Unley Park Bowling Club (2026)

30/03/2026

2026 ARCH GROSVENOR ROTATING PAIRS WON BY "RUSTY" IAN
Although the morning was chilly and overcast, twelve players participated in Saturday’s Arch Grosvenor Rotating Pairs tournament. The competition was closely contested, with Graham Silvy and Ian Russell tied after five rounds, each winning 13 ends. According to tournament rules, a roll-off took place, and a measure determined Ian as the winner by the narrowest margin. Congratulations to Ian, and commiserations to Graham for his valiant performance. After President Trevor presented the trophy, participants enjoyed a BBQ brunch. Congratulations to Ian and many thanks to Alf and Derek for organising the event. It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable day for everyone.

14/03/2026

WEATHER GODS STAY TRUE AND STANDARD STAYS HIGH

Hi Night Owlers,
The good folk at the Bureau of Meteorology have been taking a fair bit of flak lately about their forecasting wizardry, but credit where it’s due — last night they absolutely nailed it. A cool, pleasant evening with barely a whisper of wind… just about perfect for rolling a few bowls. Three cheers for the weather gods (and the radar)!

As for the competition, it must go down as one of the most evenly fought nights of the season. The scores were so close you could almost measure them with a toothpick:

Only three teams failed to win a round

Five teams finished with scores of seven points

And, with the exception of Unbelievabowls ( Peter, Ella & Margot) every team managed to shuffle either up or down the ladder — proving that nothing in this competition stays still for long.

We had two winners on the night, with Eight Balls (Mark, Cong & Chris) and The Nickel-Nackles ( Dan, Xin & Peter) both rolling their way to impressive scores of 11. Well done to both teams!

The Nickel-Nackles have used that effort to leap back to the top of the table, a perch they haven’t occupied since Round One, while Eight Balls have bounced back into the top four after a brief holiday outside it last week.

Meanwhile, down the other end of the ladder the race for the wooden spoon is becoming just as intense. At present Unbelievabowls are holding a narrow lead (or perhaps that should be deficit) over Rolling Rovers (Rob, Trish & Gaby), while the surprise packet of the night, Three B’s (Bob, Barry & Roger), produced a terrific score of 10 to climb one spot — though they are by no means out of the spoon discussion just yet.

With only three weeks left in the season, the signs point to a thrilling finish — both for those chasing glory at the top and those doing their best to avoid unwanted kitchenware at the bottom.

We also can’t let the report pass without another huge thank-you to our Super Chefs, Jane and Stuart, who once again proved that bowls isn’t the only thing being served up in style. This week’s supper was a beauty:
Fish Tacos with Pineapple Salsa, and for the vegetarians Falafel with Salad. Frankly, if the bowling doesn’t improve, at least the catering keeps getting better!

Next Week’s Raffle Donor: The Club.
Things must really be looking up — either that or the committee found a few spare dollars down the back of the clubhouse couch.

Thought for the Week - “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” — Helen Keller

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,

Malcolm
Editor in Chief 🎳

11/03/2026

Can't wait for week 7 Night Owls where the competition is getting fiercer...what an awesome atmosphere last week with three super talented cooks for Supper Club - Beth, Stuart, and Jane. The Raffle was pretty amazing The Club being the generous donors. Love the grins of Gary and Derek having a blast as spectators this week

05/03/2026

PERFECT WEATHER NEGATES EXCUSES AS THE LAST LAP IN SIGHT

Hi Night Owlers,

With the first half of the season now behind us, every team has had the chance to play each other at least once. From here on in we head into the business end of the competition as the run toward the finals begins.

Last night’s weather could only be described as perfect, so unfortunately the usual excuse of “the conditions weren’t on our side” doesn’t really apply. That leaves the usual alternatives — bad luck, tired legs, sore backs, late nights, fringe shows, or perhaps a quiet celebration that ran a little long. Take your pick!

As always, the competition was fiercely contested. Six teams shuffled one or two places up or down the ladder, while the other half held their ground. The biggest moves were from Semi Delectables (Horris Victoria & Graham), climbing two spots into fourth place, while Eight Balls ( Mark, Chris & Cong) slipped three places to share that same position.

This week’s top performers were The Wiggles (Gaby, Phil & Trevor) and The Nickel-Nackles (Daniel, Xin & Peter), both finishing with an excellent score of 11. Congratulations to both teams on some superb bowling. On the night it was announced that The Wiggles were the sole team with that score, but a later check of the scorecards revealed that The Nickel-Nackles had matched it. Our apologies for the oversight — the vouchers are on their way!

At the other end of the table, the race for the much-talked-about “spoon” continues to heat up. Three B’s (Bob, Rob & Barry) lifted their game with a score of 6, leaving Unbelievabowls (Margot, Peter & Ella) as early favourites for that particular honour.

Meanwhile, our Super Chefs Stuart & Jane once again kept everyone well fed, serving up a delicious Chicken Tagine with Couscous, along with a vegetarian option of Stuffed Capsicum — both very well received.

With the season moving along quickly now, make the most of these last few weeks before finals time arrives.

Next Week’s Raffle Donor: The Club — the Treasurer must be feeling generous!

Thought for the Week - “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing.” — Aristotle

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,

Malcolm
Editor-in-Chief 🎳

26/02/2026

GROUND HOG DAY WEATHER BUT HOT COMPETITION
Hi Night Owlers,

Well, what can we say — another absolutely perfect Wednesday evening! Last week we wished we could bottle that weather and order it weekly… and somehow, we did. Whether it’s the Bowling Gods or Father Gary pulling the strings, we’re not asking questions — we’re just grateful!

Those ideal conditions certainly brought out the best in everyone. This was arguably the most evenly matched night of the season so far. Only two teams — Fun Owls (Ian, Robin & Siew) and Unbelievabowls (Peter, Ella & Margot)— missed out on a win, and only two teams managed the clean sweep, The Wiggles (Phil, Trevor & Derek) and Bluey (Nick, Jodie & Gary). It really doesn’t get much tighter than that!

With things so close, there was very little movement on the ladder. This week’s top honours went to The Wiggles with a terrific score of 11, hotly pursued by Bluey on 10. Congratulations to both teams on outstanding performances.

Down the other end of the table, the race for the (ahem) highly sought-after Spoon is heating up nicely. Three B’s (Bob, Barry & Roger) put in a strong showing with 8 points to draw level with Unbelievabowls, who’ll be keen to bounce back next week. And let’s not forget Rolling Rovers (Rob, Trish & Gaby), sitting just two points clear — still very much in the mix. It’s competitive wherever you look!

A big thank you to our Super Chefs, Jane & Stuart, who dished up a delicious “one fits all” Cashew Curry with rice. It certainly hit the spot and was enjoyed by all — superb effort once again.

Next Week’s Raffle: Kindly provided by the Club — thank you in advance.

Thought for the Week: - “Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,

Malcolm
Editor-in-Chief

23/02/2026

PERFECT WEATHER BUT HOT PLAY ON THE GREEN!
Hi Night Owlers,

Weather? Absolutely perfect — just what the doctor ordered. Not a whisper too hot, not a breath too cold. If only we could book that every Wednesday.

The competition, however, was anything but gentle. It was cut-throat out there, with an extremely competitive night producing tight heads, careful measures and the occasional “how did that get there?” moment.

Taking top honours were the Semi Delectables (Horris, Victoria & Graham), who powered their way to a terrific score of 11 to claim the night’s prize. The reward for all that effort? Remaining parked in 6th spot on the ladder! Proof, if ever we needed it, that this competition gives nothing away easily. Well done to them.

The biggest ladder wobble came from the Fun Owls (Ian, Robin & Siew), who slipped from 2nd to 5th after posting a 5 — a reminder that one tricky night can shuffle things dramatically. Meanwhile, the Nickel-Nackles (Dan, Peter & Xin) bounced back into the top four with a strong score of 10, clearly deciding they preferred the penthouse to the mezzanine.

At the summit, Yesterday’s Heroes (Janice, Erich & Neil) continue to hold top position, while the Bowleroos (Bima, Tom & Malcolm) have quietly edged their way back into 2nd place. Remarkably, eight teams again shifted either up or down the ladder — which tells us this comp is tighter than a last-end measure.

Down the other end, the Three B’s (Bob, Rob & Roger) continue to “consolidate” their spoon position. From personal observation, I can report it’s not for lack of effort — just a touch of misfortune. Expect that tide to turn; the bowls gods can only look the other way for so long.

Upsets seem to be the theme this season. So if your team had a wobble, don’t lose faith — next week could be your headline moment.

Off the green, our Super Chefs Stuart and Jane once again delivered magnificent hamburgers that were as good as you’d find anywhere — possibly better. McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s may wish to keep an eye on this emerging powerhouse. A new fast-food empire could be forming on rink nine.

Next Week’s Raffle Donor: Team The Wiggles — a big help to the Treasury Department. Thank you!

Thought for the Week: - “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,
Malcolm
Editor-in-Chief 🎳

14/02/2026

Some snaps to capture the colour behind the scenes of the third week of Night Owls, where Rob Thomas caught a sunset so gorgeous it'll make you cry and Stuart and Jane are back to whip up exotic suppers that'll make your taste buds do the happy dance - always something to look forward to. Thanks Editor-in-Chief Malcolm for your insightful post below.

13/02/2026

HOT COMPETITION IN WEEK 3'S COOL BREEZE

Hi Night Owlers,

What a difference a breeze makes! After the recent heat, last night’s cool, breezy conditions were a most welcome relief. It almost felt civilised out there — though the competition was anything but.

There’s been a bit of a reshuffle at the top of the ladder, with Bluey ( Nick, Jodie & Gary) taking the scenic route down to 5th spot, while Eight Balls ( Chris, Cong & Mark) climbed smartly from 5th to 3rd. In fact, across the whole table, no fewer than nine teams shifted position either up or down — which tells us one thing: this competition is wide open and absolutely anyone’s for the taking.

Top honours on the night went to Fun Owls (Ian, Robin & Siew) , posting a terrific score of 12 — a performance that had both precision and polish. Snapping at their heels were Yesterday’s Heroes (Janice, Erich & Neil) and Eight Balls, both with excellent scores of 11. Plenty of quality bowling on display.

At the other end of the table, the Three B’s (Bob, Roger & Barry) (with a score of 3) appear to be mounting a very determined early campaign for the coveted wooden spoon. However, as we all know, it’s a long season and fortunes can turn quicker than a bowl catching the edge of the rink.

Off the green, our Super Chefs Stuart & Jane once again delivered a menu worthy of applause: Choripan spicy chicken with chimichurri sauce, alongside a falafel roll option that disappeared just as quickly. The Michelin Star committee can’t be far away.

Another terrific night of bowls, good company, and just enough breeze to keep us honest.

Next Week’s Raffle Donor: Team Unbelievabowls — helping to keep the boat afloat, as Alf would say.

Thought for the Week:
“Success is what comes after you stop making excuses.” – Luis Galarza

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,
Malcolm
Editor-in-Chief

13/02/2026

WEEK 2 WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS EXCELLENT BOWLING

Hi Night Owlers,

With weather like we had last night—warm, balmy and just about perfect—it’s hard not to remember why we love this friendly, sociable, thoroughly enjoyable game. Of course, “friendly” doesn’t mean soft, as the scorelines quickly reminded us!

It was a cracking night of bowling, with only three teams failing to notch up a win. One of those was the Nickel-Nackles (Dan, Xin & Peter), who took a bit of a scenic route down the ladder—sliding five places from top spot to fifth. No panic stations though: it’s very early days, and if anything it just shows how tight and even this competition is shaping up to be.

The other winless teams were the Semi Delectables (Horris, Graham & Victoria) and the Three B’s (Bob, Roger, Barry & Rob). Anyone thinking they’re easy beats should think again—sometimes all it takes is a bounce here or a wick there to turn narrow losses into wins. The Bowleroos (Tom, Bima & Malcolm), despite dropping a game, were the model of consistency, clinging firmly to second place. Every other team shuffled up or down a rung or two, keeping the ladder nicely stirred. Top spot is now held by Yesterday’s Heroes (Janice, Erich & Neil), moving up from 3rd place with a great winning score of 11, well done.

Off the green, our Super Chefs Stuart & Jane once again worked their magic, treating us to glorious pork belly with crunchy slaw, plus a baked mushroom and feta dish that disappeared at alarming speed. Outstanding work!

With team structures now settled, the season is well and truly in full flight—and it’s shaping up to be a ripper of a summer.

Next week’s raffle donor: Team Nickel-Nackles—your generosity will be especially appreciated by our Treasurer, Alf.

Thought for the week: - “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T. S. Eliot

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,
Malcolm
Editor-in-Chief

13/02/2026

SUMMER SEASON NIGHT OWLS TAKES OFF
Hi Night Owlers,
I hope you all survived the Christmas/Summer break in one piece and are now refreshed, recharged, and ready for another big year on the bowling green — sunscreen optional, enthusiasm mandatory.

The bowling gods once again smiled upon us, delivering a mercifully cooler evening smack bang in the middle of a heatwave — although they clearly forgot to turn the wind down. Thanks once again to Father Gary for organising this miracle, and great to see you back steering the Night Owls ship for another season. And when we say windy, we mean it — I’ve never seen so many bowls take an unscheduled detour into the gutter on the long ends. Some are probably still rolling.

With The Wiggles missing in action, Team Bluey kindly released Nick, Jodie and Gary to bolster other teams and keep the competition fair and friendly. Much appreciated! As per Night Owls law (subsection 3, paragraph “seemed like a good idea at the time”), Team Bluey received the average score plus one bonus point — keeping them well and truly in the premiership mix. With two teams not returning from last season, we now have twelve eager, enthusiastic teams ready to do battle… or at least try not to bowl into the ditch.

Despite the gale-force conditions, some cracking scores were recorded — proof that talent (and stubbornness) runs deep in this competition. Three teams hit double figures, led by this week’s champions, The Nickel-Nackles (Daniel, Xin and ?), with a magnificent score of 13 — outstanding stuff! Hot on their heels were the Bowleroos (Bima, Tom and Malcolm) with 11, and Yesterday’s Heroes (Janice, Eric and Neil) with 10. Well bowled, all!

It may be early days, but the traditional tussle for the infamous “Spoon” has already begun. The Rolling Rovers (Gaby, Trish and ?) and the Three B’s (Bob, Rob and friends) are currently sharing the honour on 2 points. Plenty of time left — and nine weeks of unexpected plot twists — before anything is decided.

Off the green, our legendary Super Chefs Stuart and Jane wasted no time reminding us why bowls nights are also foodie nights. The season kicked off in fine style with jerk chicken and green mango salad, plus a superb vegetarian pastizzi salad. Absolutely top shelf — and yes, seconds were encouraged.

All in all, a cracking start to another Night Owls extravaganza — wind, gutters, great food and all.

Next Week’s Raffle Donor: Team Eight Balls — remember, you’re helping keep the wolf from the door (and possibly the chef supplied).

Thought for the Week: Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. — Unknown
(Which explains why none of us saw it coming.)

(See scoreboard below)

Happy Bowling,
Malcolm
Editor-in-Chief

12/12/2025

CONGRATULATIONS EIGHT BALLS, SPRING 2025 CHAMPIONS
Hi Night Owlers, last night, in perfect weather, we saw the end of another great season of Night Owl competition. With the festive season upon us there is always competing functions to attend and in our case four teams were absent due to other commitments etc. However, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the rest of us and a great finish to the season was enjoyed by all.
The night was all about winners and losers, but we won’t say too much about that side of it. The finals were played in the usual fair and sportsman-like fashion as we do every week. The results of the semi-finals were:
Bowleroos (Tom, Bima & Malcolm) 5, The Nickel-Nackles (Xin, Dan & Peter) 2, and
Eight Balls (Mark Cong & Chris) 6, Unbelievabowls (Ella, Margot & Peter) 1.
The scores belying the closeness of both games, and congratulations to all four teams on a great season.
While all this was going on all other teams were playing a round robin comp with the result that two teams finished on the same points (5). This required a play-off between Yesterday’s Heroes (Janice, Erich & Neil) and the Rolling Rovers (Rob, Trish & Gaby) to determine the eventual winner, Yesterday’s Heroes, congratulations.
The grand finale was between Bowleroos and Eight Balls with the Night Owl crowd watching on. As it turned out they were both previous winners of the last two comps last year and a close game was anticipated. (Bowleroos in Spring 2024 and Eight Balls in Summer 2025.) No quarter was given by either team but Eight Balls proved the most consistent and came out our Grand Finale winners. A big congratulations to Mark, Cong and Chris for a great team effort.
The night finished with our popular MC Father Gary (not Father Xmas!) making a presentation to the winners:

Minor Premiers - Bowleroos
Round Robin - Yesterday’s Heroes
Spring 2025 Season Champions - Eight Balls

At the other end of the table we saw our Wooden Spooners, team Neighbours (Jane, Garry & Tony), taking the coveted “Spoon’” Next season? A whole new Bowl game. YES!

So we come to the end of another season, but we can’t let it pass without a big thank you to our Super Chefs Jane and Stuart for giving us such varied and tasty suppers over the last ten weeks. Thank you for all your effort and magnificent menus. Most appreciated by all of us.

Wishing everyone a very happy Xmas and a happy, healthy and safe New Year.

Looking forward to seeing you all for the Summer season commencing 28 January 2026.

Thought for the Week: A Merry Xmas to everybody!
A Happy New Year to the World! - Charles Dickens

(See photo of winners below)

Happy Bowling,

Malcolm

(Editor-in-Chief)

Spring 2025 Winners

Eight Ball Team
Chris, Mark & Cong

Unley Park Bowling Club

30/03/2026

14/03/2026

11/03/2026

05/03/2026

26/02/2026

23/02/2026

14/02/2026

13/02/2026

13/02/2026

13/02/2026

12/12/2025

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