John Wilson (third from left) and Neil Buckley (back right) with junior bowlers Tyler Hillier, Callan Glenn, Darcy Nilsson and Mason Glenn in Barham.
Five junior Deni RSL Bowling Club members took on some of Australia’s best under-18 bowlers in a special event last week.
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The juniors competed in the 2024 Murray Mallee Junior Classic Fours competition in Barham on Wednesday, July 3 and Thursday, July 4.
The tournament consisted of two bowl fours with 15 ends each, three games a day over the two days.
Lunch was provided with teams competing for up to $3000 in prize money based on entries.
The tournament was open to any junior aged under-18 as of July 3, 2024.
Four players - Tyler Hillier, Callan Glenn, Darcy Nilsson and Mason Glenn - competed as a team.
Although they did not win the tournament, they got off to a great start by winning the first game of the six played over the two days.
Fellow junior bowler Ella Hipworth was placed in a combination team, which competed well but also failed to reach the podium at the end of the tournament.
The Deni players were well supported, with stalwart bowlers John Wilson and Neil Buckley providing guidance.
The juniors were also supported by their parents.
Deni RSL Bowls president Tony Tonta said the tournament was a great opportunity for the up-and-coming bowlers who “carried themselves with great respect”.
“It was very good experience for them.
“Most of their competitors were a lot older than them, but they did extremely well and represented the club exceptionally at the tournament in Barham.”
The members’ participation in the tournament follows a concerted effort by the RSL Bowling Club to foster a love of bowling in the younger generations.
Over the past few years it has been developing a junior bowling program, aiming to work in with schools.
School holidays bowling programs are also held by the club, with the last one being in April.
Eight children, including three who attended the Classic in Barham, received high-quality bowls tuition at the greens on Duncan St during that last holiday program.
Callan Glenn, Ella Hipworth, Mason Glenn, Darcy Nilsson and Tyler Hillier in Barham.
Holiday program participants (back, from left) Mitch Luckell, Darcy Nilsson, Callan Glenn, Jett Boyer and Selma Van der Berg; (front) Monique Crothers, Gideon Van der Berg and Mason Glenn.
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