I know the bowls committee is pretty happy with the response to date and if we can get some of these potential champions to continue playing on a regular basis that would be great.

Despite Puddy's best efforts to shackle Carol's lead, even enlisting hubby Danny couldn't prevent her from continuing a winning run and so with just one round to play in this event it looks like Carol Carnevale should feature in a podium finish.

Carol leads the pack on 12 points but just one behind are Tracey Silk and Arnold Gillespie with a heap of players a further point back.

So I would suggest that turning up next Saturday is paramount to your chances of getting some prizemoney, as there are far too many players in with a chance to leapfrog those who fail to show.

Social bowls this week saw a dozen players line up on Thursday and again Sunday morning, and the full wrap of each day's play went this way.

Firstly Thursday, and on rink five it was the trio of Robert Bateman, Phil Harding and Ray Cross who prevailed 34/12 over the Coen Clan, Luke, Josh and James in what was a very entertaining match.

On rink six Peter Kelly, Bob Ashdown and Don Sullivan had too many answers for Clifton Harris, Danny Carnevale and David McNair scoring some 19 points in their 34/19 win, which at day's end earned them top spot on the podium and as usual the old bingo machine came intoplay and awarded the other winning rink a handy little surprise, nice work that.

On to Sunday and on rink four Gordon McIntyre and Rosalie Woods led 11/0 after some eight ends but could only manage to win one more end between that halfway mark and home, albeit a handy four shots, to claim the win 15/13 over Peter Kelly and Kevin Short.

On rink five Robert Bateman and David Price had a solid 19/10 win over Mick Wright and the "Wine Trifle King" Clifton Harris, and in the last match of the day out on rink six it was the "Dragons" of Graham King and Geoff Bohm that fired up to march to another win over Bob Ashdown and David McNair 16/14, with "Kingy" in particular finally coming to grips with the line of his new Super Tens.

At day's end the team of Robert Bateman and David Price had amalgamated the most points and thus earned the top spot on the podium, whilst the jackpot again remained a tad elusive and jumped into the three figure range, and in itself will be worth playing for next Sunday.

Just a reminder that the nominations for the club fours have been posted on the notice board and will close on Sunday, January 4.

Play in this event will be scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 24 and 31, with teams required to either play the match on the designated date or beforehand.

What's happening around the clubhouse? Well with Christmas Day falling on the last Thursday of the month, the board of directors have decided that the bonus meat draw traditionally held on the last Thursday in each month will now be played and won on Tuesday December 23, so get those losing raffle tickets in the barrel, and come up to the club next Tuesday and who knows, you could win a bonus meat tray for Christmas, that would be nice.

Our little ham raffle last Thursday was another rollicking success, and the "monster" raffle this Thursday should see more of the same, with some $2000 worth of extra prizes to be won on top of the normal raffle, yes folks the festive season has started early up at the "Bowly".

New Year's Eve is not that far away and if you haven't worked out where you're going to spend it, well the "Bowly" will be rocking for sure with Maurice Walker from Canberra, back for a "Three-peat".

Maurice and his karaoke machine have entertained the patrons the last couple of years, with all who have attended really enjoying the night, so why change a winning formula, and if you haven't been part of the scene the last couple of years, why not come along and join in the fun, I know the regulars will be there, am looking forward to seeing the dancing Polar Bear and his side kick Michael Jackson in action, hope Michael, A.K.A. Budd has got the buttons sowed back on the famous shirt.

Well that's it for me for not only another week, but actually the year as this column now goes into hiatus until 2015.

To all members I hope you've been nice, otherwise that chap in the red suit might miss your place, but if like me you've been naughty, I hope it was worth it, not sure in my case it was, anyway there's always next year, "Ho, Ho, Ho".