South Burnie to stage bowls’best
The Super 6 and Australian Sides Championships will head to South Burnie in Tasmania next year Nearly two hundred of the nation’s finest bowlers will descend on South Burnie in Tasmania in late March after the city secured the rights to host two of lawn bowls’ premier events.
The beachside city will stage the sport’s showcase event, the time-honoured Australian Sides Championships and Super 6 challenge, in 2014, in addition to the annual Bowls Australia Awards Night during a week-long festival of bowls on the Apple Isle.
Commencing on Friday, March 28, the two-day Super 6 series ignites the six-day bowls extravaganza in the idyllic port city, located on the north-west coast of Tasmania, which is followed by the Australian Sides Championships, widely regarded as one of the sport’s marquee tournaments.
The Australian Sides Championships, which pits the top 12 men and women from each and every one of the nation’s eight state and territories against each other, is played over four days, with the revered Alley Shield being awarded to the victorious men’s team and the coveted Marj Morris Trophy handed to the winning women’s team.
Since the inaugural Australian Sides Championship was held in 1959, Tasmania is yet to claim the Alley Shield or Marj Morris Trophy, with a home win at the forefront of their minds after Queensland and NSW’s domination of the tournament over the last decade.
In an attempt to recognise the outstanding achievements of Australia’s finest bowlers and administrators, the sport’s awards night of nights will coincide with the on-green competitions, with the Burnie Arts and Functions Centre chosen as the ideal location to accommodate the major event on Saturday, March 29.
Bowls Australia Chief Executive Office Neil Dalrymple said the organisation is pleased to be able to take two of its renowned national events to Burnie, in partnership with the Burnie City Council.
“Bowls Australia in collaboration with Bowls Tasmania is elated to join with the Burnie City Council to be able to announce the staging of the Australian Sides Championships and Super 6, and Awards Night ceremony in Burnie next year,” Mr Dalrymple said.
“With free entry and the nation’s finest players in attendance, the on-green competitions are sure to spark significant interest from the bowls community nation-wide.
“Burnie city and the South Burnie Bowls Club will do a tremendous job hosting these events, and I know that the people from the local area and surrounding communities will support these events, given that is a particularly strong bowls region.”
Burnie Mayor Steve Kons believes the people of Burnie will support the event strongly.
“Council is extremely excited to be able to support the Australian Sides Championships. The community is looking forward to showcasing the city to the many players, officials, family and friends who will have travelled far,” Kons said.
“It speaks volumes of our local members in securing the championships in Burnie. They should be proud of their efforts. I know Burnie will be represented well.”
While the on-green competitions feature free entry, tickets for the Bowls Australia Awards Night function will be made available on bowlsaustralia.com.au closer to the event.
Caption: Tasmania’s Robert McMullen and Michael Sims after their 2013 Super 6 pairs gold medal win.
Article courtesy of Bowls Australia
