THE picturesque greens of the Mildura Bowls Club are packed with competitors taking part in its annual May Carnival.
More than 120 bowlers from across Australia have travelled to Mildura for the tournament, which began on Monday and runs until Sunday.
Tournament director Chris Mitchell said the carnival, now in its 92nd year, has been a great event for Mildura over the years, giving the community an economic boost.
“The council recognises that, and each year we apply for a grant to run the carnival, and they are quite generous in the amount of money they donate,” he said.
A total of $15,000 in prizes is up for grabs at this year’s carnival which is contested over three events – $4000 for the Championship Pairs, $6000 for the Rio Vista Championship Fours, and $5000 for the GCB Williams Classic Pairs.
The carnival began in 1932 at the original bowling club precinct in Orange Ave.
“A gentleman from the Essendon Bowls Club, a Mr Royle, suggested that it would be wise if the Mildura Bowls Club conduct a carnival at this time of the year because the weather is so good and you’d attract a lot of people out of Melbourne,” Mr Mitchell said.
“So they ran a tournament, and they had 150 plus bowlers turn up.”
Mr Mitchell said in its heyday, the carnival went “berserk”.
“Today’s event for example, we have had 42 teams participating, but the same event back in the 1950s and 60s would have 240 teams participating.
“It was recognised as the biggest carnival of it’s type anywhere in world at that stage ran by one club.”
While it isn’t quite as big as what it used to be, Mr Mitchell said the club is pleased with this year’s turnout, and is confident that it will continue to be a well-regarded event for years to come.
“It’s been running for 92 years, and I can’t see it stopping any time soon,” he said.
