Under-18 Championships headed to the nations capital
The Australian Under-18 Championships is headed to the Nation’s Capital at the end of this month where 80 of Australia’s most promising junior bowlers will represent their states in the toughest junior event on the calendar.
Five boys and five girls from each state and territory will converge in Canberra to participate in the annual championships that has seen kids as young as 10 competing for national glory.
Tuggeranong Valley Lawn Bowls Club is no stranger to hosting national events having previously held the Australian Sides Championships and now winning the bid to host Australia’s brightest young stars in the prestigious Australian Under-18 Championships.
The National Under-18 championships is always a very exciting time of the year as we get a first-hand look at our sports future champions competing over three wonderful days of competition beginning September 28.
Many of the current Australian Jackaroos Squad began their memorable careers at these very championships; some over a decade ago whilst others were lifting Australian U-18 trophies in Darwin just last year, and now incredibly their rise to the top of the sport sees them already trialling for a spot in the Asia Pacific Games team to be announced in October.
There is no doubting that over the four disciplines to be contested during the age specific championships that new national and international stars of the future will emerge.
The coveted singles event will be highly contested and in the boys competition New South Wales’ Jono Davis will edge out favouritism over Victoria’s Jayden Christie.
Davis, who heads to Samoa this weekend to represent Australia at the Youth Commonwealth Games, already has a glowing resume for a mere 14 year old and having already claimed Australian Under-18 medals, it will be hard to look past Davis in this championship as he continues to write his name into the history books.
With the likes of current World Champions Lynsey Clarke and Rebecca Van Asch already etching their names onto the Australian girl’s singles trophy; the girl’s field this year will be hoping to join an illustrious list of past winners when they take to the greens at Tuggeranong Valley.
Local hope, Western Creek’s Jessica Hogan will represent the ACT in her third Australian Under-18 Championships and will be looking to improve upon her fourth place finish in the singles discipline last year.
Current Junior Golden Nugget Singles Champion Molly Wilton from Raymond Terrace in New South Wales is considered a strong chance of claiming this year’s title having already demonstrated her wares in the Under-25 age bracket; representing New South Wales on numerous occasions.
Pint sized 12 year old Marcus Simpson from the Northern Territory stole the show at this year’s Australian Open as one of the youngest competitors in the open event.
Remarkably this year’s Under-18 Championships will be Simpson’s second national event; this whizz kid from the Top End is proving age is no barrier in the sport of bowls and will have plenty of spectators admiring his skills.
The Australian Under-18 Championships run from September 28-30 with play during the sectional rounds commencing at 9am; whilst on the final day of play, finals action will kick off at 8:30am.
To view the draw and schedule of play click here; to view each states team list click here.
