We're back into it this week after a very productive off season for a number of Western District Bowls Division clubs.
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City Memorial's new carpet green and impressive roof structure have been completed with many divisional bowlers already having a roll under the "Dome" with extremely positive feedback.
Warrnambool has replaced both of its greens over the winter and has almost finished the new paving surrounding them.
Koroit is part way through the upgrade to their club rooms and is hoping this will be completed early in the season.
The season actually kicked off at the end of September with a number of divisional over 60s events. The men and women's singles champions were Neil Crisp (City) and Brenda Hawker (Warrnambool) defeating Arthur Finch (Timboon) and Maureen Drennan (Dennington).
The over 60s pairs championships went to Pauling Burleigh and Moria Cocknel (City) defeating Marion Terweek and Sandra Suridge (Lawn Tennis) 15-8. The men's event was won by Allan Sullivan and Graeme Unger (Koroit) defeating John Murnane (Koroit) and Hank Pelgrim (Warrnambool).
Last weekend the division women's triples was won by a City team comprising of Pauline Burleigh, Moria Cocknell and Kate Lloyd defeating Brenda Hawker, Marie Dalton and Marita Dalton from Warrnambool 21-9.
As reported earlier this week the Koroit team of Scott Boschen, Brian Lenehan and Peter Daly took out the men's title from Peter Pangrazio, Barry Crimmin and HankPelgrim (Warrnambool) 18-10.
The women's and men's division fours championships are on Sunday at Lawn Tennis and Dennington.
Movement of players within and into the division has been at a premium this year, some of the changes include Shayne Pudney and Gil Vorwerk to Timboon, Bryan Sheehan, Faye Duffield, Tom Spokes, Kevin Carlin, Matt Solly, Maria and John Maher to City, Murray Bartlett, Martin Brown and Greg Howlett to Lawn Tennis, Darren Page to Terang, Ken Crosbie and Shane Cashill to Mortlake, Mick McCallum to Dennington and Hank Pelgrim, Paul Howard, Brenda Hawker and Chris McMahon to Warrnambool.
Weekend pennant will kick off on Saturday with a return to a 14-round competition.
A major change will also be introduced in the top division with three rink teams and not the traditional four rinks.
This change has been discussed over a number of years and finally got the required number of clubs on side to implement it for the first time. There will also be five divisions within the competition for the first time since 2004-05.
First division will see last year's grand finalists City Red and Koroit Blue play each other in the opening round at City. Another close game should be Warrnambool Gold, which is hosting City Gold.
Division two will also see last year's grand finalists City Blue and White play each other under the "Dome" on Friday starting at 5pm.
Midweek pennant will start on Tuesday with little change.
In clubland, Warrnambool has crowned its women's singles champion this week, Brenda Hawker defeated Brenda Parke 25-15.