Sports Hero Jason Belmonte Inspires Junior Bowlers

Posted on April 24, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

As the pundits say, Aussie tenpin ace Jason Belmonte keeps getting better and better.

Belmo was a 10-pin away from winning the PBA World Series of Bowling Chameleon Championship title in May 2012, and finished third in the Scorpion Championship in June. He was runner up in the first Major of the season when the PBA World Championship took place in Las Vegas in July.

After the Tour mid-term break, he bagged his sixth PBA career title and first Major in February 2013, becoming just the second foreign player to win the United States Bowling Congress Masters.

He leads the PBA points and average score for the 2012/13 Tour season and is well in contention for this year’s PBA Player of the Year crown after another outstanding performance in the recent Tournament of Champions which was won by veteran pro, Pete Weber.

Belmo is passionate about tenpin bowling, a sport he was introduced to as a small child by his parents who established the Orange Tenpin Bowl in the late 1980’s.  Despite a rigorous Tour schedule, he still manages to occasionally bowl with his Team Permagon teammates in Sweden and to compete in Open tournaments in Europe and Asia, but devotes every spare moment to his wife, children and family at home in the NSW western tablelands city of Orange.

The globe-trotting champion will be at Sydney’s Tenpin City Bowl soon to conduct a ‘Bowling Bootcamp’ with fellow 2012 Australian Masters winner, Diandra Asbaty.  Belmo and Asbaty shared the limelight with NSW Minister for Sport, Graham Annesley at the Opening of the President’s Junior Interstate Shield, the pinnacle Teams event of the 2013 Australian Junior Championship that began this morning at Tenpin City, Lidcombe.

A highlight of Belmonte’s early career was unprecedented success at the 2000 Australian Junior Championship during which he won a total of 5 Gold medals in individual and team events, including the Australian Junior Masters, and his appearance at the Opening of this year’s President’s Shield caused a wave of excitement.  At the end of Day One of the Shield competition, long queues formed for autographs and photos with their hero.

Featured in an article in last month’s INSIDE SPORT magazine and a recent edition of Channel Seven’s prime time SUNDAY NIGHT program, Belmo is inspiring the emerging talent of young male and female bowlers across the nation.  He’ll also appear on the popular NEWS & VIEWS program on FoxSports that airs at 9.30pm nationally on 24th April. (check your local guides).

For further details and pics please contact Lynne Clay on 0419 444 280.

Posted in Bowling News, International, News, Tournament | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aussie Sam Cooley Wins at ABF Tour Thailand

Posted on April 24, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

23rd April, Bangkok:
Tour debutant, Sam Cooley of Australia and 2010 ABF Tour Tournament of Champions winner, Wendy Chai of Malaysia won the third leg of the ABF Tour Thailand 2013 at S.F. Strike Bowl on Tuesday.

Sam Cooley winning his first-ever tour title
Sam Cooley winning his first-ever tour title

Sam Cooley, who had a disappointing campaign in yesterday’s Thailand International Open after narrowly missing the stepladder finals in eighth position, made amends when he took his first-ever tour title.

The 21-year-old 2012 World Youth All Events gold medalist started off with a strike and two nine-pin spares in his next two frames as his opponent, Dechochai had a big split in the second frame.

Although the 21-year-old Thai responded with three strikes-in-a-row thereafter, Cooley too had four bagger from frame 4 to open up a 30 pin lead.

Read more here
story courtesy of abf-online.org

The next ABF Tour stop will be in Cairo, Egypt for the men’s division only on May 1 following the 15th Sinai International Open.

Bowlers will earn ranking points from each of the legs they contest and the top 16 men and top 16 women at the end of the final leg, will qualify for the Tournament of Champions.

Posted in Bowling News, International, News, Tournament | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s Andrew Frawley Ends One-Year Title Drought with Victory in DIBC Open

Posted on April 12, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia
L-R Oqab (3rd), Hannan (2nd) and champion Frawley

L-R Oqab (3rd), Hannan (2nd) and champion Frawley

Andrew Frawley of Australia ended a one-year title drought with victory in the DIBC Open Bowling Tournament 2013 Saturday, April 6 at the International Bowling Center in Dubai, UAE.

Dubai International Bowling Center in Dubai, UAE (March 30 – April 6, 2013)

The USBC silver level coach, who won his last title in March 2012 in the 2012 ABF Tour Bahrain leg, defeated Samantha Hannan of England, 254-221 (including eight pins handicap), to win the title and the 25,000 Dirham first place check, worth approx. 6,800 U.S. Dollar.

The long-time Australian national team member averaged 233.33 for nine games to survive the qualifying cut to the top 24 players in 17th place. Tim Mack, United States, led the field of only 63 players – 61 men and two women – with an average of 261.78 for his three highest three-game series.

Story courtesy of bowlingdigital.com
Photo courtesy of Asian Bowling Federation

Championship Round:

1. Andrew Frawley, Australia, 254 (1 game), AED 25,000
2. Samantha Hannan (F), 452 (2 games), England, AED 12,000
3. Naif Oqab, UAE, 439 (2 games), AED 8,000
4. Hashim Guinomla, Philippines, 217 (1 game), AED 5,000

Playoff Results:
First Match: No. 4 Oqab def. No. 3 Guinomla, 235-217
Second Match: No. 2 Hannan def. Oqab, 231-204
Championship: No. 1 Frawley def. Hannan, 254-221

Posted in Bowling News, International, News, Tournament | Leave a comment

Reigning PBA Player of the Year captures his sixth career PBA title

Posted on March 29, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

Reigning PBA Player of the Year, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., USA, defeated Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 234-201, in the title match of the World Bowling Tour’s 10th Kuwait International Open 2013 to win the PBA International title and the $25,000 top prize.

Rash, who won his sixth career PBA title, struck eight times and took advantage of a big split by Koivuniemi  in the 10th frame to seal the victory. Koivuniemi was consoled with $12,000.

The 10th Kuwait International Open 2013 was the sixth event on the World Bowling Tour and ran from March 13-17, 2013 at 16-lane Cozmo Bowling Center in Salmiya, Kuwait. The offered total prize fund of $130,500 U.S. Dollar.

Read more here story courtesy of bowlingdigital.com

Posted in Bowling News, International, News, Tournament | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Catch Belmo and Bowling on Seven’s top-rating SUNDAY NIGHT program

Posted on March 22, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

An exciting glimpse of the life and stellar career of Australian bowling sensation, Jason Belmonte will be televised nationally this Sunday on Seven’s top-rating SUNDAY NIGHT program.

The Seven network continues to score resounding ratings wins in network, primary channels, multi-channels and demographics, every night and every city and this popular program that reaches an audience of close to 1.2 million will air across the country at 6.30pm this Sunday, 24th  March. (check your local guides)

SUNDAY NIGHT’s preview headlined TOP OF THEIR GAME reads … “See the untold story of two Australian sporting exports hitting the big time overseas.”

On Sunday Night meet two Australian men from different worlds. One can bench press a whopping 270kgs and is dominating American college football.   The other is a father of two, passionate and wildly over the top – revolutionising his sport. “Both have one thing in common – they’ve hit the big time overseas.”

Meet 22 year-old Jessie Williams, known as “Tha Monstar”.    Meanwhile Jason Belmonte is a bowling phenomenon, a world champion. But his very unorthodox two handed bowling style is leaving his American opponents scratching their heads.”

DON’T MISS IT …  SUNDAY NIGHT – 6.30pm on Seven: Catch Belmo and Bowling on Seven’s top-rating SUNDAY NIGHT program

Posted in Bowling News, International, News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Active Adults are Back into Bowling!

Posted on March 8, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

Remember the fun of tenpin bowling???  The laughter, the atmosphere, and the sheer exhilaration of playing in a small team??  Well, we’re pleased to report that your local Go Bowling Australia Centres are inviting you, your family and friends to join them as a member of their Active Adults tenpin bowling club.

Many mature aged people have happy memories of tenpin bowling back in the 1970′s and 80′s, but gave up their sport to raise families or for career reasons and really missed their sport. Well the good news is . . . bowling is back!

Many people are finding that now that their children are grown up and work pressures are reduced, they again have time to enjoy the fun of tenpin bowling.  Most mature-age people who are playing again say that bowling revives the youth that lives within us all.?  Research among existing mature-age people showed quite clearly that it’s the fun and social side of tenpin bowling that has such immense appeal to them.  In fact 100% of them said they would recommend tenpin bowling to anyone in a similar age group.

Although Go Bowling Australia Centres retain that magical atmosphere of excitement, today they have modern coffee shops, bars, function rooms, and automatic scoring of course. All centres have plenty of parking and easy access too.?  For most mature-age people it’s about playing and meeting friends, so maybe it’s time for you to get back into bowling and see for yourself why it’s so popular with people our age.

Go Bowling Australia Tenpin Bowling Centres would love to see you again and welcome you back to bowling in their modern, air-conditioned centres.?  Of course, if you haven’t tenpin bowled before you’re more than welcome to join in the fun.  Go Bowling Australia Centres are renowned for their friendliness and making it easy for newcomers, so no excuses anyone!

Simply call your local Go Bowling Australia Centre for full details of their Active Adults Club – all centres are listed here on the Centre Locations page of this website.

Posted in Bowling News, Bowling Tips, Current Offers, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The City of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia to Host the 49th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup

Posted on March 8, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup manager, Anne-Marie Board, has announced that the Sibiryak center in Krasnoyarsk, capital city of the Russian province of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, will host the 49th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup from 15th to 24th November 2013.

Anne-Marie Board commented: “I was completely blown away by the Sibiryak center, by the organizing team and by the city itself.”

The 32-lane Sibiryak center is part of the ‘World Class’ fitness and Hilton hotel complex. The ground floor contains three restaurants.  The first floor is a magnificent leisure center while the bowling center is on the second floor.

A 250-room hotel occupies the top eleven floors.  QubicaAMF will take all of the rooms for the tournament.

“The organizing team – owner and CEO Vladimir Egorov, bowling center director Viktor Ushkac and deputy general development manager Evgeniy Moiseev – will ensure that this will be one of our best events ever,” Board said.

The head of the Bowling Federation for the Krasnoyarsk region, Nikolay Babyuk, represented Moldova in the Bowling World Cup in 2006, 2007 and 2011.

There are direct flights from several cities in the Far East, from Dubai and from several other Russian and eastern European cities. According to Board, it is expected that a direct flight from western Europe will be introduced by August.

“We are so pleased to bring the World Cup to the Sibiryak center”, Viktor Ushkac said. “We will lay on shuttle buses to get players and other visitors to the main shopping centers in Krasnoyarsk and we are hoping to arrange other entertainment, such as skiing trips. It will be a memorable trip for all!”

According to Wikipedia, the temperatures in Krasnoyarsk in November range from an average high of -3.4° Celsius (25.9 F) to an average low of -10.6 (12.9) with a record high of 13.6 (56.5) and a record low of -42.3 (-44.1).

read more at bowlingdigital.com

Posted in International, News, Tournament | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Warrnambool Tenpin Bowler Strikes His Third 300 Game

Posted on March 8, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

IT took Warrnambool tenpin bowler Jason Drake 12 years to score his first perfect game.

Drake, 22, then had two in the space of three weeks.

Now, five months after his 300-game breakthrough  last September, he has added a third to his tally.

Drake bowled the 300-game on lane six on Thursday night.

He joins Warrnambool Tenpin Bowls Association clubmates Jason Way and David Altmann with three 300 games at the Timor Street venue.

“David has four but one is at Melbourne, so he’s one ahead at the moment,” Drake said.

He said there would be some friendly competition as the trio vied to be the first to bowl a fourth perfect score at their home club.

“There is a bit of talk going around,” Drake said.

“Me and David bowl in the same team and on Tuesday night he bowled a 298, so he is not far behind either.”

Drake said his third perfect game was a challenge.

“They say it gets easier once you do it once,” he said.  “It’s not.  I was nervous.   You can’t jump to conclusions or start thinking about the last score because all of sudden you’re not concentrating on your next shot.  You have to take it one shot at a time, remember your routine and see how you go.”

Drake started bowling in 2000.

story courtesy of JUSTINE McCULLAGH-BEASY, The Standard

Posted in Bowling News, News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Townsville to Host Tenpin’s 2013 Adult National Championship in October

Posted on March 8, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

The eagerly awaited news regarding the venue for the 2013 Adult National Championship and Australian Masters has been announced by Tenpin Bowling Australia’s CEO, Cara Honeychurch.

Kirwan Bowl in the tropical city of Townsville has won the bid to host this year’s event following an exhaustive appraisal of options by the TBA Board.   Dates have been confirmed from 5-26 October, with the Australian Masters to be held on 25/26 October.

The bid by the proprietors of the 24-lane Kirwan Bowl received enthusiastic support by prominent sports officials and local business leaders and politicians.   The three-week carnival of bowling attracts players from every State and Territory, New Zealand and other overseas locations, and the combination of accessibility, ideal weather, plentiful availability of accommodation and a wide variety of entertainment and sightseeing for visitors, made Townsville an easy choice.

Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said the city’s successful bid for the event was a windfall for Townsville.

“The announcement is exciting news for Townsville and strengthens the city’s profile as a sporting and events capital in regional Australia,” Cr Hill said.  “Townsville will gain enormous exposure as host city to some of the best bowlers in this part of the world and I’m sure the city will provide all of the competitors the best tournament yet.”

The city is more than a tropical destination – it’s the very heart of life in the tropics, with the region extending north to Mission Beach, south to the rustic Burdekin and west to historic Charters Towers.  North Queensland offers a myriad of experiences from the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforest to the red dirt and dust of the Outback.

Entry forms and full details of the Nationals and Australian Masters will be published via the TBA website, and via TBA’s e-newsletter, the 13th Frame, that is emailed to all TBA members and affiliated Associations.

“From a planning perspective, the most important thing right now is to let bowlers and officials across Australia know when and where we’ll be heading in October, and I’m sure the Board’s decision will be warmly welcomed by the hundreds of participants keen to share the sunshine and tropical lifestyle of the Townsville community in October,” Cara said.

“The program of events will see the first week devoted to Restricted bowlers, the second week to our Seniors and the Nationals will culminate with a Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the Rachuig Trophy tournament and the Australian Masters,” she added.

For further information, please contact Lynne Clay on +61 419 444 280 or lynneclay@tenpin.org.au

Posted in Bowling News, News, Tournament | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bowlers from Every Corner of the Commonwealth Coming to Auckland

Posted on January 30, 2013 by The Editor Go Bowling Australia

Pins Lincoln Road in the harbour-side city of Auckland is preparing to host one of the highlight events on tenpin bowling’s international sporting calendar.

Commencing on Sunday 24 February, bowlers from every corner of the Commonwealth will compete at the VI Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championship for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals featuring the famous CGF bar merged with the Championship logo.

The week-long program of Singles, Doubles and Teams competition will culminate on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 2-3 March with the Masters event that showcases the top 12 male and female bowlers in a head to head format that will determine the individual champions.

The CTBF perpetual Triple Diamond Trophy, representing the three international zones of the sport of bowling, will also be awarded to the highest scoring team overall. The highly coveted Trophy, is currently held by Malaysia.

“We look forward to welcoming teams representing Pakistan and Mauritius for the first time since our inaugural Commonwealth Championship in 2002,” said CTBF President Julian Pace-Bonello today. “It will be an excellent opportunity for players from these regions to hone their skills and benefit from competing with nations like Australia, Malaysia, England, India and my home country of Malta that have competed in all five of the previous biennial Championships,” he continued.

“Our CTBF Championships reflect the ideals of the Commonwealth Games Federation as a friendly but highly competitive tournament with no discrimination by age, race or gender,” he added.

Further details can be found on the official Championship website – www.ctbc2013.org.

Media enquiries, please contact CTBF Secretary-General and Media Director, Lynne Clay on +61 419 444 280 or email lynneclay@bigpond.com

The formation of the CTBF coincided with the inaugural Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships, held in Stirling, Scotland, which was enthusiastically attended by athletes and officials from 15 Commonwealth Nations. A major achievement was realised with the inclusion of Tenpin Bowling in the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games, held in Bendigo, Australia and in accordance with one of the CTBF’s primary goals, Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships have also been staged in Cyprus, Melbourne, Belfast and Kuala Lumpur.

Posted in Bowling News, International, News, Tournament | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment