Six Bowls Finalists Announced for the 2025 NSW Champions of Sport Awards
We’re absolutely blown away and incredibly proud to see bowls so strongly represented with six finalists announced for the 2025 NSW Champions of Sport Awards.
The prestigious awards celebrate the state’s finest athletes, coaches, administrators, and sporting organisations, recognising outstanding achievement and contribution to sport over the past year. The winners across 12 categories will be revealed at the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony, held at The Sydney Event Centre – The Star, Pyrmont, on Monday, November 24.
Of the 64 finalists across 12 categories, bowls proudly features in six, showcasing the sport’s growing strength, inclusivity, and success across every level.
Bowls Finalists – 2025 NSW Champions of Sport Awards
Young Athlete of the Year – Jack McShane (Merrylands)
One of the sport’s brightest young stars, Jack McShane has enjoyed a meteoric rise through state, national, and international ranks. In 2025, he captured the World Bowls Indoor Men’s Singles title, defeating world-class opposition to claim his first international crown. He also became the NSW Champion of Champions Singles winner, finished runner-up at the Australian Indoor Championships, and made his NSW State Side debut. Throughout his rapid rise, Jack has remained humble, grounded, and respected across the bowls community. He is known as a kind and compassionate young man who takes time to encourage and mentor junior bowlers, serving as a role model for the next generation.
Team of the Year – KENO NSW Blues Men’s State Side
The NSW Blues Men’s Side continued its remarkable dominance in the 2024/25, reinforcing its reputation as one of Australia’s most successful representative teams. Their standout achievement was winning the Australian Sides Championship, going unbeaten through all seven matches to secure back-to-back national titles, having also been undefeated champions in 2023. The team also extended its interstate dominance, recording a fourth consecutive Test Series win over Queensland and a fifth straight victory against Victoria. Their sustained success has inspired a new generation of younger bowlers, who now aspire to follow in their footsteps and represent NSW at the highest level.
Team of the Year with a Disability – KENO NSW Para Blues
The NSW Para Blues proudly represented New South Wales at the highest level, competing at the Australian Para Nationals and in new interstate competitions. Following the introduction of the NSW v VIC Para Test Series last year, a NSW v QLD Series was established this year, creating vital representative opportunities and strengthened development pathways for para athletes. The team collected five medals at the 2024 Australian Para Nationals, with the women’s side remaining unbeaten against both Victoria and Queensland. The men’s side showed equal determination, responding to a narrow series loss to Victoria with an impressive comeback to defeat a strong Queensland team. Their professionalism and success have strengthened para bowls across NSW and inspired greater participation statewide.
Event of the Year – TAB NSW State Championships
Staged across Cherry Street Sports Club (Ballina), Lennox Head, and Alstonville, the 2024/25 TAB NSW State Championships brought together over 900 competitors and 2,300 attendees across 16 days of world-class competition. Generating an estimated $1.54 million economic boost for the Northern Rivers, the event reached over 6.6 million digital viewers and featured strong partnerships with Ballina Shire Council, Destination NSW, and Skin Check Champions, whose on-site health initiative provided free skin checks for 280 participants. Through structured governance, inclusive competition formats, and health partnerships, the Championships went beyond sport – delivering meaningful community outcomes and reinforcing Bowls NSW’s reputation as a leader in providing a positive sporting culture.
Coach of the Year – Gary Willis (Bowls Australia)
As National Coach and Performance Director, Gary Willis continues to lead Australia’s Jackaroos program to world-leading success. Under his guidance, the team dominated international events including the Trans Tasman Series, Lion Cup, and World Junior Indoor Championships, while also earning the AIS “Win Well” Award for balancing performance with athlete wellbeing. Gary is renowned for fostering an environment where athlete wellbeing and performance are equally prioritised. His leadership philosophy centres on respect, inclusivity, and shared accountability, ensuring that every athlete feels valued and supported within the high-performance system.
Administrator of the Year – Tim Rowe (CEO, Bowls NSW)
Bowls NSW CEO Tim Rowe has driven transformative change across the sport, delivering record participation growth, improved governance, and financial sustainability. Under his leadership, the organisation achieved a 33% increase in turnover, secured new commercial partnerships, and unified 56 former Zones and Districts into 16 modernised Regions. Tim’s people-first approach and commitment to respect, inclusion, and innovation have strengthened bowls at every level and redefined the organisation’s culture and strategic direction.
