Grevillea Road pair Brett Mahoney and Barry McArthur will play off in one semi final on Sunday at Webbcona Bowls Club for a place in the final from 10am.

The other semi final, also starting at 10am at Webbcona, is between Victoria division- one skipper Tony Lange and newly crowned Sebastopol singles champion Rob Baker.

The two victors will meet in the final at 1pm. The manager is Tom Clarke and umpire Pam Pike. 

* The BDBD Heartbeat mixed fours tournament will be Sunday, January 6 (9.45am registration, starts at 10.30am at Webbcona and City). This is the largest tournament to be held in Ballarat each year. 

Teams listed for each venue are in skippers’ names only. 

Webbcona Bowls Club: M. Tate, K. Marshall, E. Schreenan, J. Peddlesden, B. Tuddenham, P. Donk, C. Helmore, C. Baker, F. Rues, H. Kinnersly, S. Plater, P. Goldsmith, R. Storey, C. Farrugia, L. Vincent, B. Hughes, S. Burton, K. Topp, D. Speechley, P. Kelly, G. Fraser, G. Perry, R. Vance, A. Bedggood.

City Oval Bowls Club: L. Hedwards, R. Bull, G. Coffey, W. Roberts, P. Cameron, D. Hender, W. Faulkhead, D. Gordon, K. Birch, L. Maple, W. Moore, N. Thornhill, B. Ayers, S. Hunter, E. Kierce, A. Peters, H. Worsley, G. Jenkins, T. Kypers, L. Lyons, G. Burge, G. Toose, L. Van der Linden, N. Telfer.

* Former Ballarat bowler Brenton Coad will reach a significant milestone, after being selected to play for Victoria for the 100th time. 

* The division is planning a bus trip to the Australian Open on February 22 to watch Australia’s finest bowls in action. The BDBD will watch the pairs and triples, along with the singles semi finals.

 * The close matches of the week went to Geelong West in the premiers, Invermay division six, and Creswick division seven which all won by one shot. 

The big winners were Ballarat East by 55 in division seven, Waubra by 56 in division two, Midlands Golf division five by 60, and BMS division one by 72 shots. 

* Five up and three down again with tips. Time for a change in selection, using a dart board instead of a pin.

BMS’s home advantage will move it up the division-two ladder at the expense of Beaufort Golf. 

To atone last week’s defeat, Linton will show no mercy to Mt. Xavier in division three. 

Sebastopol needs to win at Buninyong to challenge the division-four ladder leaders. 

A home win by Sebastopol over BMS keeps them clear of the bottom in division five. 

Home side Linton will dint Smeaton’s top four chances in division six. 

Sebastopol at home is back in the four with a win over Creswick in division seven. 

In division eight, BMS at home to defeat Clunes. 

Central Wendouree to defeat home side Ballarat East in division nine and remain in the four. 

Finally, from the BDBD, have a safe and happy festive season. 

Rod Lindsay is the BDBD secretary