Bowling champs to roll up this summer

A STATEWIDE sporting event it set to come to Ballarat next year with the Bowls Victoria 2024 Regions Side Championships scheduled for January.

A statement from the City of Ballarat said the event is predicted to bring $215,000 into the local economy along with an influx of visitors.

It will be held on Saturday 13 January and Sunday 14 January, a weekend where there are no other bowls competitions throughout Victoria.

“It is attracting events like the Bowls Victoria 2024 Regions Sides Championships that cements Ballarat’s national reputation as a sports events destination,” said mayor Cr Des Hudson.

“We are thrilled to welcome the event to Ballarat, and we look forward to seeing many hundreds of visitors throughout the city.”

Events will be held at Sebastopol Bowing Club and Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowls Club in Alfredton in the lead up to the major comp, with visitors expected to stay in Ballarat for the week between the and the Regions Side Championships.

Overall, 1200 bowlers are expected, with the championships viewed as important for bowlers looking to become a state representative.

Bowls Victoria general manager commercial operations Andrew Haug said Ballarat will be a great host destination.

“With its central location together with a wide-ranging choice of accommodation, extensive list of restaurants, cafes and tourism attractions, the City of Ballarat was the perfect choice to host the Region Sides Championships in 2024,” he said.

“With a long-standing history of hosting some of the country’s largest and most significant events we know the bowls fraternity and their families will look forward to immersing themselves in all that Ballarat has to offer and calling the region home for the Region Sides Championships for many years to come.”

The host venues for the championships will be confirmed later.