2025 Nationals preview
For the first time in its history The Nationals heads to Tasmania with Australia’s best set to battle it out in the biggest edition of the event to date.
With over 30 national titles set to be awarded, each of the six coveted competitions will be hotly contested between some of the strongest fields from each state and territory scattered across Devonport and Burnie.
Those six events being the Australian Champion of Champions, Under-18 Championships, Para Nationals, Senior Sides Championships, Australian Sides Championships and of course the Australian Championships.
The Champion of Champions remains one of the most coveted trophies on the Australian bowls calendar, with the the opportunity to bid for a world title a carrot dangling for all participants.
2011 champion Brett Wilkie is the only former winner in the men’s draw, that sees the extremely in-form Right at Home Emerging Jackaroo Jack McShane loom large.
Former World Champion Ali Forsyth is another that will eye the crown, as will South Australian stalwart Max Kleinig and Tasmanian star Rob McMullen.
The women’s draw sees two former champions looming ominously as Jackaroo Kylie Lavis bids to add to the crown that she held in 2018, while 2017 winner Colleen Orr is another dangerous prospect when it comes to the national stage.
Natalie Lewis poses a threat for New South Wales, as does Australian Open Over-60’s women’s pairs winner Adele Pershouse, while Tasmania’s Rae Simpson and South Australia’s Katrina Green will be tricky prospects.
The names in the Under-18 Championships continue to get bigger with the girl’s field seeing the likes of Chanel Chakouch, Anda Panchawat, Addy Ryan, Lacey Gerick, Lilly Vardy, Tahlia Kennedy, Zoe Davies and Mia Baldey.
In addition, the boy’s roster is equally as good with Charlie Boswood, Max Heaton-Harris, Charlie Hicks, Callum Alberti, Jacob Hoger, Rhys Gillman, Levi Rice, Oliver Morrison, Kobe Jarman, Jacob Cartwright, Harry Coleman, Cooper Sutton and Timothy Thorning all in a stacked field.
Following those two competitions will be the Para Nationals, which will boast a new look format in 2025 with each gender holding open singles, pairs and triples events instead of the previous classification based disciplines in previous years.
Situated at the Burnie Bowls Club, four Para Jackaroos will be in action across the women’s competitions with Serena Bonnell, Cheryl Lindfield, Carolyn Nelson, Alison East and Louise Hoskins all bidding for more silverware in their trophy cabinets.
Emerging Para Jackaroos and 2022 Clover Lester Encouragement Award winner Jodie Nikolic will take part, as will 2023 recipient Annette Ruffle and 2024
In the men’s field it will be six Para Jackaroos vying for glory with Josh Barry, Chris Flavel, James Reynolds, Damien Delgado, Tony Bonnell and Brett Sellars all set to be in contention for titles.
Lucas Protopapas, Cooper Whitestyles and Michael Vassallo all headline the Emerging Para Jackaroos in the field, with the likes of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Josh Thornton and former Australian representative David Minns in the field alongside a plethora of other sublime para bowlers.
Back at Devonport will be the Australian Senior Sides Championships with the Victorian women looking to clinch a fourth consecutive victory while South Australia’s men will be striving to defend their crown.
New South Wales were the most consistent state at Tweed last year and will endeavour to add at least one of the John Dobbie AM or Betty Collins OAM trophies to their cabinet.
A rest day follows before the Alley Shield and Marj Morris Trophy will be contested at the Sides Championships, with New South Wales’ men aiming for a first three-peat since 2003-05.
The Blues are currently on a 19-tie winning streak since 2022 and will be backing themselves once again to clinch the coveted shield.
Queensland’s women will have a target on their backs following a stirring victory in 2024, winning the event for the first time since 2017 with New South Wales and Victoria following closely.
To conclude The Nationals once more will be the Australian Championships with a plethora of current Jackaroos and Emerging Jackaroos, as well as former Australian stars, international champions and state stalwarts across an action packed five days.
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.
Nationals program – click sides to turn pages
