Master & Apprentice Pairs Championship
New event on the 2026-27 calendar
The Master & Apprentice Pairs Championship is a participation-focused event designed to introduce new participants to bowls while creating meaningful engagement between experienced bowlers and prospective new members.
The event pairs a Victorian affiliated “Master” bowler with an “Apprentice” non-bowler, in a statewide series of qualifying events, followed by finals. The format provides clubs with a hosting opportunity while creating a pathway for new participants to experience competitive bowls in a fast, fun and welcoming environment.
BV General Manager of Events & Competitions, Josh Thornton, said of the new event, “The Master & Apprentice Championship is the perfect event to enhance your existing participation program, or get new people bowling at your club. Tell your members to grab a mate and have a go.”
Masters/Apprentices can enter to compete at any available event during the Season, and can enter multiple times during the qualifying period.
Host Clubs
This is the a perfect event to attract new members to your club, or enhance your existing participation programs (barefoot bowls, corporate bowls, jack attack players etc). It’s also a great way to transition your casual bowlers into members.
Clubs will also have the opportunity to receive recognition and awards for their efforts in growing their local participation and/or membership, with further details to be announced soon.
To express interest in hosting a qualification day please complete the Expression of Interest below. On confirmation of each date/location, Bowls Victoria will set up the BowlsLink competition and entry portal, for clubs to use and share. Dates/Locations will be published on BV website and share on social media to assist clubs to fill their qualifiers. Please note that any interested entrant can participate at any host club/qualifier event.
Competition Overview
Qualifying events will be held at multiple locations across Victoria. A minimum of 8 teams is required for a qualifying event to proceed. The winners from each qualifier will progress to the State Final. Qualifying events are Single-day events and can be held on any day of the week.
Event Format
- Sectional play, sections four, three matches per section.
- Minimum of 8 teams per event, per venue.
- A minimum of 1 Knockout round played at conclusion of Sectional play.
- Additional Knockout rounds will be added depending on entry numbers.
- 3-bowl Pairs.
- 2 Sets of 5 ends. Tie break played if sets are shared.
Date, Time & Location
- Clubs will nominate their preferred hosting date.
- Qualifiers can commence from 1st November 2026 – 31st July 2027.
- The Finals will take place in September 2027 (1 or 2 days pending entry numbers, on a weekend).
Team & Entry Information
- $80.00 entry fee per team
- Team composition must consist of one registered bowler (Master) and one non-bowler (Apprentice).
- Each Qualifier winning team receives $200 prize money.
- Additional major prizemoney will be awarded at the Finals event, with the full prizemoney structure to be announced closer to the event.
Eligibility Critera
Master (Registered Bowler)
- A Master participant must be a current Victorian Affiliated bowler.
Whether you’ve been bowling for 1 year or 20, you are a Master.
Apprentice (Non-Bowler)
The Apprentice participant:
- Must not have ever been registered in BowlsLink with playing rights (full competition ‘green dot’ member, social bowler, eg: weekly Turkey Triples, other similar type of competition).
- Must not have previously played Pennant bowls, Club Championships, Region Events, State Events, National Events.
- Not have been affiliated in any other State or Territory in Australia, or International affiliated body.
- Can only enter once (as an Apprentice). Eg, if playing in the 2026-27 event, the Apprentice can then go on/only enter the 2027-28 event as a Master.
The intent is to ensure the event genuinely targets new participants while also capturing individuals who may have had casual exposure to the sport, either recently or in the past, but have not participated in any organised competition.
For further information about this event, please contact:
Sam Rogers – 0490 804 249. E: sam@bowlsvic.org.au
Ky Shennan – 0481 812 221. E: ky@bowlsvic.org.au
Josh Thornton – 0474 741 177. E: josht@bowslvic.org.au
