Marilyn Mulcock from Keysborough Bowls Club will contest the State Champion of Champions tournament after winning through her zone earlier this month.
By Paul Pickering
WHEN Keysborough bowler Marilyn Mulcock was crowned the Victorian Ladies’ Bowling Association’s (VLBA) Zone 14 champion earlier this month, the announcer at the host club declared she had never seen a more excited winner.
“I was totally surprised because I had no expectations whatsoever,” Mulcock said, reflecting on her 25-18 victory over Berwick’s Barb Gribbin in the zone final.
“I thought I was lucky to win the club championship, so I can’t believe it myself.”
Mulcock, who lives in Dingley Village and calls the greens of Keysborough Bowls Club home, will now progress to the VLBA State Champion of Champions tournament to be held at Burden Park Bowls Club on 26-27 March.
While Mulcock is the ladies’ secretary and a familiar face to all at the Keysborough club, she admits she has never really taken the sport too seriously.
“Everyone knows I always like to have a laugh and giggle when I play,” she said.
“When I’m on the mat I’m very focused, but I don’t think I’ve ever concentrated so hard (as in the zone final).”
And as much as she was proud of her own achievement, Mulcock was most pleased to give her travelling clubmates something to cheer about.
“The whole Keysborough gang came along and it was so encouraging to have that support,” she said, explaining that having a bowler in the state championships would be a real boost for the club.
“I’m so happy for the club, because nobody has done it for a long time.”
Given that she has only been bowling for nine years and won her first club title this season, Mulcock considers herself a rank outsider in the field of 16 elite bowlers that will vie for the Champion of Champions tag.
“I’m just going to take it a day at a time, because I’ve said right along that I’ve had no expectations,” she said.
One thing is for sure, if Mulcock can pull off an unlikely win next month, the scenes at the neighbouring club will not soon be forgotten.
