Sims and Venn crowned State Sue Geeves Mixed Pairs Champions
Playing outstanding bowls all week, Ulverstone’s Michael Sims and Ali Venn were crowned Bowls Tasmania’s 2025 Sue Geeves Open Mixed Pairs Champions today in a tight grand final at the Burnie Bowls Club in a game that was not decided until the second-last bowl.
Strong and fluky winds made good bowling difficult. In an all-Ulverstone grand final, Sims and Venn skipped out to a three-shot lead after seven ends against their opponents, Tim Douce and Denise Fitzpatrick, but Douce and Fitzpatrick were back in front after nine ends. The rest of the game was very even with the scores locked together at 12 all after the mandatory 15 ends. With Douce and Fitzpatrick holding two shots on the extra end, the ever-consistent Venn put the jack into the ditch with a perfect weighted shot and Sims and Venn looked to have won the championship. However, Douce bowled a near perfect bowl with his last bowl to sit right on the ditch just inches away from the shot bowl. Sims did not have to play his last bowl, and Venn and he celebrated their nail-biting win by one shot.
In the semi-finals in the morning, Sims and Venn started strongly against Rob and Jess McMullen to lead by six shots after five ends and held on to win by two shots. Douce and Fitzpatrick only dropped two ends in convincingly defeating Baily Bellchambers and Lauren Banks by thirteen shots.
For all the results, click HERE.
Sectional play for the Bowling Arm Singles Championships was also held at Burnie today with section winners being David Sims, Bill Mottershead, Peter Thow, Sally Archer, Doug Smith, Tony King, Rod O’halloran and Geoff Buchannan.
Gala Week continues on Tuesday with sectional play in the prestigious Men’s Triples Championship being played at the Devonport Country Club and the Women’s Triples Championship at Burnie. Post-sectional play and semi-finals in the Bowling Arm Singles Championship will also be played at Burnie.
The championships conclude at Burnie on Wednesday.
