New Bowls Tasmania State Championships Format
In an exciting new
initiative designed to showcase bowls, this year’s State Open Championships
have been totally restructured by Bowls Tasmania.
Following a similar
format to the Australian Open, the Men’s and Women’s Fours, Pairs and Singles
will be played over one massive “gala week” of bowls, from January 2-8 at the
North Launceston Bowling Club.
And for the first
time, a Satellite Challenge Series will be introduced allowing those bowlers
eliminated from the championships the opportunity to play in three separate
Triples events.
The Satellite
Challenge Series will be conducted at various clubs in Launceston and prize
money will be also be allocated to these events.
The Championships
begin on Friday January 2 with the Fours’ sectional play, followed on January 3
by the Pairs’ sectional play with Singles’ knockout play conducted on Sunday
January 4.
The Fours’ finals
will be played on Monday January 5, the Pairs’ post sectional
play and finals will be held on Tuesday January 6 with the Singles’ knockout
competition continuing on Wednesday January 7.
The pairs’ finals
will be held on the morning of Thursday January 8 with the singles’ finals to
be played that afternoon. In case of inclement weather, Friday January 9 has been
set down as the rain day.
All unsuccessful entrants
in each of the State events can enter the three separate Satellite Challenges
that will be held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of
January.
The Challenges also
are open to bowlers throughout the State who have not entered the Tasmanian
Championships.
Eliminated bowlers
will be able to enter one or all three of the Satellite Challenges at the end
of each day’s sectional play of the State Championships.
Bowls Tasmania
president Garry Beven said he was excited by the championships restructure.
“With the
introduction of the Satellite Challenge Series, we are providing bowlers
statewide with a week of competition even for those who are knocked out after
sectional play of the championships,” Mr Beven said. “We are hoping that
bowlers will support the new format. It also means that those players who have
work commitments will only have to take a few days’ holidays to enable them to
compete,” he said.
Through their
corporate partnership, Bowls Tasmania have organized special room rates at Country
Club Tasmania (Resort or Villas).
Executive Officer
Steve Tomlin said players only needed to quote special codes for the discounted
room rates.
“For those who wish
to stay at the Villas, the code is 724412 and for the resort, the code is
724413,” Mr Tomlin said.
“I believe the rates
are quite decent, considering the time of year, especially the multi-bedroom
apartments that would suit families or maybe even couples should they opt to
share accommodation,’’ he said.
Entries to the six
State Championship events will be available through the Bowls Tasmania website
soon.
The men’s and women’s
State Open Triples will be held from March 7-9 in Devonport.
To view the Poster for this event CLICK HERE
