Boulder’s Race Round carnival among WA’s best for many years

As Boulder Bowling Club officials continue planning for the 47th annual Race Round carnival from September 30 to October 4, they owe a lot to the vision of stalwarts Jack Osmetti and Stan Curtis.

In 1976, Osmetti and Curtis came up with the idea of taking advantage of the influx of visitors in the region for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club’s spring carnival.

From modest beginnings, the carnival ranks among the best in WA.

Both were well-known local hoteliers who combined to win the 1974 State pairs championship.

Osmetti, who was 78 when he died in 1991, joined the club in 1935 and celebrated his debut season by winning the novice singles.

He followed up with victory in the club singles the following year and won the Goldfields league singles and the State Champion of Champions title.

In 1938, he repeated the feat, adding the club and State fours to his growing list of achievements.

Osmetti owned Boulder’s historic Cornwall Hotel and gave away bowling for the next 23 years because it was interfering with his business.

He made a belated return in 1961 and proved he had lost none of his skill by winning the league’s singles trophy.

During the next 20 years, Osmetti represented WA 11 times, including a stint as captain in 1978.

Curtis also combined bowling with running local hotels before eventually moving to Perth.

Tournament action features the traditional welcome fours on the first two days, with a rest day applying on October 2 because of the Hannans Handicap race meeting.

Play resumes with the farewell fours on October 3 and 4.

For the first time this year, it will be an open-gender carnival.