2023/24 State Junior Championships – Day 1 Report
The 2023-24 Bowls NSW State Junior Championships got underway on Monday, 15th April as bowlers from across the state descended on Warilla Bowls Club, a longstanding host for the event spanning over two decades. The venue buzzed with excitement as aspiring young talents battled, each with hopes of advancing to a final later in the week.
The opening day saw the competition kick off, as the boys and girls pairs events took centre stage. Throughout the morning, sectional play unfolded, setting the stage for an afternoon of intense battles. As the day progressed, anticipation mounted with the afternoon showcasing the girls’ semi-finals and boys’ quarter-finals.
Throughout the day, spectators were treated to thrilling games of bowls, with Round 3 of the girls pairs competition stealing the spotlight on the livestream. In a gripping encounter between Shakiya Murray (Griffith Exies) & Madison Hazell (Junee) and Charlotte Hayman & Shelby Powell of Raymond Terrace, the teams were tied on 14 shots going into the final end. The game concluded with the Raymond Terrace duo clinching a 17-14 victory, securing their spot in the semi-final.
In the girls semi-finals, Zoe Davies (Windang) & Reese Finn-Young (Merimbula) got the better of the Raymond Terrace duo, winning 24-8 while Jasmine Smith & Chanel Chakouch of St. Johns Park beat Padstow’s Samatha Morton & Skye Courtin setting up a thrilling final which will take place on Thursday at 2:15pm.
The boys quarter-finals produced equalling thrilling matches as clubs battled for a place in the semi-finals which will be played on Thursday at 2:15pm. Cooper Appleby & Xander Webber (Kurri Kurri) will compete against Cooper Wrightson & Jacob Aitken from Engadine, while Sam Rich and Thomas Rich from Merrylands will face Cooper Fliendner (Manildra) & Cooper Dart (West Dubbo).
Attention now switches to the eagerly anticipated singles competition, with separate events and coveted titles up for grabs in both the under-15 and under-18 categories for boys and girls. Sectional play commences on Tuesday, as players will aim to book themselves a place in the quarter and semi-finals on Thursday and Friday.
