Brothers bowling into national spotlight

Published 2:00pm 29 April 2021

Caboolture Bowl will be in the national sporting spotlight this weekend when many of Australia’s top young tenpin bowlers arrive for the seventh staging of the Queensland Junior Cup (QJC).

Among those carrying local hopes in the Tenpin Bowling Association of Queensland event will be brothers Troy, 16, and Luke Howell, 17, who live in Bald Hills, but play at Caboolture.

Both have represented Victoria and were selected for the ACT in the President Shield. Both will be going to the Australian Nationals in July.

Troy was runner-up in the QJC, fast-emerging as the top nationally-ranked junior event, last year and wants to get in the Australian training squad. Luke is aiming for the youth nationals.

Caboolture's Luke Howell, in action

National interest

Joining them will be Cameron Dutton, from Upper Caboolture, who has been bowling for four years and recently posted his personal best of 289 games.

All three locals are right-handed bowlers, not two-handed bowlers which is becoming increasingly popular.

However, competition at the QJC will be tough with entrants travelling from as far as Western Australia and Tasmania to the tenpin centre on Morayfield Rd.

They will be joined by many from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and the Moreton Bay Region.

Troy Howell, hoping to add to his trophy haul this weekend.

Filling up fast

“As we emerge from the uncertainty of COVID-related travel restrictions the sport’s tournament calendar is quickly filling up with bowlers across the country keen to get back on the lanes,” said South Queensland Junior Tenpin Committee President Nathan Stein.

“Brian Bates and the team (at Caboolture) are very experienced tournament hosts and it’s an ideal venue in a popular destination. The surge of applications we’re receiving indicates another highly successful QJC is in store.”

2020 Open division champions Jackson Buckingham and Jessica Canfield, with Graded champion Brock Gordon will be back this year to defend their titles.

The Queensland Junior Cup runs from May 1-3. Caboolture Bowl is at 207 Morayfield Rd, Morayfield. For more information visit caboolturebowl.com

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