Junior Bowler Feb 14

February 2014

junior

bowler s l B o w rs

The

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The Litfins light up the Super Chall enge

THE MCLEISH CLAN

KEOGH’S AUS OPEN QUEST one direction binjour's starlet Auckland v Queensland

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Binjour Bowls latest success Brittanny Wiley

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Juniors stirring up the Super Challenge Queensland’s young guns mixing it with the adults

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The Generation Game Patrick, Keith and eleven year old Zac in the Sevens

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Auckland v Queensland The Kookaburras fly over the ditch for pre-Christmas bout.

If you have any stories you’d like featured in Junior Bowler, please contact Bowls Queensland on 07 3355 9988 or email news@bowls-queensland.org 2

BRITTANY'S BOWLOSMING ARE BLO Binjour Bowls Club’s youngest member is looking forward to taking part in more competitions in 2014, thanks to the support of two sponsors, impressed by her work ethic and potential.

In 2013, Brittanny Wiley, 13, won the club’s women’s pairs with her grandmother Aileen Wiley, and the women’s B-grade singles, and in 2012, she contested district champion of club champions mixed pairs and ladies pairs.

The Year 9 student at Mundubbera SHS has also already earned herself a “9” and two “8” badges, something many good bowlers don’t achieve in a lifetime.

“Determination and commitment are excellent traits in a young person. Brittanny works two part-time jobs to help fund her bowls,” Wiley said. board as a co-sponsor, along with Bowlers “She never strays from working hard Paradise, so Brittanny can attend more towards her bowls dream, with drills, away-competitions.” training and competitions.”

Brittanny also has a green thumb, “One of her local employers, Central growing and selling plants to help fund Fruit Pickers, has been so impressed her bowls, a sport she took up at just with her hard work they’ve come on four years old.

Throwing tvs out of hotel windows and crashing your car is just too old school for modern pop stars. Bowls is where it’s at.

One Direction’s Harry Styles has been getting in to it during his down time, cheering on our own Karen Murphy.

Next time you are in Australia, Harry, call in to BQHQ, perhaps Bill Cornehls can give you a few tips.

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P U IR T S S R O I N U J E G N E L L A H C SUPER POT As the Super Challenge gets underway, some of the best young bowlers in Queensland will be rolling up.

It’s a great opportunity to test themselves against seasoned bowlers.

quickened up a bit and I didn’t get the spin of the green.”

Brett Wilkie is a player Litfin looks up to.

“He’s my hero. He’s really helped my bowls. I played against him in the Club Champion of Champions, a

Mitchell Mears and Alex Harman from Algester, Bradley Lawson representing Everton Park and Hayden Vogler, who is playing pairs with former state representative Col Hall, in the colours of West Toowoomba, along with Josh Anderson from Tewantin-Noosa, junior bowlers are playing a significant part in this year’s competition.

Hoping to show his bowls prowess in this year’s Challenge is Queensland rep, Cohen Litfin. He’ll be representing Jindalee in the gold squad.

“I played gold last year, I was pretty happy with how I performed, but we just missed out after making the play offs,” recalled Litfin.

But he felt better about the state victory over the ACT, 29-9. “It was just a great feeling, especially as you’re playing for you state.”

Litfin skipped the state triples line up which lost to Daniel Keogh.

“It was really tough for me in the semis because of the rain. In the final it 4

Cohen and Bryce Litfin

great experience for me. He coached me at the Golden Nugget, it was phenomenal.”

Over in the bronze section there will be another Litfin, Cohen’s younger brother, Bryce. “I lost by one on my rink,” said the 16 year old about his first round in the challenge, who is also joined by a third brother, Logan.

“I’m in the pairs and he’s in the triples,” states Bryce, who hopes to push into state squad contention.

When not playing, Bryce is still at Jindalee Bowls Club.

“I’m an apprentice greenkeeper. I started after Easter. I do three or four days a week, it’s really good.”

Next week the Litfin boys will be heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open at Darebin.

Later on in the year, Keogh, 17, hopes to be back at the All Schools Cup, an event he made the semis in last year, being beaten by eventual winners St Anthony’s.

“I’ll be playing with Wade Viers again, he enjoyed it the first time.”

Elsewhere in 2014, Keogh hopes for another state title and a big Super Challenge performance.

“It was just a great feeling, especially as you’re playing for your state” Cohen Litfin They’ll be joined by another young gun, one Cohen knows well, current Junior State triples champ, Daniel Keogh.

“I’m pretty excited about going to Melbourne for the under 18 Australian Open. It’ll be the first time I’ll have played there.”

Keogh is turning out for Windsor in the silver section, and likes the Super Challenge set up.

Triples winners: Daniel Keogh, Nic Gosley and Brendan Wilson

“I like the format as it is based on rinks,” said Keogh, who had a successful 2013.

Swifts Bowls Club have two young talents who are competing in the bronze section.

“Yeah, it was good to win my first state title,” said the Junior State triples gold medalist, who also won the Brisbane District Junior singles, club pairs and triples.

Zac Adams, 14, and Liam Stephan, 15, have known each other for several years through bowling, and are now on the same rink in the Super Challenge.

Keogh’s been playing for five years and been heavily encouraged by his father, Dave.

“He’s a great support,” he confirms.

The early rounds have not worked out for the boys.

“We got up on our rinks but we’ve been going down overall,” confesses Stephans, a 2013 Downs Challenge winner.

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“I won the singles at Pine Rivers in the pairs in 2013 and I won the singles and pairs in 2012 in under 15.”

But he’s also a soccer fan.

“Yeah, I support FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi is my favourite player.”

When not dreaming of visiting the Nou Camp to watch the Spanish giants, Adams is focused on his bowls for the year ahead.

“I am pleased with my recent form but I’d just like to try and play my best in every game this year.”

Club Kawana’s High Performance coach, Ian Schuback, knows there is young talent in the Super Challenge and throughout other tournaments in Queensland.

Juniors Downs Challenge winners: Liam Stephan (second from left and Cohen and Byrce Litfin (fourth and fith from left).

His good form carried on in to the Super Challenge.

“I played ok and so did Zac,” he continues.

Adams, who enjoys the Super Challenge, agrees with his team mate.

“I have been playing well. It’s pretty good to be playing in this tournament.

Playing against the older bowlers is a good competitive aspect.”

Adams finds playing lead helps his game.

“I enjoying playing lead, it’s good because I find it relaxing. I can just go out there and bowl.”

Tennis is one of many sports which takes up his time when not on the greens.

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“I was simply amazed with the plethora of talent that played in our Junior Senior tournament. Players like Braiden Leese, Taleah Putney, Jesse Turnbull, Nic Gosley, Mitchell Jackson, Jake Rynne, Nathan Wilson, Jesse and Jayden Cottell, Aymee Bellert, Zac McLeish, Natalie Hobson, Alex Harman and our own Rebecca and Connie Rixon, Joel and Kiani Andersen and Madi Styles.”

Shoey believes these youngsters will ensure a successful future for the Sunshine State.

As for the Super Challenge, it’s early days yet, but many juniors are looking to lay down markers for a successful 2014.

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Generation Game Three generations of the McLeish clan will represent Souths Acacia Bowls Club in ‘The Sevens’ this year.

When not rolling up, Zac enjoys hanging out with his mates and playing soccer.

Zac McLeish, 11, is the youngest and takes to the greens with his granddad Pat and his dad Keith, creating a family sporting legacy in the Maggies ranks.

Despite his age, Zac is showing a natural flair for bowls, and is lighting up the this year’s Sevens.

“We’ve been playing pretty good.

Personally I’ve been enjoying it. I enjoyed playing McKenzie Park as they gave us a run for our money. But we got up in the end.”

Being the only junior in the club gives Zac great opportunities.

“Yes, I play the adults all the time. I like playing with adults, they help me out with my game.”

Zac plays frequently with his Dad. “Every weekend I play with my Dad, and play with Grandpa on a Tuesday when on school holidays.”

When asked which of the two was a better player, Zac didn’t hesitate to answer, “Dad.”

“I support Perth Glory as I like Michael Thwaite. He used to play for the Gold Coast but I when he moved to Perth followed him.”

But it’s bowls which has Zac’s heart, “I like socialising with new people and I like playing with Grandpa and my Dad.” “Pairs is my favourite competition, I play with my Dad.” Zac also plays in the fours, “I play with my Dad and his mates. He skips and I lead.”

With two experienced bowlers guiding him, the Maggies young gun could fly all the way to the top.

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CLOSE

KIWI

CONTEST

Queensland brought home one trophy and sacrificed the other in a tightlycontested test series against Auckland in New Zealand from December 18-20.

In U-25 women’s singles, Cassandra Millerick (21-15) and April Wilson (21-17) had to wait until the final fifth and sixth tests to score a win for Queensland.

The Maroons sent their top dozen U-25 and U-18 players from around the state, with the talented U-25 side coming home victorious thanks to a weight of wins on the women’s scorecards, but unfortunately for the hardworking U-18 team, the silverware was left across the ditch.

In U-25 women’s pairs, Lauren Wilson and Cassandra Millerick (21-20), Madison Styles and Rikki-Lee Kemp (17-16), April Wilson and Aimee Roberts (15-13) and Millerick and April Wilson (22-9) won in exhaustive clashes.

Luckily the U-25 women got the Queensland effort across the line, with the women winning four out of six pairs, four out of six triples and two out of six singles.

The Pairs were a trickier affair for the U-18 boys, with only one win and one draw out of the six tests.

The U25-women’s triples winners were April Steely nerves of In U-25 men’s singles, Wilson 23-14, anchoring Litfin, Kajewski, Wilson Braidan Leese (21-20) Roberts and Millerick, and Vogler bought and Liam Blundell (21-8) Madison Styles 18-14, ended up on the right 4 out of 6 tests wins anchoring Lauren Wilson side of grueling singles and Roberts, Lauren encounters, the only Wilson 16-13, anchoring two winners out of six tests, with Scott Styles and Rikki-Lee Kemp, and Millerick DeJongh on the narrowest of losses (20-21). 26-10, anchoring Kemp and Lauren Wilson.

In U-25 men’s pairs, Queensland won three out of six tests, Rohan Wilson Despite valiant efforts, Queensland’s anchoring Braidan Leese to a 17-11 win, youngest international rep side was Ashley Schmidt anchoring Wilson to a unable to wrest the trophy off the wily 20-15 win and Liam Blundell taking Tim Auckland U-18s.

Colburn to a 21-11 victory.

In the U-18 Boys Singles, Queensland The U-25 men were least effective in dominated, winning four out of six tests the triples, winning only one of six tests, due to the steely nerves of Cohen Litfin Colburn taking Schmidt and Wilson to a 21-20, Paul Kajewski 21-16, Brendan 16-12 victory in the sixth and final test.

Wilson 21-17, and Hayden Vogler 21-3.

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However, the Queensland young guns proved themselves a quick study.

Although they went down in the first three pairs play-offs, they were able to draw on those losses to lift the result to a one draw/one win/one loss record on the second day.

Vogler (s) and Nelson drew 16-16 in the fourth test, Litfin (s) and Vogler 19-18 finally claimed the only U-18 boys pairs victory in the fifth, and Kajewski (s) and Litfin 15-16 went down by only a whisker in the sixth and final pairs test.

In the Triples, the record was three wins, three losses, with victories to Brendan Wilson 17-11 (anchoring Hayden Vogler and Paul Kajewski), Hayden Vogler 23-10 (anchoring Cohen Litfin and Jacob Nelson), and Paul Kajewski 20-12 (anchoring Mitchell Styles and Cohen Litfin).

In the U-18 Girls test series, Connie-Leigh Rixon 21-10 claimed the only singles win, with Tiffany Murray just missing out 20-21 in the third test.

In the U-18 Girls Pairs, Taleah Putney avenged her 9-21 singles loss, with a 16-11 win, anchoring Connie-Leigh Rixon.

The only other girls pairs winner was Tiffany Murray 20-14, anchoring Taleah Putney in the sixth and final test, and Michaela Bailey-Nelson, anchoring Tiffany Murray, was able to stay calm to hold Auckland to a 19-19 draw.

In the U-18 Girls Triples, again Taleah Putney proved herself a reliable skip, finishing off Sarah Wilson and ConnieLeigh Rixon’s excellent work for a 22-12 third test win, the only triples win for the U-18 girls.

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