Middle Park Women’s Challenge

by Melanie Allen

On a glorious Melbourne Sunday in February, Middle Park Bowling Club held it’s first ‘Women’s Challenge’ – an invitational tournament for women of all skill levels and ability, in a new and fun format.

The driver behind this event is Kumari Mangos, a passionate advocate for women in bowls, and a member of Bowls Victoria’s Women in Bowls (WiB) Taskforce. Having noticed the large decline in female participation in bowls, Kumari has been a driving force behind new concepts, ongoing robust discussions and action to promote bowls to women.

“Whilst myself and others are proud and grateful of the pioneers who came before us, who have given women the platform to play open pennant on the weekend, we also need to acknowledge that women still want and need the opportunity to play together. Additionally, women are often selected in front-end positions in team scenarios, and don’t have as much opportunity as men to build back-end playing experience.”

The data supports this. In the 2024-25 (metro) pennant season, just 39 of the 209 women playing across Divisions 2 through to Premier Division, were playing back-end positions (18.9%). There has been a small increase in the twelve months since, with 54 of 221 or 24.4%, in the 2025-26 season. Unfortunately, as the divisions get higher, the proportion of women afforded opportunities in back-end roles decreases.

In response to this, last year Middle Park began a women’s skills and development program which involved monthly coaching sessions. They then invited their friends from nearby St Kilda Bowls Club to compete against them in a ‘friendly’ match. This was in the form of a fun hit-out and became the launch of what is now the Middle Park Women’s Challenge.

The new event looked a little different in year two, with the club trialling a 12-a-side competition and inviting six clubs to participate. The structure was designed to provide women of all skill levels, who play in all different (pennant) divisions, an opportunity to play together as one side and represent their club. The six participating clubs were;

• Middle Park Sharkettes
• St Kilda Sainters
• Auburn Burners
• Brunswick Wickers
• Moorabbin Thunder
• Richmond Union Tenacious Tigresses

The Middle Park team included a bowler who has been playing for twenty-two years, but also a new bowler who has only been playing for three months, and some of the women were playing in their first ever tournament. For some, it was their first time skipping, and for most it will be the first time competing together as a women’s side for their club.

Women played in four rinks of two-bowl triples, competing in three one-hour matches. An integral part of the format included rotating positions each game, allowing everyone to build their experience in all positions. There was no jack rolling, no dead ends, and a bell was rung to finish the end after one hour.

“I guess you could call it a one-day, women’s pennant competition”, said Kumari.

“We hear so often that the time commitment of a full Saturday to play pennant is too much, and a big barrier to people joining our sport. What if pennant wasn’t the only option? What if you could play one-hour per week and love the sport just as much as we all do? We know many women have time for an hour of yoga or an hour of netball. What if there was a way to come and play an hour of bowls?”

When asked what they hoped to get out of the day, Kumari and her team really wanted those who participated, if it worked, if they enjoyed the day and the format, perhaps they could go back to their own clubs and introduce a similar format on a weekly basis as a way to introduce more women to bowls.

In addition to the three-match competition, participants were treated to a delicious lunch, served by the men of Middle Park, and were treated to a special guest speaker. Major sponsor of the event, Toorak Times, flew Australian Para Jackaroo, Serena Bonnell, down from Queensland to address the group. A multi-world title holder and Commonwealth Games medallist, Bonnell is a proud ambassador for the LGBTQI+ and disability communities. Bonnell has been instrumental in encouraging inclusivity in the bowls community by hosting para come-and-try days and one-on-one training sessions, as well as helping emerging para players get on the pathway to state selection. She gave a raw and passionate presentation to the group, and received a standing ovation at its conclusion.

While not the focus of the day, there did have to be a winner, and it was the home side – the Middle Park Sharkettes, who will see their names engraved on the Women’s Challenge Shield for 2026. Thanks to sponsor Health 104 (a health club across the road from MPBC), the winning team will be treated to a day of pampering including pilates, sauna, brunch and more.

Before they hit the greens, Kumari’s message to the women was, “yes you are here as a team and there will be a winner, but today is also about supporting and empowering women, so let’s get out there and lift each other up. Let’s go out there and play as a team but also be mentors and cheerleaders of every woman on the green today.”

They took to the greens, to the sounds of Shania Twain and an uplifting all-female playlist, bowled and laughed the day away, as only women can.

We congratulate Kumari and the volunteers at Middle Park Bowling Club on a wonderful initiative, and we look forward to seeing the program grow in 2027.

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