2011 is set to be a big year for the Hunter District as the championships kick off and clubs turn their sights to another pennants competition.

The pennant draw is out, and after a few minor alterations,  the current edition looks to be what we will be playing.

 In the number ones, 2011 will again be a four club competition with East Maitland, Kurri Kurri, East Cessnock and Maitland City being the top level clubs this year. This grade will be played over nine rounds.

The number two grade will see Cessnock City, East Maitland, Maitland Park, Dungog Memorial, Kurri Kurri and East Cessnock battle it out. This grade will be played over the usual 10 rounds.

Number three grade is made up of Bellbird, Telarah, Maitland City, East Cessnock, East Maitland and Singleton RSL.

Number four grade will run under a similar format to the number ones, with only four clubs competing this year. The four clubs playing over nine rounds are Kurri Kurri, Greta Workers, Lorn Park and East Cessnock.

The number five grade competition will be played in two sections. Section one will have Singleton RSL, East Maitland, The Oaks, East Maitland and Kurri Kurri. Section two will have Abermain, East Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Morpeth, Maitland City and Paxton.

Number sixes will also have two sections this year. Section one is Maitland Ex Services, Kurri Kurri, Gresford, East Maitland and Morpeth. Section two will have East Cessnock, Dungog Memorial, Miller Park, Maitland Park, Lorn Park and Maitland City.

The seven grade competition will have three sections. Section 1 will have Maitland City, Maitland Park, Telarah, Abermain and Greta Workers. Section two will be Bellbird, Paxton, East Maitland (1), Kurri Kurri and Maitland City (2). Section three will have Clarence Town, Maitland Park (2), East Maitland (2), Lorn Park and Dungog Memorial.

The grades with multiple sections will have each section winner enter a play off at the end of the season to determine the district winner.

The 2011 season kicked off recently with the opening rounds of the district fours championship. The final has been reached with Mark Shipman’s team and Brad Threadgate’s team set to battle it out at Kurri Kurri on 30 January at 10am. Shipman reached the final downing Brodie Pitham 21 to 16, while Threadgate reached the final defeating Aaron Appleby 21 to 16. The results of the final will be in the next issue. (Apologies to the team members, as only names of the skippers were available at the time of writing, however full credit will be given in the next issue)

Returning to the year that was 2010, December saw the district cap off the year with the annual presentation luncheon. The day saw Simon Mitchell named as bowler of the year after attaining a long list of achievements. Haydn Bojkowski was named junior bowler of the year after an equally exceptional year. The annual club person of the year award for 2010 was given to Dungog’s Ken Russel. Ken has spent many years working at the club and this was a way for the district to acknowledge this.

Another notable award at the evening was the bestowment of life membership on East Maitland’s Brian Bichard. Brian has worked tirelessly for juniors in the district and has given freely of his time to the district junior committee for many years. The award was a fitting way for the district to say thank you to Brian and to acknowledge the significant commitment to junior development and coaching that he has made.