CEO REPORT with BQ’s Brett Wilkie

Another exciting year of bowls has commenced with the QLD Junior State Championships completed and summer competitions underway. All the best to districts, clubs and members across the State for the year ahead.

BQ Board and AGM

Nominations closed on January 27 for the role of President and two Board Directors on the Bowls QLD Board. Details of nominations received will be in the March Bowler and the Bowls QLD AGM will be held on Wednesday, March 22.

ACEIT Partnership

Bowls Queensland is pleased to announce that ACEIT has agreed to continue their partnership with Bowls Queensland for another term. ACEIT has been providing BQ with high quality apparel and service since 2019. We value our relationship and look forward to working with ACEIT to fit out our representative players, board, committees and staff.

2023 Junior State Championships

Well done to all juniors in this event on their performance and sportsmanship displayed, this was a real credit to themselves, parents/carers, coaches and everyone else involved. Numbers were up 13% this year which was great to see and the introduction of the Under 12 Open Singles was well received.

Thank you to the parents/carers/family/coaches/ clubs and districts who supported the juniors to attend this event. Thank you to Des Kemp, Chair of the Burnett Bowls Club and Bundaberg District Junior Liaison for his assistance along with volunteers and staff from the Burnett, Across The Waves and Bundaberg Bowls Clubs. Well done to our Match Committee and BQ Staff for co-ordinating and running this event, also to BQ’s Umpire and Selection Committee for their time and effort at these championships. Congratulations to the eight girls and eight boys selected in the 2023 QLD Junior Squad (see page 5).

Thank you to the Bundaberg Regional Council, Arcon Metals Recycling, West Bundaberg Pharmacy and Macadamias Australia for their sponsorship of this event. All six days were live streamed, thank you to Robbie Allan, Brian Marshall and Bruce Kirk for providing this service.

QLD Youth Academy

This new initiative was announced during January and included a presentation by Bowls Australia QLD Pathways Coach Lynsey Clarke to participants, coaches and support crew at the QLD Junior State Championships. Well done to Lynsey and the BQ Coaching Committee who are working together to introduce this new program to our rising stars of the sport in QLD. Coaching Committee Co-ordinator Alan Thorp and Selection Committee Co-ordinator Christina Pavlov also did a presentation at the QLD Junior State Championships entitled Coaching Pathways, which was well received.

Bowls QLD Event Hosting

Expressions of Interest are open for any clubs interested in nominating to host the following Bowls QLD events: 2023 State Champion of Club Champion Finals Series; 2023 State Pennant Finals; 2023 8-a-Side Mixed Event; 2023 State District Mixed Pairs and 2024 Junior State Championships. Expressions close on February 13.

2023 State Championships

The 2023 State Championships Finals, with $50,000 prize money, will be held at Coolum Beach Bowls Club on the Sunshine Coast from May 8-21, 2023. Bowls Queensland would like to thank the Sunshine Coast Council and the Coolum Beach Bowls Club for their support of this event to be held in the Sunshine Coast Region.

2023 District Sides Championships

The 2023 District Sides Championships will be held at Coolum Beach, Club Kawana, Club Maroochy, The Waves Caloundra and Tewantin Noosa Bowls Clubs from May 3-6, 2023.

Wilkie

Inaugural High Performance Youth Academy launched

The start of a new year in the bowls world brings anticipation and excitement about what lies ahead. This year, a new initiative will give our next generation of Queensland talent a little something extra for to strive for.

Launched on February 1, the Bowls Queensland High Performance Youth Academy will offer a new platform for the development of identified talent between the ages of 15 and 30, selected from across the State. With the aim of capturing and retaining young bowlers from an early age, the Youth Academy offers the opportunity to be part of a structured training environment and squad that will be mentored, supported and managed by experienced coaches, who are passionate about inspiring learning, growth, achievement and excellence.

The High-Performance Youth Academy will be a fantastic stepping stone for those developing players within the sport of bowls who have ambition to move through the pathway structure, in to the Queensland Pathways Squad and State Squads and potentially on to higher Australian Squad honours. The Youth Academy Program concept has been designed, and will be led, by one of Queensland’s most decorated, successful and respected representatives, and Bowls Australia Queensland Pathways Coach, Lynsey Clarke.

Clarke, who herself came through the Queensland ranks as a representative Junior, Under 25, and then Open Level athlete before taking to the international stage, is excited about the opportunity to play a key role in nurturing the Next Generation of young Queenslanders on their own unique journeys.

“I feel really grateful to have come through a strong development program in our State when I started showing some ability as a junior,” Clarke said.

“I was able to learn from some amazing coaches and mentors who provided me with such a solid foundation in the sport – not just skills wise, but more importantly with those life values that have led me so well throughout my lengthy international bowls career,” she said.

“That’s what we want to offer these young Queenslanders. The impact of a great coach and learning environment can’t be underestimated, so I’m really excited about what the future can hold for our Academy Squad members down the track. I envisage they will become fantastic ambassadors of the mighty maroon shirt.”

Clarke will work closely with Bowls Queensland Coaching Coordinator, Alan Thorp (and his committee), to develop and deliver the content and ensure a comprehensive, educational and motivational Program is provided to the incoming 2023 Academy Squad.

“This Academy is such a positive step in the right direction for youth development and the growth of our sport in Queensland,” Thorp said. “Our State Coaching Committee is looking forward to working with Lynsey in the delivery of this program,” he said.

The inaugural Bowls Queensland High Performance Youth Academy Squad for 2023 will be announced on the BQ website, Facebook page and Queensland Bowler magazine.

Bowls Queensland President Peter Williamson and CEO Brett Wilkie are also excited about the potential of what this program could deliver over the long term for the State.

Bowls Queensland’s aim and strong desire is to improve the pathways and performances of Queensland representatives, with the BQ Board believing this new academy would be a direct contribution to a high-performance program.