A NEW champion has emerged in Stratford’s junior bowler, Tristan Russell (pictured above).
Tristan, who has been playing Crackerjack for the last two seasons, was recognised as a promising talent and was encouraged to enter the Gippsland Junior Championship held at Paynesville recently.
He won his first two rounds and progressed to the semis.
Another victory secured him a place in the final, and he won that to become the junior champion of the Gippsland Bowls Region.
He then teamed with Emily Melrose in the pairs event and they were runners-up in that final. Tristan attended Stratford Primary School, plays cricket with the Stratford Redbacks, and is an apprentice butcher at Shaw’s Quality Meats.
Another great success story on the Gippsland greens was achieved by Stratford Club member Leonie Flynn.
Leonie teamed with partner Phil Crowder in the Bowls Victoria Mixed Pairs held in the Gippsland area for the first time.
Leonie and Phil, from Karingal Bowls Club, took out the title, winning $3000 each in prize money. Leonie became the first ever female skipper of the mixed pairs in winning the match.
Photo: Contributed
