The Wangaratta Bowls Club held both women’s and men’s club pairs championships on Sunday as it gears up for another busy pennant season, which commences on Saturday, October 11.

The women’s championship was played as a five-game round robin event.

The title came down to the last game of the day, with Barb McDonald and Anne Keen entering the match with four wins and Lola Clarke and Lyn Sier on three wins and a draw.

In a close game, McDonald and Keen were successful winning by three shots, 9-6, and in doing so completed the day as the only side to not lose a game.

The men’s championship consisted of three games of sectional play in the morning, followed by semi-finals and the final in the afternoon.

Mark Allan and Richard Hermassoo headed up section one with two wins and 26 shots up, while Terry Johnson and John Keen held sway in section two with two wins and 14 shots up.

Section three came down to percentage with two teams on two wins and seven shots up, with Gary Fenlon and John Kane winning through ahead of Mick Lenane and Bob McCalman.

Maurie Braden and Mick Johnstone wrapped up section four with three wins and 17 shots up.

Johnson and Keen defeated Allan and Hermassoo by just two shots in the semi-final, while Braden and Johnstone came from behind to defeat Fenlon and Kane by four shots in the other semi-final.

Johnson and Keen started the final with two shots on the first end, but Braden and Johnstone strung together multiple shots over the next six ends to open up what would be too big a margin for Johnson and Keen to peg back, with Braden and Johnson taking out the final 13-5.

The 2025/26 Ovens and Murray Bowls Region Weekend Pennant Season commences on Saturday, 11 October.