Last year we featured an article on the Albert Park Lawn Bowls Club whose lady “Champion of the Green” was Docklands resident Polly Mansell. Unfortunately for the Club, Polly’s commitments have taken her to Queensland and so she was unable to defend her title.

Sadly missed as she was, the Club has nevertheless had one of its most successful seasons, when the second team won the Melbourne Metropolitan Division 6, Grand Final, coming first out of 80 teams! With the lead changing hands several times over the first 98 ends and the match all but lost with two ends to go, the Club drew level at 87–all. Having snatched a draw from “the jaws of defeat”, the two teams from Albert Park and Heatherdale returned to the green for one last end. This time there was no stopping Albert Park, as it won convincingly and claimed the Club’s first major Pennant for over 40 years.

With the high drama of near defeat and the elation of final victory, having come from 4th spot in their own Division 6 Section and winning four finals in a row to take the flag, this was a script worthy of “Crackerjack 2”.
Like most bowling clubs, Albert Park welcomes new members of all ages and, more and more, younger players are taking up this exciting sport. (Just take a look at the TV to see how young Australia’s leading bowlers are).
The clubhouse is set in the beautiful heritage listed St Vincent Gardens and can be easily reached by Docklanders via the No 96 tram (from outside the Southern Cross Station) to Albert Park Station.

There’s plenty of spare bowls to use, friendly helpers to get you started and all the encouragement you need to get your name in gold letters, up there with Polly on the honour board. Why not give it a try?

Contact: T: 9690 3592
E: apbowls@bigpond.net.au
W: www.albertparkbc.com.au to find out about the next Open Day, membership or ‘barefoot bowls”.