Young talent ready to shine in Bendigo

by Team BV

The rising stars of Victorian lawn bowls will make their way to Bendigo in October to contest the Under-18 Australian Championships.

Ten dynamic young bowlers have been selected to represent the state after Bowls Victoria announced the boys’ and girls’ teams today.

Amity Bickley (Mulgrave Country Club), Tyson Cromie (Yarrawonga), Olivia Cartwright (Kyabram), Jarryd Davies (Essendon), Alana Flapper (Essendon), Isabella Hosken (Mulgrave Country Club), Cameron Keenan (Kangaroo Flat), Grant McLaren (Colac), Sophie Kurzman (Sunbury) and Liam Turner (Bundoora RSL) will all make their way to Central Victoria.

Former Australian representative and Bowls Victoria’s Under-18 coach, Matthew Flapper, is excited to see the next generation go after a national title, although selecting the team wasn’t an easy task.

“We’ve had some excellent performances over the past 12-months, and this holds Victoria in good stead for the Nationals and beyond,” said Flapper.

“It was an extremely difficult process. The pool of talent we had to select from and then to narrow that down to ten was challenging due to the depth,” he added.

Victoria will head into this year’s National Championship as the defending champions after claiming the Robert Middleton Overall State Champion team trophy in 2018.

Jarryd Davies and Tyson Cromie will take to the green to defend their National crown in the Singles and Pairs events. It’s been a big 12-months for Davies on the junior circuit, which has included selection in Australia’s Emerging Jackaroo Squad.

The Australian Under-18 Championships will be contested from October 1-4, 2019 at Bendigo Bowling Club.

The week will see the best under-18 players from each State and Territory go head to head in a five-a-side format that includes Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours events.

Congratulations to the following players on their selection.

Victorian Girls

Isabella Hosken / Mulgrave Country Club

In 2019, Isabella was the runner up in the Under-18 State Singles played at Champions Week in Bendigo and the Victorian Under-18 Girls’ Pairs. Isabella has shown consistent performances in the last twelve months, including selection in the Under-18 Test Series against Tasmania at the Dandenong Club in July. Isabella played a very good standard of bowls (at Dandenong), and was a great contributor to a dominating series win. Isabella has been rewarded with her first Nationals this year with selection for the Singles and will lead in the Pairs with Olivia Cartwright.

Amity Bickley / Mulgrave Country Club

A member of last year’s Under-18 National Championships team and a talented young player that performs consistently. Amity was a runner-up alongside, Isabella Hosken, in the Under-18 Pairs and played well in the Under-18 Australian Open winning two games from her three Sectional matches. Unfortunately, she just missed out on qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Junior Nugget in Tweed Heads earlier this month. Amity will lead in the Triples and Fours.

Olivia Cartwright / Kyabram Bowls Club

Olivia is a fantastic up and coming talent with remarkable game knowledge for a fifteen-year-old. A member of last year’s Under-18 National Championships team, Olivia played Second in the Triples and Third in the Fours. A third-place finish at the Junior Nugget this year was a terrific effort. Locally, Olivia took out the Division Champion of Champions title at open age. Olivia will Skip the Pairs and Fours Teams.

Alana Flapper / Essendon Bowls Club

Alana first wore the Victorian shirt last year against Tasmania. Her next opportunity came again in 2019, again against Tasmania, in which she played consistently well throughout the series. She won in the Deer Park Under-18 Triples where she dominated all day in the lead position. Alana will play Second in both Triples and Fours in her first National appearance.

Sophie Kurzman / Sunbury Bowls Club

Now a member of the Victorian Under-18 team. Sophie has shown improvement in the last 12-months to be a dominant player at under-18 level. A member of last year’s Under-18 National Championship team, Sophie played Second in the Fours and Lead in the Pairs. Sophie had a great Test Series against South Australia and backed this up with a terrific performance against Tasmania. Sophie has stepped up to be a natural team leader and this year will Skip the Triples and play Third in the Fours.

Victorian Boys

Jarryd Davies / Essendon Bowls Club

It’s been a huge 12-months for Jarryd Davies who was recently selected in Australia’s Emerging Jackaroo Squad. Jarryd has the opportunity to defend last year’s National crown in both the Singles and Pairs, alongside Tyson Cromie. Jarryd currently holds the Australian Under-18 Singles and Pairs, Australian Open Under-18 Singles and Junior Gold Nugget titles. He is also the 2018 Victorian Open Pairs Champion and Vic Medal winner.

Tyson Cromie / Yarrawonga Bowls Club

The current Australian Under-18 Pairs Champion is a regular in the Victorian Representative side and has been one of the most consistent players in recent times. Last year’s Gold medal with Jarryd Davies was one of the best finishes to an event ever. Together these two boys have produced a record, dominating Under-18 Bowls. Tyson was the Under-18 Victorian Triples winner this year and will lead in the Pairs and play Second in the Fours.

Liam Turner / Bundoora RSL Bowls Club

Runner up in the Victorian Under-18 Pairs in 2019, Liam went on to have a crack at the Under-18 Australian Open earlier this year. He won three games in his Section which took him into the Quarter Final, which he went on to win 21-7. Liam lost the Semi-Final to South Australia’s Nathan Black 17-21 which was a great effort. His debut was the Under-18 Test against Tasmania at Dandenong Club, which he played consistently and well. A skipper last season for Kingsbury in their top division, Liam has already developed great knowledge of reading play and will be an excellent acquisition for the team. Liam will play his first Nationals as Second in Triples and Third in the Fours.

Cameron Keenan / Kangaroo Flat Bowls Club

Cameron was a contender for the 2018 Nationals Team to which he just missed out. He has since played both South Australia and Tasmania in the Under-18 Test Series and performed well. At club level, Cameron stood tall on the open stage this year winning both Region Pairs and Triples Championships. A quiet achiever who knows how to get the job done, Cameron will lead in both the Triples and Fours in his Nationals debut.

Grant McLaren / Colac Bowls Club

Grant stepped up to be the Skipper of the teams’ events in the Under-18 Test Series against South Australia. He adapted to this role very well, which he then replicated against Tasmania. A Premiership skipper at his club in the top division this year, Grant plays the position with confidence and provides excellent leadership for his players. A semi-finalist in the Victorian Under-18 Singles Championship this year, Grant will play his first National event as the Skipper of both the Triples and Fours.