Sport
25 March, 2026
Lady bowlers gutsy on green
THE greens at Yungaburra were buzzing with energy as 64 bowlers from across the Tropical Far North converged for the annual Josie Sue San Memorial Shield, where the Innisfail ladies made their presence felt.
Innisfail’s Dell Steve, Marilyn Allen, Diana O’Brien and Christine Pascoe were one of 16 teams who competed in the popular district event. The team came out firing in their opening match against Ravenshoe with a dominant 19-7 victory and set an early tone for the day.
Their second game proved a nail-biter. Up against a determined Atherton side, Innisfail fought end-for-end, before the match finished in a hard-earned 10-10 draw after 14 ends.
The team’s run of good form came to a halt in their final match when they met a tough Mareeba outfit, going down 17-7 despite a spirited effort.
It was a competitive and enjoyable day on the green, with the Innisfail ladies proudly representing their club in a field packed with bowling talent from across the region.
This annual Tropical Far North Queensland District Ladies Bowling Association event honoured the memory of well-respected bowler Josie Sue San from the Cairns and District Ladies Bowls Club.
The competition which started in 2019 at Brothers Edmonton club is organised by Josie’s daughters Terese (Terry) McAlary and Sheryn Logan each year and TFNQDLBA took on the event a couple of years ago.
Sue San was a member of the Cairns club and held many official positions at club and district levels.
Her final official position, which she held with immense pride was patron of the Cairns and District Ladies Bowls Club.
Teams played three games of 14 ends or to the bell (two hours) and the venue rotated between the two areas, Coastal and Tablelands.
Denise Charman, Carmel DeZen, Lee Mayell and Joanne Townsend from Silkwood/Marlin Coast took home the shield with three wins and nine points and a score difference of 34.
This is the second year in a row the Silkwood trio of Charman, Mayell and Townsend have been part of the winning team.
Marlin Coast’s Terry McAlary, Andrea Lim, Valerie Still and Trish Spicer were the runners up, also with three wins, nine points, with a score difference of 26, while Jill Alexander-Sachse, Annette Evans, Deb Dall’alba and Elaine Whitehead from Edge Hill finished third with two wins, one loss, six points and a score difference of 21.
On the local scene, despite the persistent wet weather, Innisfail ladies played two games of social bowls on 18 March, where Daphne Kirkman, Joan Atkinson and Dell Steve defeated Helen Paterson, Margaret Wardrope and Carol McRobbie 12-9. Diana O’Brien and Cheryl Higgins proved too strong for Catrina Cook and Kath O’Brien 22-7.