Achievements

Lee Schraner again won the State under 30 singles played at Mulgrave on Premier Division grand final day. This time Lee defeated Michael Walker from Moama 25-22.

A couple of days earlier Lee chipped a bone in his right elbow which restricted his driving ability, but has was still able to carry off the trophy.

Lee has a remarkable record on this grand final day, having won the Vic under 25 singles title, 2 Vic under 30 singles titles, and two Premier Division premierships, one with Altona and the other at Bundoora.

State Finals
Mario Cipolla, John (Benny) Vrantsidou, Brian Wintrip and David Cox represented Yarra Group in the last 16 of the State Fours Championship at Hampton. After winning their first two games on the Monday, they backed up again and won their way into the final against Ashley Bates from Wodonga. After giving their opponents a huge start, they finally hit the front but were not able to sustain the charge. A great effort nonetheless.

Mario Cipolla, Peter Russell and David Cox (substituting for Benny Vrantsidou) represented the Yarra Group in the last 16 of the State Triples held at Warrnambool, but unfortunately went out in the first round against the current title holders, who actually went on and defended their crown.

Lee Schraner and Nick McIntyre also contested the State Pairs finals at Mornington. Having defeated two opponents on the Monday, they defeated Nigel Brennan and David Shortal from Glen Eira McKinnon the next morning and progressed to the final that afternoon.

After an extremely tight contest, Lee and Nick held match against T Fraser and M McDonald, from Hastings, but their opponent drew second shot with the last bowl of the championship to clinch the title.

Commonwealth Games Practice
Bundoora was asked to provide match practice for the Australian Commonwealth Games Squad on Wednesday 15 February, on the grass greens at Darebin City. So the format was 9 end sets play in singles, pairs and triples, on an 8 rink green running approx 11.5 seconds. Regardless of the set score a tie breaker was also to be played to give match practice.

Kelvin Kerkow defeated Nick McIntyre. Nathan Rice and Barrie Lester defeated Lee Schraner and Keith Fraser. Mark Casey, Wayne Turley and Bill Cornehls defeated Norm Bamford, Luke Aiello and Matt McArthur. All games were won in straight sets, but Bundoora won the three tie breakers.

In the afternoon session, Schraner defeated Kerkow 2 nil, in what was a huge upset. Rice and Lester defeated Aiello / Russell and Casey, Turley and Cornehls defeated McIntyre, Bamford and McArthur. Again Bundoora won the tie breakers.

While the ozzie boys had been practicing there for some weeks, which provided a significant advantage, there was no doubting their talent, and Bundoora may well have played them into form.

Group events
Nick McIntyre was runner up to Brian Richards (Darebin City) in the final of the Yarra Group Singles.

Nick McIntyre and Lee Schraner won the Yarra 11 Pairs defeating Steve Duncan and Frank Whillans from Ivanhoe.

Mario Cipolla, John Vrantsidou and Peter Russell won the Yarra Group Triples with David Cox substituting for Peter on the final day. They defeated Lee, Nick and Luke to make it an all Bundoora final.

Mario Cipolla, John Vrantsidou, Brian Wintrip and David Cox won the Yarra Group Fours, defeating fours players from Hurstbridge.

Lee Schraner defeated David Bolton in the Yarra Group under 30 singles competition.

Nick McIntyre and Jessie Eva (Richmond Union) won the Yarra Group Mixed Pairs for the second year running, defeating Lee Schraner and Gloria Deveson.

So Bundoora players had qualified for the last 16 in the State Pairs, Triples and Fours, as well as the under 30 singles and the mixed pairs.

Skipper's premiership
Lee Schraner with his rink again won the skipper's premiership for the best performed skipper in Premier Division. Lee won 12 of 15 starts, and had 3 incomplete games due to inclement weather. For the greater part of the season, Mat McArthur led, Michael Barca played second, and Mario Cipolla or Keith Fraser played third.

Group championships

Bundoora had six players contest this teams event, representing the Yarra Group played at Corowa in January 2006. Lee Schraner and Nick McIntyre skipped rinks, Luke Aiello played 3rd, while Mario Cipolla, David Cox and Peter Russell all leading for their respective rinks. Darebin City had nine representatives, with one player from Ivanhoe.

Yarra won all three of their preliminary rounds, knocking out Central Victoria by 19 shots, Metro South East by 5 shots, and Maroondah, the 2005 winners by 46 shots. Yarra defeated Yarra Valley Nepean in the semi final by 7 shots and then disposed of Metro North by 11 shots in the final.

This was only the second time that Yarra had won the championships.

Club Championships
Lee Schraner won his third Club Singles Championship defeating Nick McIntyre. This was revenge as Nick had beaten Lee the previous week in the quarter finals of the Yarra Group Singles. Lee won 25-14, and now progresses as the Bundoora representative to the singles Champion of Champions series.

Mario Cipolla and Max Phillipson defeated Benny Vrantsidou and Brian Wintrip in the final of the Club Pairs.

Lee, Mario and Peter Russell defeated Graham Findlay, Levi Lower and David Harden in the Club Triples.

Richmond Masters
Matt Kurta progressed to the semi finals of the prestigious Richmond Master Singles tournament. Matt was defeated Charlie Hayes (Queensland State representative) Ray Jansen also made significant headway in the event but was also defeated by Hayes. Hayes lost the final to Barry Close.

State representatives
Nick McIntyre was finally promoted to the senior state side having played a few years in the under 25 Development Squad. Nick won selection for tests against ACT, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales.

Lee was also selected for those test series, and it seems that they are destined for continued success.

Season 2004/05
Premiers
Bundoora won the premiership by defeating Darebin City in the RVBA Premier Division played at Mulgrave. The Bundoora side completed an outstanding season by winning 14 home and away games from 17 starts. Bundoora lost the second semi final to Darebin City, and then defeated reigning premier Melbourne to earn another shot at Darebin and the title.

In perfect conditions, and on a slightly two paced green, Bundoora led by 15 shots for most of the afternoon, and still led by 13 with 10 ends to play, 9 with 9 remaining, and then 6 shots with 3 to play, and protected the lead to grab the premiership.

Bundoora have had some incredibly close tussles with Darebin over the last 3 years with Bundoora holding a 6-2 win loss record, although there has never been a great deal between the sides.

Lead	Second	Third	Skip	Score
B Wintrip	M Cipolla	L Aiello	A Galloway	18 - 19
P Russell	F Riggio	B Reiner	L Schraner	22 - 14
M Parravicini	M Barca	J McIntyre	N McIntyre	28 - 20
J Hankinson	J Vrantsidou	L Perrin	K Fraser	19 - 32

Skippers premiership
During the season Lee Schraner grabbed a record for the most consecutive wins by a skip in Premier Division. Lee won 13 games on the trot, although over the last two seasons. And in the current season Lee took out the skippers premiership with 13.5 wins from 17 games. Peter Russell and Frank Riggio played lead and second in all of these games, with Keith Fraser, Michael Parravicini, John McIntyre and Brent Reiner playing in the third position at various stages.

Adam Galloway came in 3rd place on the skippers table, with Nick McIntyre also in the top 12 of 65 skippers used this season.

Club Champion
Brent Reiner won his first club singles championship by defeating Adrian Marchioli in a high-class exhibition. Adrian only joined the club this season and has rapidly climbed through the ranks. It was second time lucky for Brent when he won the crown. Having won that he then waltzed through with the group Champion of Champions singles title.

Group matches
Lee Schraner put up a terrific fight in the RVBA Group 11 singles final against Marc Brunato from Darebin City, going down by only 2 shots. Michael and Chris Barca were runners up in the Group 11 pairs to Marc Brunato and Peter Marget, also of Darebin City.

Michael, Chris and Peter Thomas lifted the Group 11 triples from fellow Bundoora players Lee Schraner, Adam Galloway and Mario Cipolla.

Brian McArthur and Ken Wilkins won the Group 11 Over 60 pairs competition, while Lee also won the Group 11 under 30 singles crown.

Early season news announces that Adam Galloway and Nick McIntyre were again selected for the Under 25 development squad. Then news arrived that both Adam and Lee Schraner were selected to represent Victoria in a match against Queensland. Adam becomes Bundoora's second "open age" State representative.

Season 2003/04

Victorian Under 30 singles championship

Lee Schraner also won the State Under 30 singles championship, by defeating Neville Rodda at Sunbury on 23 March 2004. Both players started cautiously, before Neville opened up a lead of 13 to 6. Lee scored the next 14 shots to regain control before closing out the game 25 - 17.

The game was played beside the rinks of the Premier League Grand Final in blustery conditions.


Leeroy selected for Victoria

Lee Schraner has the honour of being the first Bundoora player to be recognised by being selected in the senior side to play against New South Wales in February 2004.

Lee was going to be there anyway, as he'd previously been selected in Victoria's Under 25 development squad.

But now he's in the big league. No doubt his performance at the Group sides championships at Corowa, and his RVBA pennant form have held him in good stead.

He was also named in the Victorian side to play in the Australian Sides Championships at Tweed Heads.

Club Champions
Dot Weddell recently won the ladies club singles championship with a great win over multiple past winner, Gloria Deveson. In a great game, Dot came out on top with some magnificent grass green bowls.

Lee Schraner won his second club singles title at Bundoora with a hard fought victory over past winner Mario Cipolla. Good luck to both our singles winners as they represent our club in the Champion of Champions!

Ladies Master Singles win
Gladys McLaughlin recently ploughed through a number of State renowned bowlers to take out the Victorian Ladies Masters singles title. She defeated W Hay from Keysborough in the 3rd round, then State Junior Champion Jessie Eva in the quarter final, and S Connolly in the semi final.

Daphne had taken out Ringwood's Gordana Baric to earn a shot at our Gladys but the Bundoora champion won 25 - 19 to break through for her first major tournament victory.

Gladys is a regular in Bundoora's VLBA top side.

Victorian Masters Pairs
And there was further success at State level when Monica Mark and Lyn Thomas were successful in winning the Ladies' Victorian Master Pairs championships for season 2003/04.

Richmond Masters
Tom Ristic acquitted himself admirably by making it through to the quarter final of the 128 man masters field held annually at Richmong Union. Tom had the satisfaction of knocking out 4 players, which included another Bundoora player Luke Aiello.

Luke won some bragging rights when he drove at a head and sent the jack flying a waist height through a floor to ceiling glass window.

Under 25 State Development Squad 2003/04
Congratulations again go to Adam Galloway, Lee Schraner, and Nick McIntyre for making the Under 25 State Development Squad for the current season, as well as being named to compete in the test series against South Australia played at Moama late October 2003.

Lee and Adam teamed up again in the pairs, and were joined in the fours with Nick, who played third with Brendan McCallum who played second. Nick also played as second in the triples. The Vics won the series 2 test to 1.

In February 2004, Adam and Nick took on New South Wales, where three tests played in an 8 a side fours competition. NSW won 2 test to 1, with the Vics having narrow losses by 1 and 2 in the last two tests.

Season 2002/03
And there's more success

Norm Bamford, acting as a substitute for Peter Ford, and Lindsay Perrin have won the age 60 and over Group 11 pairs competition. Then Lindsay and Peter went to Stanhope to claim the State Pairs title in the age 60 and over category.

And then to stretch the success even further Ken Wanden, Norm Bamford, Peter Ford and Lindsay Perrin took out the age 60 and over Group 11 fours competition. Well done guys.

Bundoora storms into playoffs and Premier Team avoids relegation
Bundoora has enjoyed its best season ever, with five sides in the post sectional playoffs, and solid performances all round. The Ladies' No 1 side travelled to West Coburg in the last home and away round to defeat the section leaders and claim the Division A 1 section 2 pennant. While the Ladies' No 2 side who dominated Division A 2 section 2, closed out their home and away season with another win, this time against second placed Maribyrnong Park. This team had the section sewn up a couple of weeks ago previous.

Bundoora's Men's teams have also closed out the season very well, with the Premier League side avoiding relegation, and 3 other teams into the post section playoffs.

Bundoora's No 1 side were to play Werribee on the synthetic green, but a hailstorm at approx 1.00pm saw the green flooded and the start delayed. Surface water eventually drained and the game got under way at 2.45pm, but further rain saw the game abandoned. This completed a roller coaster ride during season, where many players will have gained from the experience of playing at the highest level in the metropolitan area. This was a truly amazing Premier League season, all teams deserved to remain in the elite competition, yet unfortunately two teams are sent back to Division 1.

Bundoora No 2 had another resounding win again, but failed to catch section winner East Ivanhoe. The Bundoora boys finished second, and remain in Division 2 next season. Bundoora No 3, 5 and 6 all finished on top of their sections, which ensure a busy finals campaign, as well as promotion to higher Divisions next season. Bundoora No 4 fell at the final hurdle finishing second, but still earned promotion.

Bundoora appeals against RVBA Match Committee Penalty.
Off the field the club was successful in appealing a ruling of the RVBA Match Committee to strip match points earned by the Premier League side. Altona and Yarraville / Footscray also found themselves in a similar situation with player registration irregularities. Together the clubs sought legal advice, and forged a bond to tackle the appeal.

The Clubs had 6 representatives and legal counsel in attendance, against the RVBA with 6 members of the Rules, Appeals and Umpires Committee, 2 members of the Match Committee, a magistrate to assist with legal matters and opposing counsel. At the conclusion of the full days hearing the Chairman imposed fines of token amounts on all clubs in lieu of the match point penalties, which surely would have placed Bundoora in the relegation zone.

Under 25 Development Series against New South Wales
Victoria defeated New South Wales by 3 tests to nil between 17-19 February 2003. Bundoora's Lee Schraner, Nick McIntyre and Adam Galloway were in the 8 Victorian players competing, as groups of 4 players per rink. Matt Kurta was also initially selected, but was unavailable to play.

Club Singles Championships 2002/03

Congratulations to Lyn Thomas and Tommy Ristic on winning the respective Club Singles Championships. Lyn defeated Gloria Deveson (runner up for the last two years) in the VLBA event. While Tommy defeated Brent Reiner on the club's synthetic green in the RVBA Affiliated section. This was the first time the synthetic green had been used to determine the championship. Congratulations to all players on making the finals.

Group 11 Pairs 2002/03
Congratulations to Lee Schraner and John McIntyre on defending their Group 11 Pairs title, which ironically was held at Bundoora. A number of Bundoora teams qualified for the second day's play at Fairfield, but only Lee and John, together with Justin Short and Brent Reiner made it through to the final day.

As luck would have it both Bundoora teams won their semi finals, Lee and John just got over Barry Close and Craig McCarron, while Justin and Brent had an easy win over Chris O'Meagher and Nigel Brennan.

Unfortunately the final was a bit one sided with the defending champions successful again. Nevertheless congratulations to both sides.

Group 11 Triples 2002/03
Congratulations to Mario Cipolla, Luke Aiello and Adam Galloway on winning the Group 11 Triples Championship. They defeated another Bundoora team in the semi final, and came up against Terry Bain, David Dawes and Ray Jansen (Kew Heights) in the final. After a tight opening the Bundoora boys poured on the pressure to win 18 - 9 with one end in hand.

Under 25 State Development Squad 2002/03
Congratulations to Adam Galloway, Lee Schraner, Matthew Kurta and Nick McIntyre for making the Under 25 State Development squad. This automatically ensures a State Trial in October. Adam, Lee and Matthew will also contest a test series against South Australia in Moama late October 2002.

Adam will skip the pairs with Lee leading, and they will be joined in the fours with Brett Spurr playing third and Matt playing second. Brett and Matt will also play triples with Barrie Lester leading. Barrie will also play singles. Barrie and Lee fought that terrific final in the Under 25 State Championship last season.

Under 25 Development Series versus South Australia
Victoria competed against South Australia at Moama from 20 to 23 October 2002.

The Victorians won 3 tests to nil. The series saw singles, pairs, triples and fours played each day. Victorians won each test with a score or 3 games to 1, although many of the games were very close. The Victorians lost only 3 games by a total of 7 shots.

The Bundoora Bowling Club are very proud of their 3 representatives - Lee Schraner, Matt Kurta and Adam Galloway.

Season 2001/02
Metropolitan Pennant 2001/02
Congratulations to the players in the topsides of the Mens and Ladies competitions for winning their respective sections, and qualifying for the playoffs.

The men were successful in winning their Grand Final against Sunbury with the scores 104 to 71.

The Age said 'The youthful Bundoora team raced away from Sunbury in the division one grand final at Keilor yesterday. Sunbury, having lost its first semi-final to Bundoora, was simply flattened again.'

Lead	Second	Third	Skip	Score
D Weir	B McArthur	L Schraner	A Galloway	40 - 12
B Wintrip	K Wilkins	N Bamford	J McIntyre	27 - 14
C Barca	P Russell	L Aiello	M Kurta	23 - 20
T Ristic	M Barca	J Aiello	M Cipolla	14 - 25

There are eight sections in the A1 Division of the Ladies' competition. Our girls won their section and won their quarterfinal, but were narrowly beaten in the semi final, by the eventual premiers. A great effort!

Championships 2001/02

Congratulations to Lee Schraner, and Gladys McLaughlin on winning the respective Club singles championships at Bundoora this last season.

Lee went on to become Group 11 singles champion, and then progressed through to the semi finals of the Champion of Champions - a singles competition for all current club champions in Victoria. A terrific result.

Lee also won the Victorian under 25 singles championship. With the score tied 23 all, and two shots down on the head, Lee drove out both of Barry Lester's bowls and claimed victory.

Lee and John McIntyre won the Group 11 pairs, and qualified for the Metropolitan Pairs Championships.

State Pennant Championships

The Men's premiership side played in the Division 1 State Pennant Championships at Moama 3 to 5 May 2002, and won 4 or their 5 qualifying games, losing only to Altona the eventual winners.


The team need to win its last game by an extra 3 shots to play off for the championship. We had a chance of making 5 on the second last bowl, but that didn't eventuate.

That was a huge let down, and no doubt it was difficult to get pumped up for the playoff for 3rd and 4th. Bundoora lost that playoff, but all things considered it was a terrific weeekend.