IT HAS taken a dozen or more attempts, but Wedderburn’s Ruth Hall is the North Central bowls Champion of Champions – at the young age of 83.
“If you wait long enough, sometimes good things happen,” a modest Ruth told the Loddon Herald the day after her big win.
And it was a heart stopper, with Ruth at times leading by nine shots against Charlton’s Lynne Southwell before sneaking home after 26 arduous ends, 25-24.
She was virtually becalmed from the 15th end to the 25th end, scoring only two shots while her opponent picked up 10.
Ruth fell behind for the first time, 23-24, after the 25th end, but managed to score two shots in the last end to take out the prestigious title.
“I’ve been runner-up before,” she said, “and I nearly did it this time, too.”
The Champion of Champions brings together champions from the eight North Central clubs in a one-day knockout format.
Ruth came from eight shots behind to beat St Arnaud Country Club’s Heather Esmore 25-22 in round one.
The semi-final was always close, with Ruth eventually winning by four shots over Donald’s Lindy Morgan. 
Ruth reckons she has won the Wedderburn club championship “at least” 12 times over 30 years – she’s not entirely sure – and she didn’t go into Sunday’s tournament with any great expectations. “I just went along and took whatever happened,” she said.
And the result? “It was good. I was happy.”
The massive championship shield will have her name inscribed on it and is bound for Wedderburn. “I think I’ll take it to the clubhouse,” Ruth said. “It’s just too big.”