WA's All Time Greats

[baron]

Well every other state has recorded their best bowlers past and present so I reckon its time to show off some our talent from the last 20 years or so. Well thats how long I have been around so here goes. Now my criteria is you must have bowled both Shield and Rachuig and must of course been born here in the west so there will be some notable exemptions so feel free to correct me or add your thoughts.

(1) I dont think anyone would have a problem with Carol Gianotti being my first pick Her record speaks for itself
(2) Mike Muir countless Rachuigs and lots of tournament wins. 2 World Cup appearances
Commonwealth Games FIQ the list goes on.
(3) Steve Hart easily the best south paw to come out of WA. Wins all over the country FIQ 3x300's and Perth Cup this year.
(4) My old mate Alan Skupin now abroad. Probably the best lead bowler you could get. Junior FIQ lots of Rachuigs Perth Cup 2x300's and a great administrator.
(5) Steve Wimbridge Aussie Rep at junior level again lots Rachiugs Perth Cup '86
Shield coach and still holds 3 game record (I think)
(6) Matty Fraggall Junior FIQ A few wins at junior level, Rachuig both as bowler and manager and lots to come I reckon.
(7) Craig Blachut I've watched Craig go from rugrat to absolute power player. Junior FIQ 2x300's No Rachuigs as yet but wont be long.
(8) Kenny Thomson long time servant to the game. Rachuig coach Mens and Womens 2x300 Australian Coach.
(9) Scottie Andrews has had a great couple of years culminating in his first Rachuig. Star of the future now heading east to try his luck.
(10)Another bomb thrower just beginning to shine. A win in Adelaide this year and Rachuig as well. Plenty more to come.

Well thats my top 10 but my memory is not the best so if I have forgotten someone please reply.
Some ineligble players of note include
Tom Kury(Qld)
Brian Hamer(Qld)
Amanda Ladlow(Born Qld)
John Morss (No Shield)
Del Da-Re

 

[baron]

Rats just reading my post and my No 10 is of course Clinton Phelps. Sorry mate Hope to get some feed back. Baron

 

[SCOOPS]

Yes your right Baron well overdue to have placed our Best over the past 20 yrs but maybe lets go back a little further and here would be my suggestions,

1) Carol Gianotti - Undisputable at the top and Daylight to run second - as you said her record speaks for itself, FANTASTIC to say the least

2) Michael Muir - No Question that he comes in 2nd, FIQ Captain, 5th place World Cup, Commonwealth Bronze Medal, must have the Most Rachuig Appearances & games

3) Steve Hart - Agreed the Best South Paw to come out of WA, and would be one of the Top 5 Lefties in the country of all time, SA, Perth Cups, Aust Masters, if Steve had the opportunites to travel more over the last 10years I would say it would be hard to separate him and Mick


Now no real ranking but just a few names that were missed by my Country mate,

Ladies
Del Da Rae - FIQ Rep before many of us were born the Dawn Fraser of Bowling in her day, more Rachuigs than any other fmale from WA.

Jan Gianotti - Teacher of so many and a real champ during her time, Represented Australia on a number of occasssions

Gwyn Bunting - First person to roll 300 in Perth, in fact bowled the first 2, another long time serving Rachuig Rep and secretary of the Association for over 20 years.

Men
John (Sally) Salotti - Longest serving Rachuig member of his time - infact would have only been up till maybe 3 years ago that Micahel surpassed him on games. Resides in Italy now - TOO SKINNY!!!!

Tony Haralambus(spelling)? - 3 stepper taught himself in his Hall way at home Bowled 299 in 1967/8 Highest Game in Perth for almost 20years, Winner of Australian Masters back in 60's against some of the all time legends in our sport Velo, Jiang etc

David Schmelzkopf - Never won a Perth Cup but would stand next to Steve Lovell for the most runner up prize, Unfortunately/Fortunately which ever way you look at it, David concentrated more on the Operational side of Bowling, Managed FIQ Teams, took teams away to Indonesia, oversaw the opening of 2 Bowling centres and was General Manager of 4 centres and in charge of unquestionably one of the best Groups of centres in Australia at the time.

Now just a few edits for your Post Baron me ole mate - Matty, Wimbridge and Craig have never actually represented in FIQ (Reserves Only).
I have bowled 3 Perfecto's not 2 u cheeky bugger
Matty's wins were quite huge in the fact that he won the junior SPC Back to BAck

Now as far as leaving out Brian, Tom and Amanda(FUBARETTE) DON'T
They have accomplished so much and should be recognised as true West Australians, Brian has been living here since Adam was a boy, Tom well came back to Perth in 1990 and is one of few around that can boast to have won in every state in the country,and Amanda well just wouldnt be right to call her anything but a Sandgroper.
One award however still questionable is FUBARETTE winning the Sportspersons award in 1989???? lol

Both Brian and Tom are holders of the Legend Card which entitles them to claim residency where they feel fit.
Both of which try to hold up not to be recorded in the Book but guys that will never work..hehehehe

Well I'm sure I will think of a few more as time goes by and hopefully some others will have there 2 BoBs worth

GIDDY UP!!!!!!!!

 

[The Real Deal]

Well what can I say but I am more than honoured to have been included in anybodys Top Ten List... And to have this list complied by the Barron....... all I can say is thanks, and that I hope that I can stay in that list....... and with the work Im gonna put into this game from next year, I hope that one day I can make more Top Ten Lists...... with a few more credits

But once again I am Honured.....

Clint

 

[baron]

Thanks Al I wasnt sure about the FIQ side of things but I thought they had all represented Australia in Juniors but I cant argue with the guru. There was another I wanted to mention but can never remember his name. Right hander out of Fairlanes bowled one of the first few 300's in WA and bowled Shield but not Rachuig I think. One of the first guysI saw that really turned the ball. You know who he is. He got nabbed for having lane oil on his buffer bag when the lanes were really dry. I did think of those you mentioned butI wanted the Shield factor in there. (Well not Saloti, Come in spinner)And I hated leaving the 2 living legends out both slippery banana benders but have done so much for our State. Flash was one who pushed me to try out for Rachuig and tournaments so I owe him a lot and just bowling with Tom you learn so much. Hope to see some more thoughts. Baron

 

[mattf]

Well thank you Baron and to you Al for the edit.
I , like Clinton , are very honoured to be even thought of.

I think that you definitely have the top 3 very correct. Carol - no doubt.
Mike a superstar ( bowled a 300 @ me last week but many many more achievements than that ) and Harty - what a natural.

As for the rest I never really saw Amanda Tom Flash Gwyn or Del at their best but I have heard many stories. Al and Wimpy also have racked up the achievements. Baron - not too shabby for a lefty.

I would just like to remind the Baron of the 98 Rosemount Cup that I won by beating ...um....um.... YOU in the final. LOL
Also there was a junior AO to go with the two SPC's.

Anyway I think there is only really 2 stars that you can talk of when you talk of WA bowling - CAROL and MIKE
PS Harty is very close. Tom is a queenslander.

I hope I havent offended. This is just a fun post.
And finally - John Morss is number one when it comes to the best bowling swing.

 

[baron]

Yes thanks Matty your lucky I threw off that game. Great to see some response here and its too bad you didnt get to see some of the golden oldies in there prime. Just a couple more I think rate a mention:- Rod Thomson just about unbeatable for ages back in the late 70's early 80's and of course winner of the first Perth Cup and one of my FUBAR teammates the great John Bushell. John just seems to get better with age and actually threw 300 against me in the early 90's at Fairlanes. Cant remember what the event was.
And as Al said Jan Gianotti is right up there. Christ Jan was like our second mother there for years and the sport owes Jan and the Gianotti's alot for their contribution over the years. Baron

 

[baron]

JUST REMEMBERED!!!!! The guys name was Rod Pudwell. What a classic style, really made the game look easy. And who could forget the look on his face when he realised he was bowling next to the Gay league at Fairlanes during the trials one year. Priceless!!! Baron

 

[Sticks]

I dont know most of the bowlers personally because i have always lived in country towns,(now 30k,s from Kal.) and if there was no bowling centre,i wouldnt mind driving a couple of hundred k,s to bowl.(like to Mt.Isa).has been a hobby,and so have been a Pin Action reader and bowling follower.
I just answered a post on the Team of the Decade in the general forum and it sparked a thought for WA.
As far as International..National level achievements.
WA has 3+1 top shelf bowlers.
Carol Gianotti.
(+1..QLD/WA) Tom Kury.
Michael Muir is about up to 60% of what Kury achieved and through more time will bridge that gap.Both very determined and willing to put it all on the line.
Steve Hart..unlike Kury and Muir..we will all die wondering,if only he had travelled more,or decides to start travelling makes him a long 3rd in the men ,todate.But in the top shelf for talent.
Its impossible to compare the different era,s,but if you could mix and match time and equipment.
Take Hart and Muir back into the early to mid 80,s with todays equipment,and Kury would be too relentless for either to handle over say a given 5 year span.

From a Senior International /National achievement point of view the second shelf drops away pretty dramatically.
Brian Hamer SPC,FIQ (Senior)
Alan Skupin and Steve Wimbridge have won the Perth Cups,Tony Haralambas,National Masters.
The third shelf is really the State t,ment winners/Rachuig..John Bushell..Greg Ball..Robbie Carr.
4th shelf..John Morss,Clinton Phelps,Stax Stevens,Gary Essex.
Any other tournaments won by anyone one outside the above mentioned (Bruno Gianotti.Rosemount Cup)is like hens teeth.
Potentials never count till they achieve.


Cameron Wood.

 

[Sticks]

Im sorry i forgot about Matt Fragall only because he fits in between shelf 2 and 3.

 

[SCOOPS]

Hey Baron cant believe it took you that long to remember Puddy.
Bugger shot that 300 agaisnt me at City on 1&2 during the Classic Singles.

Thanks Cameron for your Kind gesture of placing on the 2nd Shelf that is quite an honor amongst my peers

Very good to see also Robbie was mentioned, goodness during the eighties he was never out of Rachuig and always was winning. Another during that time winning state events would have to Steve Johnstone, another with a great Swing maybe even better than Morss, in his day

One bowler who probably should fall on to shelf 4 would be Wayne Ford winner of Perth Cup and from all accounts was a player in the early to mid eighties (Better with Plastic Skin tricks though....lol)

Plus for the ladies I think teena Peake deserves mention winner of the Inaugural Junior Sth Pacific in 1986 and played 4 sields and several Rachuigs for both WA & SA

Cameron you certainly know your WA Bowling all that information from reading Pin Actions alone, GOOD EFFORT.

And good to see that the BAll Meister got a mention, unstoppable in 92-93 one of the longest Purple patches inside of Perth I have ever come across.Won the 93 Golden Nugget with a day to spare.

My only problem with all this,
DOES Wimbridge have to be on my Shelf he drinks far too much for my liking?

GIDDY UP!!!!

 

[baron]

Yes thanks Sticks and as Al says all this knowledge from reading Pin Action. Boy I should have kept all those issues I had when I worked at Morley in the 80's. You would've liked those. I would have to agree with your thoughts very thorough. Yup Al Robbie Carr was always in the action and was very tough to beat even when they forgot to oil one lane still managed a 250 game. And I had the pleasure of working with Fordy a real character. Good to see some new ideas coming thruogh. Baron

PS Hey Al I reckon the trip home from Kal was better. You won more at the TAB in Merridin than I did in Kal. Plus a $50 scratchie I think. DOH!!

 

[SCOOPS]

Yes good ole Robbie and Lane 23 at Melville, it always comes up.

We all take being in a car for granted but I will Never, NEVER forget that drive back from Kalgoorlie. ($50 BINGO Ticket)
Drank well lets just say too much making stops at every possible Port, I think the last being Sawyers Valley waking up the land lord to get yet another 6-pack to make it back to Beechboro.
Christ Baron is was that bad you and I were actually singing, surprising that the girls didnt turf us out, i mean they had our money an all.

I keep looking at this thread and keep scratching my head thinking of more that should be mentioned.

Come on Steve, Stax, Tom surely u guys can up with at least one or two more,

Well at this stage with no more entries my final top 10 in no particular order

Carol Ginaotti
Tom Kury
Michael Muir
Steve Hart
Brian Hamer
Steve Wimbridge
Jan Gianotti
Greg Ball
Matty Fragall
John Bushell
and me on the Bench having a Beer with Gouldie & Stax Studying the form guide

(What I would give for a nice Cold VB or Tooheys Red, mind u I found a place the other day that serve Crownies YAHOO, so its not all bad)

GIDDY UP!!!!!

 

[Stax]

Al, have a nice cold Heiniken instead, lovely smooth lager, cold out of the glass.
I did start to reply to this thread the other night, but had to go out.
There are a couple of names I remember.

My all time favourite
Michael Stock, followed by Eric Calvert.
Can't forget the only bowler with a 180 degree follow though, Dennis Johns, the ultimate head hunter, Kevin Read and of course backspin specialist Larry Baker.
Ramo comes to mind, Fred Schott, came and went, lazy Carl Duggen (could have done anything)and dont forget Peter Palm (948 for 4 SPC 87ish).Paul Delassio the 6-9 man, little Harry Clinton, gutter-4 to lose.
Who have I missed...

A lightheated poke only, please dont be offended.

 

[SCOOPS]

Now Stax ur talking about some real legends there I mean lets face it Who could forget that famous conversation between Bridges and M. Stock and his NEW TOY BOAT

And dont forget Muir's Look alike Greg

Eric KELVIN my goodness and PJ It was definately 87 good memory Stax but the score may have been a little higher freightening all the same

One that should be mentioned in this area would be Mr. 300 Allan Barnes and the ole Bull-Dog Clips or the Elastic Bands on the old arm, or better still the ride down lane 8 aisle at Rosemount to get a strike and look up to see a foul has been registered

Something about the men who have managed Rosemount though they all had a similar release dont u think but no-one beats Dennis's follow through

yes all in good fun

 

[TMK]

Your name "sticks" in my mind Cameron,(man mountain)we met in Gladstone ,then Maryborough,you had this great Harley Davidson.Do you still do the eating broken glass trick Bubba....sir.you loved your bowling.
Im not sure if or when my Sandgroper P plates come off..or if im still one of the refugee banana boat people.

I gotta say one thing though about WA bowlers,only Carol left to better herself.
If WA was geographically somewhere in between QLD and NSW ,with all the extra t,ments available, much higher levels and achievements would have been attained.
Take the Ballmeisters purple patch, im sure he would have knocked off some interstate titles as well during that period..but we will never never know,and likewise with most of the abovementioned.
I was luckier living in QLD ,able to travel and compete for less cost then WA bowlers,and competing continually against Mackie,Velo,Sheehan,Atkins,Miles,Zikman,Jeffrey,Kennedy,Thompson,Powell,Hogg,Roderick,Batson,Wenban,Lovell,Sullivan,Bridges,Prez,Harding,Allsopp,Romeo,Horsley,Zambelis,Kee,Quinn,th en the emerging Stewart,Malloy,Bradford,Davy,Bottomley,to name a few,gave one the chance to hone ones game.When you won ,you felt like you had climbed Mt.Everest.
Bubba(sticks) covered it pretty well,with the two exceptions..Rod Thompson 3rd shelf ,and as Al says Wayne Ford 4th shelf.(Perth Cup winners)
Its a pretty exacting sport and at the end of the day all you can rest on is the number of trophies with your name on it.
Puddy was the prime example,terrific swing,ball action,style,no wins.
Which leads into your post Staxy boy,typical lefty,branches off to WA t,ment bowlers of dubious repute,having a few Stein lagers at the time were we!!!!
Matty Frags,would have to be head and shoulder above any other under 25,s.for achievement..with a zillion years ahead of him.He will move way up the shelf if he continues seriously.
So going on achievements,and sustained performance,and not potential..my top 10 list is..
Michael Muir,
Steve Hart,
Brian Hamer,(lost his p plates yrs ago,but not his achievements) Alan Skupin,John Bushell,Steve Wimbridge
Greg Ball,Matt Fragall,Rod Thompson,Rob Carr
First reserves.
Tony Haralambus,Wayne Ford,Clinton Phelps.
It will take a couple of years for Clinton to climb in there.
Will do the ladies another day.

 

[TMK]

PS..not sure where to put John Morss,reserves or just miss out.

 

[strop]

What about Silvano and davy....arnt they yours...(westeners) Ha. ..Ha...

 

[Brenton Davy]

No, I think Silvano and I were only made to feel VERY at home every time we ventured west to the Perth Cup (and for me, more recently also at Rosemount).

If it werenh't so isolated, I would consider living there, only its so expensive to get to everywhere else..............

 

[baron]

More legends from Stax's Hall of Fame.
Reg Simpson pulled out of Rachiug trials when he found out there was no handicap.
Local player from Morley (I think Scoops knows him) bowled with the biggest bunch of keys on his belt you ever saw. Peter Reynolds
Another Morley local Warrick Dicks used to grab the ball off the rack as he went passed all in one motion. And my pick for best mixed doubles combo would have to be Reg Lyle and Nicki Wilkinson (sorry Nic) If you've seen Elaine from Seinfeld dancing you know what I mean. More soon. Baron