2023 NATIONALS PREVIEW
Following a successful inaugural running last year, the coveted nationals will take centre stage in 2023 in the picturesque city of Perth in Western Australia as the entire bowling fraternity descends for one of the most action-packed fortnights on the calendar (writes Val Febbo, Bowls Australia).
More than 30 national titles will be awarded across the duration of the competition at the three pristine host clubs, Sorrento, Warwick and Joondalup.
Six competitions will be held throughout the two weeks, including the Australian Champion of Champions, Australian Under-18 Championships, Australia Para Nationals, Australian Senior Sides Championships, Australian Sides Championships, and Australian Championships.
Three-time winner Lee Schraner will be back in the Champion of Champions field as he looks to further extend his record in one of the opening events on the schedule.
Other dangerous prospects such as Glen Pitts, Jack East and Craig Mills also lie ominously in the draw, ensuring it will be one of the most hotly contested stagings in history.
The women’s field boasts an equally high calibre of contenders, with the likes of Cassandra Millerick, Sam Ferguson and Laini McGorman all bidding for their first title in the competition.
Running concurrently with the Champion of Champions is the Under-18 Championships, where the stars of the future will battle it out for their own taste of national silverware.
The boys’ field sees the likes of Riley Gerick, Koby Cromie, Samuel Collier and Charlie Hicks scattered across the various disciplines, with the girls’ boasting Reese Finn-Young, Amity Bickley and Stella Palmer in their return to the tournament.
Australia’s most esteemed para bowlers will be making their way to the west as well, with the likes of Tony Bonnell, Serena Bonnell, Cheryl Lindfield, Josh Thornton and Chris Flavel all heading to the Para Nationals as they look to add to their already illustrious honours.
The nation’s premier team-based ‘state versus state and territory’ competitions then commence with the Senior Sides Championships and Sides Championships, that will see Victoria look to defend both of the over-60s events, while New South Wales will be out to win a fourth consecutive women’s Marj Marris Trophy and Queensland striving for back-to-back men’s Alley Shields in the open events.
The Nationals is poised to finish with a bang, with the Australian Championships contested across the last four days, where a plethora of national and international stars will take to the green as they strive for one of the biggest annual titles on the calendar.
The likes of Natasha Van Eldik, Karen Murphy AM , Ellen Falkner MBE, Ellen Ryan, Kylie Whitehead, Katelyn Inch, Therese Hastings, Lynsey Clarke, Julie Keegan, Samantha Atkinson and Claire Turley will be in action across the women’s fields throughout the week, setting the tone for some sensational bowls.
In the men’s draws, defending singles champion Rob McMullen is back, while Cody Packer, Ben Twist, Tristan Smallacombe, Gary Kelly, Corey Wedlock, Kane Nelson, Jacob Nelson and Jake Rynne all feature across the week in what promises to be one of the closest in the event’s history.
The 2023 Nationals will run from October 6-20, 2023, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
The 2023 Nationals in Perth, Western Australia is proudly supported by Tourism Western Australia, City of Joondalup, and the State government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Lotterywest in Western Australia. Sport and recreation creates vibrant, inclusive and connected WA communities.
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