When the Macleay Island Bowls Club Men’s Championship Pairs was recently contested on Macleay Island, few could have predicted that one day a championship final would feature Braveheart inspired face paint. Yet that’s exactly what unfolded at this year’s decider, proving once again that bowls is about far more than what appears on the scoreboard.
The much anticipated final at Seahorse Arena saw Allan Fittler and Raf Robba take on Pat Cowell and Alan “Scruffy” McGilp in a match that had spectators talking well before the first bowl was delivered.
Pat and Scruffy, both proudly claiming Scottish heritage, arrived with faces painted blue in homage to the warriors of Braveheart. Historical accuracy may have been stretched a little, but nobody could question their commitment to the occasion. In what is believed to be a first for the club, the colourful display added an extra layer of theatre to an already highly anticipated championship clash.
Whether the war paint played any part in the result will remain one of the island’s great sporting mysteries. Allan and Raf kept the contest competitive early, but as the ends ticked by, Pat and Scruffy gradually found their rhythm and edged their way ahead. By the completion of the 21st end, they had secured a 25-12 victory and the 2026 Men’s Championship Pairs title.
While the spoils went to Pat and Scruffy, Allan and Raf can hold their heads high after a strong campaign and a finals performance that contributed to a terrific spectacle for players and spectators alike.
Adding another chapter to the story is Scruffy himself, who is well known throughout the Redlands, Brisbane and Moreton regions as the lead singer of popular Celtic folk band Tullamore Tree. It seems entertaining a crowd comes naturally, whether the stage is a music festival or a bowling green.
As with all great community sporting events, the day was about more than trophies. It was about friendship, laughter, good natured rivalry and creating memories that will be talked about long after the final bowl was delivered.
Congratulations to Pat and Scruffy, who will now go on to represent Macleay Island Bowls Club at the Gateway District Club Championships. The club and the bowling community will be cheering them on every step of the way. Whether the face paint is approved and finds its way onto the district stage remains to be seen. But if it does make another appearance, no one back home will be complaining.
