Sport
6 February, 2026
Long hot spell: why round was abandoned
THE LONG hot spell last week was the reason for the cancellation of Bendigo Playing Area pennant bowls last Saturday.
The abandonment of the round caused raised eyebrows, given that the competition played a week earlier when neighbouring associations did not as the temperature soared above 40 degrees.
Goldfields and North Central playing areas took to the rinks last Saturday after cancelling their matches the week before.
Bendigo area president Vicky Tierney said the prolonged heat in the days leading up to Saturday’s cancellation was more dangerous than the weather in the run up to the Australia Day long weekend.
“We have a duty of care to our players,” she said.
“People sit at home in air-conditioning all week and we expect them to get out in 38-degree heat.”
Tierney said the association’s Conditions of Play stipulated that if the forecast was for 38 degrees or above at 11am on the day of play, the matches were brought forward to earlier in the day, which was what the Bendigo competition did on January 24.
Last Saturday was the final day of a week-long stretch of temperatures around 40 degrees in the region.
“We decided to apply our duty of care, and Campaspe region did the same,” Tierney said.
The cancellation of round 13 may have serious implications for those teams fighting for the finals or trying to avoid relegation, with only one round remaining in the home and away season.
BRIDGEWATER
With the Bendigo Association’s heat policy coming into play, it was only Bridgewater’s Goldfields side who fronted up on Saturday, hosting top-of-the-table Highlands Black for a 9.30am start.
It proved to be one of the Goldfields side’s best performances of the season, pushing the ladder leaders all the way before eventually going down by just 10 shots overall.
The standout rink on the day was the quartet of Chris Brooshoft, Tim Bryer, the ever-improving Ray Simons and Geoff Papworth, who produced a superb display to record a 21–18 victory. Papworth, in particular, turned in his best game of the year leading up front.
With the final home-and-away round this Saturday, Bridgewater’s Division 5 side hosts Bendigo, and a win would secure the all-important double chance heading into the finals series.
INGLEWOOD
Division 1 found Golden Square too strong and will now finish in last spot, with relegation looming unless a miracle occurs next Monday in Bendigo Monday pennant.
Best rink on the day were Rhonda Gallagher, Pam Kelly, Arthur Harrison and Ian Chamberlain (skip) winning by seven shots
Division 4 had a great win against the Golden Square team and kept alive their chances of finishing off the bottom of the ladder.
They play Bendigo at home next week and are not without a chance.