Lawn Bowls
27 January, 2025
Watson achieves his greatest victory
After being knocked out in the first win on two occasions while contesting the Champion of Champions, Sunnyside Bowler Gavin Watson has finally made it to the top step in his third attempt, defeating Allan Thompson on Sunday at the Horsham City Bowling Club to become the Wimmera Playing Area's male Champion of Champions.
Watson began his bowling career in 2001, when he was in his late 30s, when his father-in-law, Harold Colbert, encouraged him to play.
Watson was playing tennis for Quantong while he was living in Horsham at the time. Although he had no connection to Quantong, his wife, Lyn-Dell, did, and he filled various committee roles over the years.
The club was losing players, and after a while, Watson thought he needed a break. After a few games with Harold, he gave Harold a hard time, and Watson said that's when he took it up and explained why Bowls is a brilliant game.
"Harold was playing at Sunnyside at the time, and when I had a few games with him, he said, 'Why don't you have a fair dinkum crack?' I thought, 'why not,' and I have not regretted it," Watson said.
"Bowls is a brilliant game. We lose a lot of people due to age and death, but it's an excellent game and generally has great fellowship.
"It's a game where you can play from 10 years to 103 years old. It's a game where three generations can play and have played, and even four could in the grand scheme of things."
"It doesn't exclude anybody. You could be six foot, four foot, big, skinny, on the plus size, but still play as everyone can play bowls."
"Bowls are expensive, but once you get them, you don't need to change, and it's an affordable game to play."
Watson defeated Kevin Smith in 2011/2012 for his first club championship. He then lost to Smith in 2016/2017.
Watson recalled that win.
"When I defeated Kevin, he was the champion of champions and reigning title holder, and it was a real thrill to defeat him," Watson said.
"Everyone expected him to defeat me, and after the photo was in the player, I had people call me, and they said it was no disgrace to lose to him, but they didn't read the caption as it was Kevin congratulating me, so I got a good laugh out of it."
Watson has been the Sunnyside champion in the last two seasons. This season, he defeated John Ackland, his division one skipper.
"I play third to John. He is the boss, orders me around, and tells me what to do. That's good because I need some corralling sometimes," Watson said.
The win on Sunday was by far Watson's biggest win, and he said it's great to win something good finally.
"I am exceptionally thrilled to finally win something like this and thrilled to be representing the Wimmera Playing Area going forward. I hope to do them justice and win or lose, I will give it my best shot and hopefully get some support in some way, shape or form," Watson said.
"Winning this doesn't mean you're the best player in the Wimmera. The way the system works is that you must win your club event before contesting this. I am the champion of champions, and I am thrilled.
"I think it feels like an acknowledgement of the effort you put in. I am fairly loud, and when my back isn't hurting, I run down the green like a bit of a Yahoo, and I think some people think I am a goose and things, but it's validation that people can say, 'Hey, the guy can bowl a little bit as well', and I am pleased about that."
"I can't remember my first event win, but I have been runner-up many times."
"One year at the AGM, someone said in jest, 'Gavin, you are a loser.' I said, 'I am unbelievably proud to be runner-up four times as it's hard to get to the finals, and it means I got there four times."
Watson recalled the lowest point in his career when his wife, Lyn-Dell, passed away in 2017.
"Playing in a grand final after my wife died was unbelievably difficult," Watson said.
"I wanted to win for her and dedicate that to my wife, and unfortunately, we didn't win. It made me really sad as I was so keen to win, but life goes on, and it has.
"Lyn-Dell would have been pleased and proud of my achievement, being the Champion of Champions."
Watson now has another partner, Laura, who lives in South Australia. He said she is incredibly supportive of him.
"Laura has been awesome and is the first one to tell me you have this, and she is understanding," Watson said.
"You can take great pride and not win, and I guess today I was able to win, and even if I had gotten beaten, I would have been pleased, but winning does feel better."
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