Landmark event for lawn bowls

A STRONG contingent of Northern Rivers lawn bowlers is gearing up for a rare chance to compete in the NSW State Championships on home soil.

About 800 bowlers will converge on Cherry Street Sports, Ballina, Club Lennox and Plateau Sports Alstonville for 16 days of competition from March 25–April 9.

The state championships are the pinnacle event on the Bowls NSW calendar, with some of the top names having competed internationally.

It will be a landmark event and the first time the region has hosted the state title.

Each of the 16 divisions has a Northern Rivers representative after they came through regional qualification.

It makes it a rare event to have so many local competitors playing in a state-run competition in their own zone.

Ballina men’s bowling club president Geoff Wegg said the qualification process ensures the best players around the state are competing.

“It’s a signature event and the clubs from this region will be well represented,” Wegg said.

“Each person comes in as the best from their area and some of them have played at the highest level.”

Australian Jackaroos representatives Brianna Smith, Ben Twist and Corey Wedlock are among the field in the open singles.

East Lismore bowler Alf Boston will represent the local region in the open men’s singles, with Pottsville’s Coral Nathan in the open women’s singles.

Byron Bay Bowling Club has multiple entries while Alstonville, Evans Head, Lismore Heights, Ocean Shores and South Lismore are also represented.

The event will also include several volunteers from across the region who will be involved as markers, umpires and scorers.

“We’ve done up a roster with 540 spots on it,” Northern Rivers Bowls vice-president Sue Grady said.

“A lot of people will double up and perform multiple roles, it’s going to be a busy couple of weeks for everyone involved.”

Grady said Ray Roberts from Lennox Head has led the way coordinating the organising efforts between the host clubs along with the Bowls NSW committee.

It will be just the second time the event has been held outside Sydney after it was held at Dubbo last year.

It is expected to bring a $1.5 million economic boost to the community.

Northern Rivers has already secured the event again for 2027.