Bowls ACT Junior Championships
A great field competing at Yass over two days!
With the recent explosion in juniors across the capital region Yass Bowling Club took centre stage as host of the 2024 ACT Junior Carnival from April 17-19.
A contingent of 20 of the regions brightest up-and-coming juniors competed in the second year of the Capital Junior Pairs which this year was split based on experience into A & B Grades with cracking close matches across the day.
A Grade
After three matches there was only one team undefeated, the diminutive duo of Jordan Sturgiss (GRBC) and Brayden Noonan (Belconnen) claiming top spot, but having to work hard, getting past Telara Edwards (QRSL) and Will Lopez (Canberra) by just two shots in the first game and a mere four shots against Toby Penyu & Logan Waters (Yass) in round two. The boys really clicked in the final round where they played the previously undefeated Sam McGuigan & Tom Penyu (Yass) with the winner taking home first prize, Jordan & Brayden showing calmness and maturity to wrap up the title 18/7.
B Grade
With so many new juniors in our sport Bowls ACT chose to grade the competition based on experience, rather than age. This worked out superbly with some of our newer junior stars being able to build their match skills with players of comparable ability and show off some outstanding bowls. With the players in this competition ranging in experience from 12 months to just a few weeks it was great to see the players sharing tips and showing great sportsmanship. While the competition was largely about participation and development the competitive streak was there for all! Finishing first with three wins from three games was Yass pairing Toby Pados & Harry Waters, both players showing some real skill and Harry impressing many with his confident reading and calling of the head. Alex Penyu (Yass) impressed as runner-up while Aidan Hird (Canberra North) has shown great growth in his short time in the sport.
ACT Junior Singles
With a monster field of 20 players the competition returned to knockout format to allow play to be completed in the competition window. With Yass players comprising more than half the field the club assisted by hosting the first round games on Wednesday afternoon, with some of the best games of the competition with no margin greater than three shots! The biggest casualty was 2023 ACT Junior Singles Runner-Up Tom Penyu who fell to cousin Toby Penyu by a single shot. Second round games saw brother Harry & Logan Waters playing for family bragging rights, with Logan taking the victory while Angus Gambrill led early before falling 17/15 to a fast finishing Sam McGuigan, who then went on to knock-off Telara Edwards in the quarter finals. Will Lopez got over Brayden Noonan in a great game while Jordan Sturgiss showed class to defeat Logan Waters who played perhaps his best bowls of the event. Toby Penyu and Jordan both winning their semi-finals comfortably setting up a high quality final, which was marked by 2023 winner and now Pathways Jackaroo Harvey McAlister who has demonstrated the opportunities in our sport for young stars.
With both players showing great skill over two days it was unfortunate there had to be a loser, but Toby Penyu was simply outstanding in the final, running out victor 17/7 in a high quality contest that had the big crowd applauding both players with frequency!
