Founded in 1907, the club of 45 members wrote a new chapter in its history by winning the Ovens and Murray A2 pennant grand-final against Mansfield at Benalla, 105-84, last weekend.

It was the club’s maiden A2 premiership and allows it to be promoted to the A1 division for the 2018-19 season.

The club had a stellar campaign, holding down top spot for the entirety and playing consistent bowls in the two finals to beat Mansfield by 21 shots each time.

“The focus of the club was for every player to prepare well, do their job and work as a team,” Chiltern captain Neil Pryor said.

“After a sound 2016-17 season ended in a first round finals exit, the club returned in 2017-18 with a renewed determination and focus to improve.

“We are excited about what we have achieved as a team and look forward to taking the next step into the top division next year, to extend ourselves even further.

“Our green is one of the best in the region and this gives us a good base to further grow our club and attract bowlers who want to play at the highest level, as well as developing our depth with the bowlers we have coming through our division B3 team, who also made the preliminary final this year.

“The win was the proudest moment in the 111 years of the Chiltern Bowling Club.”

Chiltern dropped just one rink in the decider.

John O’Neill, Darryl Kull, Clem D’Amelio and Jim Peacock recorded a 26-18 victory.

John Payne, Stuart Menzies, Leon Price and Brian Cassidy had the biggest result, accounting for their opponents, 30-20.

James Bates, Dianne Bates, Isabel Edgar and Geoffrey Holdsworth had a 26-20 triumph, while Pryor, Roy Davies, Graham Barnes and Dianne Peacock were narrowly beaten, 26-23, by John Foots’ rink.

“The town has a legend about a golden mouse from the gold rush days, but this win was surely a case of the little mouse that roared,” Pryor added.