The duo clinched the Des Notley memorial classic pairs championship at City Memorial Bowls Club yesterday.

Although they have youth on their side, Hodges, 39, and Bush, 24, said their ages could sometimes be a handicap.

“It probably doesn’t help us that much,” Bush laughed.

“We’ll go out and have a good night and then have to play the next day, while the others were tucked up in bed.

“We all enjoy ourselves and that’s the main thing.”

The Geelong pair won each of their six games in the tournament. The third last, played yesterday morning, almost tipped them over, with the pair stealing victory by just one shot.

They were two down on the last end and managed to score three shots to win.

“It was close,” Hodges said.

“Nathan and I haven’t played together before but we gelled really well here. We both have a similar style of bowling and have a lot of fun.”

Bush and Hodge played Geelong premier league togther in different clubs.

Bush was a late call-up to Hodge’s entry. The Highton bowler had a few players lined up, but they were unable to commit to the event.

On Saturday night he rang Bush, who jumped at the chance to come to Warrnambool.

“It was a move which paid off,” Hodges said.

“It won’t be the last time we will be playing together.”

The pair defeated Ballarat’s Barry Clark and Eric Kosloff in their last game 18-11.

A total of 56 bowlers played in the two-day event, which was trimmed from its usual three-day form this year.

Tournament chairman Bruce Collie said the competition was likely to maintain its two-day format.

“In the past we’d play three solid days of bowls then people would travel home on the Friday and then have to play pennant on the Saturday. It would wear them out," he said.

“But this year we have had a lot of positive feedback about making it a two-day event. We will probably keep it that way.”

Victorian skipper Matt Flapper and his partner, Ocean Grove’s Paul Cameron, were runners-up.