Maccabi bowls carnival boosted by Israeli presence
Team Israel participated for the first time in Maccabi's lawn bowls carnival in the Gold Coast last week.
The Maccabi Australia Lawn Bowls Guild held its largest ever annual carnival in the Gold Coast from August 3-8, with almost 100 Jewish players participating from five states, plus for the very first time, an Israeli team of five men and five women.
In its eighth year in a row at Mermaid Beach Bowls Club, the tournament’s traditional match-ups between teams representing NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia took place, and an international Test series was introduced, on two nights played under lights, between the Israelis and a selection of the tournament’s best Australian players.
Israel emerged as the series men’s winner – on a countback after games were level at 2-2 – while Australia won the women’s series 3-1.
Victorian Ben McHarg was the series singles champion.
Israel’s captain and bowls association president, Selwyn Hare, told The AJN it was a terrific tournament to be part of.
The Israel Lawn Bowls Association (ILBA) had received an invitation earlier this year, and had gratefully accepted, he explained.
“That was a very easy decision for us, and the tournament has been such a great experience, that I’d do it all again in a heartbeat,” Hare said.
“It was played like all sport should – competitively, but with great sense of spirit.
“We’re used to playing on greens that are not as fast as here, but we were able to adjust.”
The NSW Maccabi Lawn Bowls committee was this year’s host, Danny Hochberg the manager, and Phil Filler – the inspiration behind bringing the Israeli team here – the bowls coordinator.
Hochberg said the Israeli team strengthened the competition, “but they also added to the true sense of camaraderie and friendship this event always produces – especially needed during these challenging times”.
A river cruise, and social lunches and dinners, completed the program.
Filler said the bowls carnival was “one of the most outstanding and meaningful yet”.
“The standard of lawn bowls was exceptional, the facilities excellent, and the sportsmanship and social activities were top class,” Filler said.
“But most of all, the ruach created by the outstanding individuals representing Israel, brought emotion to the fore, in the most positive manner.”
Maccabi Australia president Rodney Rosmarin presented the Israeli team a commemorative bowl in Maccabi Australia colours, and Hare gave Rosmarin a plaque on behalf of ILBA.
The event concluded with Hare leading all present in singing Hatikvah.
The men’s and women’s Carnival Shields were won by Victoria and NSW respectively, and Victoria’s Debbie Davis was named the most promising bowler.
In the pairs competition, Errol Bome (NSW) and Amnon Amar (Israel) earned gold, NSW duo Harry Bernfield and Ron Schaffer came second, and Victorians Rod Rabinov and David Kinston third.
And in the triples, gold went to Allan Klein (NSW), Amnon Amar (NSW) and Shoshi Werner (ISR), NSW’s Errol Bome, Phil Filler, and Norman Morris secured silver, and bronze went to Victorians Rod Rabinov, Robert Steinhardt and David Kinston.
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