NTC squads go head to head

by admin on November 24, 2014

QLD and NSW NTC squads will be going head to head in a test series held at Broadbeach Bowling Club from November 26-28 The inaugural Queensland verse New South Wales NTC challenge gets underway at Broadbeach Bowling Club tomorrow at mid-day where you will find the most talented rising stars of bowls going head to head in a state of origin style battle. 

The QLD v NSW NTC Challenge comprises of the up and coming stars in Australian bowls that are considered to be the future of the sport and may well be the next generation of Australian Jackaroo’s to don on the green and gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. 

The squads of 10 have already been put through their paces arriving in Broadbeach yesterday for a series of competitive training exercises, team building challenges, fitness activities and have been addressed by sporting royalty during mentoring sessions. 

Australian National Coach Steve Glasson, Australian Jackaroo’s Captain Lynsey Clarke and Bowls Australia’s High Performance Co-ordinator Peter Brown were all present at Broadbeach Bowling Club to pass on their knowledge and motivate the squads to achieve greatness. 

In an absolute coup for the sport, former West Indies Trainer/Physio Dennis Waight presented to bowls future stars on the sands at Broadbeach.

Waight was hired by Kerry Packer during the World Series of Cricket to train the West Indies including cricket legends Sir Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd; the work done by Waight was the catalyst for the West Indies period of dominance. 

The stars just keep coming with golfing great and commentator Ossie Moore and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kelvin Kerkow joining the squads tomorrow before the players go head to head in the five a side format test series. 

The squads will play three test series’ over three days starting with pairs and triples then singles and fours to complete one test. 

Competitive training drills will determine the singles players for each test; NTC coaches have set a challenge for the squads to be the highest scorer from each state in three different training drills to be rewarded with the coveted singles role in each test series.  

National Training Centre Coaches Gary Willis (NSW) and Brett Wilkie (QLD) have known each other for 30 years, first meeting when they were playing for opposing states in the Junior National Championships. 

Willis jokes that without a doubt NSW will be victorious during this series however he is so thrilled that these rising stars of the sport have been given such a wonderful opportunity to develop their games and put their best foot forward for future national selections. 

“Both Brett (Wilkie) and I are here to give it everything we have to ensure the players make the most of the week and we would both like to thank Bowls Queensland, Bowls NSW and Women’s Bowls NSW for their support as this event wouldn’t be happening without them,” Mr Willis said. 

Broadbeach Bowling Club is getting plenty of traffic hosting the very successful World U’25 Singles Championships this month, Australia’s premier event the $225,000 Australian Open is just around the corner and in 2018 all the lights will shine on Broadbeach as the bowling venue for the Commonwealth Games. 

Broadbeach has kindly sponsored the QLD v NSW NTC Challenge, as has former Australian representative Robbie Thompson the newly elected board member of Broadbeach Bowling Club. 

Thompson is the owner of the convenient store ‘Star Express’ across the road from Broadbeach Bowling Club and is sponsoring the event by suppling breakfast and snacks for the squads throughout the week. 

Cabramatta Bowling Club is the centre of excellence for the NSW/ACT NTC Squad; the club is a great supporter of this development program and is assisting players like their own Ray Pearse, Corey Wedlock and Ellen Ryan to further their careers.  

Australian Premier League MVP and best bowler in the world Alex Marshall will be popping in to mingle with the squads and answer some of their questions.  

To see all the young stars in action and support your state head to Broadbeach Bowling Club from mid-day on Wednesday 26 to Friday 28. 

QLD SQUAD

Kiani Anderson
Natasha Jones
Bolivia Millerick
Cassandra Millerick
Pam Rowe
Kurt Brown 
Des Cann
Eric Copeland
Sean Ingham
Robert Wild

NSW SQUAD

Natalie Noronha
Samantha Noronha
Jamie-Lee Worsnop
Ellen Ryan
Kelly Richards
Jessie Noronha
Ben Glasson
Ray Pearse
Aaron Teys
Corey Wedlock