THE Albury and District Bowling Association’s representative team will play in the annual Bing Wallder Shield at Narrandera this weekend.
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It is held each November to determine bowls supremacy in the Riverina, with Albury last winning in 2008.
There are five other districts — Wagga, Riverina, Southern Slopes, South West and Southern Highlands — vying for the coveted shield.
The event started in 1962 and Albury has won it nine times.
The district which wins the shield has the honour of hosting the event the following year.
Albury has been convincingly beaten by Wagga and Ovens and Murray in recent trial games.
It has been hit by the unavailability of several players, but selectors have picked what appears to be five strong rinks.
The last time Albury won the shield it was also easily beaten by Wagga and O and M in lead-up games.
But it produced a far better showing at Temora and surprised the other districts by winning four of its five games to collect the shield.
District officials and selectors are hoping that is an omen for this year.
Most sporting organisations have a nickname and the district board decided some months ago to adopt a Devils logo.
It has been put on the back of the district shirts and new caps have been bought, but the district is looking for a sponsor to help offset the financial commitment of the new equipment.
Albury is the only district in Zone 8 with a logo, but it is likely other districts will follow as part of a growing sporting trend.
Three games of 15 ends will be played on Saturday with another two on Sunday.
The team is Eddie Simmons (North Albury), Brett Furze (North Albury), Allen Ross (North Albury), Stephen Broad (North Albury) s; Matt Hamilton (North Albury), Mick Broughan (Henty), Jim Lee (Culcairn), Norm Honey (North Albury) s; David Moore (Culcairn), Kim Maher (Henty), Glen Harrison (Henty), Vic Moore (Lavington Panthers) s; Dave Trebley (Culcairn), Peter Wornes (Holbrook), Gary Kern (Henty), Peter Forck (Henty) s; Phil Slater (Howlong), Wally Bourne (Howlong), David Barnes (Commercial Club), Terry Hensel (Culcairn) s.
There is also an event for officials to be played in conjunction with the Wallder shield.
Albury will be represented by Mike Hodgess (Lavington), Feargal o’Hearcain (Walla), Slawko Kitt (Lavington) and Clarrie Klepiak (Lavington) s.