From simply hoping to stay in the Region Sides Championship top tier to becoming Victoria's champion region, Goulburn Murray's heroics in clinching this historic title will long remain in the memory.

The Goulburn Murray side, which featured Cobram’s Kerry Baldacchino, conquered Ovens and Murray 67 shots to 44 in Sunday’s gold tier women’s decider at Sebastopol Bowls Club, securing a maiden title confirming its status as the State’s top region.

The Kris Wright-skipped quartet of Jo Crowe, Lyn Nicholson, and Bree Warren laid the groundwork for victory with a 27-11 win in the third rink, while Carla Miles’ rink including Baldacchino, Loris Houlihan, and Kate Bush put the result beyond doubt with an 11-shot win in the second.

O&M pulled a rink back thanks to Kylie Lavis in a four-shot result against Lidija Patching, but to no avail in the overall scheme of the match.

Miles said it took the entire 12-player squad to secure the title, especially after playing three games on Saturday after the opening day’s play was abandoned due to the extreme heat.

“We were in the silver tier last year, we moved up to gold, and we were just hoping to win enough games to stay there,” Miles said.

“But we managed to win all three games on the Saturday, which got us into the final. The whole 12 of us, we just jelled really well as a team and had a lot of fun.

“(That) helped with the nerves, I guess for some of the newer members of the team.

“We really backed each other.

“Once we'd won the three games on the Saturday, we believed that it was possible because even on paper we probably weren't picked as the favourites to get to the final.”

Miles lauded the feat as one of her and the side’s finest achievements, especially after clean-sweeping the competition following wins against Bendigo-Campaspe-Goldfields (49-31), West Coast (44-40), and Sandbelt (52-33) to top the section two ladder.

“We obviously got the combinations right with the teams and selection, had a good time, did our best, and it paid off,” she said.

“(It’s) pretty much up there with one of the best achievements for all of us as individual bowlers and as a team.

“Couldn't wish for anything better.”

Meanwhile, the men’s squad kept its spot in gold tier for next year after a late win against Murray Mallee.

Goulburn Murray was ruled out of contention for the final after losses to Eastern Ranges and Northern Gateway. However, a four-shot win in the third round spearheaded by Mark Ryan (23-8) and Josh Cartwright (21-12) ensured they avoided demotion to silver.

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Saturday, 14th November 2026

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