2025 Nationals: Day 3 wrap
Day three of the 2025 Nationals proved to be a moving day across the trio of concurrent events in the Australian Champion of Champions, the Para Nationals and Australian Under-18 Championships across both the Devonport Country Club and Burnie Bowls Club.
Australian Champion of Champions
2011 champion and former Right at Home Jackaroo Brett Wilkie concluded the men’s event as the only unbeaten player following an exemplary day on Tasmania’s North West Coast.
The Queenslander enjoyed wins over the ACT’s Sean Robertson and the Northern Territory’s Daniel Baker to set up a showdown with South Australia’s Max Kleinig, who was also unblemished heading into round four.
Wilkie managed to run out to a 17-8 lead before his counterpart rallied to get within two shots at 18-16 before the Helensvale product finished it off 21-16.
Kleinig sits second, a win clear of Robertson, Baker and Tasmania’s Rob McMullen, with New South Welshman Jack McShane, Western Australia’s Lee Such and Victoria’s Ali Forsyth rounding out the table on one win.
The women’s draw sees the home state’s Rae Simpson sitting unbeaten on four wins thanks to stirring victories over both Natalie Lewis and Jackaroo Kylie Lavis across a cold and windy day.
Simpson sits one win clear of Lewis and Queensland’s Adele Pershouse in second and third respectively.
In the chasing pack on two victories are Western Australia’s Karen Gaglia, 2017 winner Colleen Orr and Lavis, while South Australia’s Katrina Green and the ACT’s Lorraine Donney round out the table.
View the Australian Champion of Champions results HERE
Para Nationals
Further up the coast at Burnie, Australia’s para stars continued their bids for national glory with some pulsating action setting up a blockbuster finish to the week.
The men’s singles sees an in form Damien Delgado top section one after big wins over 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Josh Thornton and his Birmingham 2022 teammate Chris Flavel, while recent World Cup gold medallist James Reynolds heads into the final round on top of section two.
Serena Bonnell has continued her stellar singles winning streak on Australian shores to keep her place atop the women’s singles discipline thanks to a 21-1 win over third placed Carolyn Nelson with South Australia’s Susan Kruger in second.
In men’s pairs action, Queensland’s Brett Sellars and Clive Williams sit atop section one ahead of Victoria’s Lucas Protopapas and Josh Barry, while New South Wales’ Michael Vassallo and Aaron Kelly are placed in first in section two.
The women’s pairs sees Queensland’s Para Jackaroos in Cheryl Lindfield and Louise Hoskins remain unbeaten and ahead of the field, with New South Wales’ Christine Constable and Simone Smith in second a further win behind.
Queensland’s Sellars, Williams and Delgado head the men’s triples, a solitary salutation ahead of Vassallo, Kelly and Reynolds for New South Wales and Thornton, Protopapas and Barry for Victoria.
Hoskins, Lindfield and Bonnell are a win clear in the women’s triples, keeping Queensland’s stranglehold on the discipline, with New South Wales’ Constable, Smith and Nelson in second.
View the Para Nationals results HERE
Australian Under-18 Championships
South Australia’s Anda Panchawat continued her good singles form to sit atop the table thanks to victories over Victoria’s Mackenzie Parsons and Queensland’s Tilah Mason, with New South Wales’ Chanel Chakouch and Western Australia’s Sophie Hays a win behind.
Victoria’s Charlie Boswood and Max Heaton-Harris sit on top of the boy’s pairs section with five wins and a loss, while New South Wales’ Jacob Martin and Timothy Thorning sit unbeaten in second with a game in hand to the Victorians and one match to go.
With one round to go in the girl’s pairs, New South Wales’ Zoe Davies and Chakouch sit ahead of Queensland’s Lilly Vardy and Mason on shot difference with their matchups against South Australia and Victoria respectively to decide the title.
The boy’s triples gold medal will be decided by Thursday’s matchup between Tasmania and Queensland, with Tasmania’s Fletcher Felmingham, Oliver Morrison and Lachlan Thirley needing to win or avoid losing to Cooper Sutton, Ben Harrison and Levi Rice by 17 shots to claim the championship.
New South Wales’ Charlotte Hayman, Tahlia Kennedy and Ella Cameron have sewn up the girl’s triples title with a round to spare, sitting two wins clear of Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
With two rounds to go in the girl’s fours, Victoria’s Ayla Romanin, Marlie Malcolm, Chloe Scherger and Addy Ryan sit on top of the ladder ahead of New South Wales’ Davies, Hayman, Kennedy and Cameron by three shots with Queensland following one win off the pace.
There was no play in the boy’s singles or fours on Wednesday.
View the Australian Under-18 Championship results HERE
Bowls Australia thank and acknowledge Devonport Country Club and Devonport City Council for their partnership in hosting these Nationals, made possible alongside the support of the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.
The 2025 Nationals will run from November 10-28, 2025, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel from the 10th.
