 over City’s John Lehmann, Doug Mitchell and Kevin Smith, skippered by Kevin Clyne.
In rink three, Hayden Tucker, Danny Schmidt and Ken McClelland, skippered by Bradley Robinson, defeated Colin Morrell, Bruce Campbell and John Burchell, skippered by Anthony King, 31-11.
Rink skipper and team manager Ash Batchelor was ecstatic about the performance by the division one team and the club as a whole.
“I’m just speechless at the moment; it’s just unreal for the club,” Batchelor said.
“From end one to end 25, everyone bowled well, and the scoreboard proves that.
“To win by 45 shots against Horsham City, who have been the benchmark for many years, is amazing.
“But to get thee premierships in one day, that’s a first for the club – an unbelievable effort.”
In division two, Horsham Golf won two out of three rinks to redeem their semi-final loss to Nhill.
Nhill won rink one 28-23 as Charles Hickman, Bob Schneider and Shaun McDonald, skippered by Larry Bywaters, defeated Golf’s Chris Mellor, Dave Gove and Craig Turvey, skippered by Darryl Phillips.
In rink two, the Horsham Golf team of Iain McNee, Andrew Cowell and Murray Heard, skippered by Dennis Pye, defeated Nhill’s Pamela Cramer, Jeff Fritsch and Michelle Robins, skippered by Colin Alexander, 30-15.
Horsham Golf won rink three 24-15, as Jack Walter, Graeme Deleeuw and Adam Galpin, skippered by Marty Montgomery, defeated Jennifer Blackwood, Terry Robins, and Barry Morrison, skippered by Barry Schultz.
In division three, Horsham Golf won two out of three rinks to upset minor premiers Nhill.
In rink one, Horsham Golf’s Graeme Ough, Peter Broadbear and Raymond Schulze, skippered by Michael John, defeated Ian Marra, Ronald Beer and Robert Cook, skippered by Philip Henseleit, 22-11.
In rink two, Nhill’s Jeffrey Merrett, Bruce Beacom and Clint Beattie, skippered by Colin Pryor, defeated Horsham Golf’s Ian Jackson, Kenneth Dix, and Craig Bennett, skippered by Timothy Barber, 19-10.
Horsham Golf narrowly won rink three 19-17 as the team of Diane Dale, Margaret Smith and David Landwehr, skippered by Russell Smith, defeated Nhill’s Peter McDonald, Jock Bone, and Bruce Muller, skippered by Maurie Haby.
