By KATH GANNAWAY
HEALESVILLE BOWLS
HEALESVILLE Bowling Club’s Corporate Challenge has been won for a second year by the dynamic BarZup team.
The success of the event, now in its third year, has bowled everyone over – organisers and players.
“We had 20 teams playing on two rinks and will be running another challenge in February, because we have had so much demand,” said bowls club organiser, Charles Hort.
Teams of three players pay $10 each to play in the Wednesday evening competition which brings together businesses ranging from retailers and professionals to tradies and bespoke businesses like BarZup which operate a portable bar for events and parties.
Owner Geoff Stock said the Corporate Challenge had become a Wednesday night ritual.
After playing cricket together the BarZup team jumped at the chance to try their hand at bowls.
Geoff said the format with each business playing a different business each week was great from a business point of view, but that it was also a really good family-friendly night out.
“It’s a great each week getting around and meeting people in the local community, the people who really make the town tick,” he said.
“During winter when you bump into people down the street, you have that connection and people really miss it during the winter months.”
Mr Hort said the event will help pay for replacement of the $150,000 synthetic green that will need to be replaced in about 10-years’ time.
“It’s not just about the fund-raising though, it’s also a fun night and it’s great to have all these bowlers on the greens and seeing them enjoying the game so much,” he said.
They have also gained a few new members for the club.
Most people are new to the game and the bowling club members are assigned on the first couple of nights, or when new players stand in for a team, to show them the basics.
“A lot of people are finding out that there’s more to the game and perhaps they thought, and they enjoy the challenge as much as the social event,” Mr Hort said.
The club runs a Twilight Bowls session on Wednesday evenings that is open to anyone who wants to play the game but not get involved in competition bowls.
Anyone businesses wanting to sign on for the Summer Corporate Challenge should contact the club on 5962 2093.
