O&M bowlers' golden state champs

A QUARTET of Wangaratta lawn bowlers enjoyed a stellar weekend at the Victoria State Championships over the weekend. Jodie Fruend picked up gold in the women's singles, downing Karen Brennan of Wimmera at the Bendigo East Bowling Club, while son Ethan Fruend and Adrian Pantling came out on top in the men's pairs. Ian Brimblecombe and Anne Mills also took home a gold medal in the mixed pairs and Brimblecombe was the runner–up in the men's singles. Jodie ran away a 25–15 winner, taking the title home to the Ovens and Murray Bowls Region in a dominant display. "I was saying to Ethan this morning it's probably only just sinking in," Fruend said. "I was in disbelief for the first 48 hours I think. "To be honest it was my husband who prompted me to enter the state singles. "I'm not very fond of singles so it was all a bit of a surprise." Although Fruend ended up an easy victor, she was 1–8 down to start the final. "I was 8–1 down so I had to work my way back a bit," she said. "I just tried not to put too much pressure on myself, slowed things down a bit and tried to calm myself down and I slowly got back into it. "I would have been happy with a silver medal so just to get to the final was pretty amazing." Ethan and Pantling played a thriller against Eastern Ranges Ryan Drummond and Zac Woning with the match going to an extra end after scores were locked up at 17–all. But it was the Ovens and Murray pair who took the final out 20 shots to 17. "I'm not a good stage mum," Fruend said. "I play every bowl in my head, it's worse to watch than play I think – I was really nervous. "They both played out of this world and did all week so it was great to see them win in an extra end. "Ian Brimblecombe did well in his events too, he was almost player of the week so it was good to have those familiar faces around." The Ovens and Murray Bowls Region won the shield for the most successful team throughout the championships. The foursome will now travel to Gold Coast in October for the national championships.

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