2024 TBA National Senior Championship Concludes with Celebration Dinner and Awards
By Matt Stevens
The 2024 TBA50 National Teams Challenge officially came to a close last night with participants gathering for the celebration dinner at Maroochydore RSL.
The dinner offered bowlers and officials a chance to relax and enjoy a buffet while socialising off the lanes after an action-packed week of competition. Tenpin Bowling Australia’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kurt Wilson, attended the dinner, having witnessed the excitement firsthand on the final day of the challenge.
“It has been a truly rewarding experience to witness the passion and camaraderie that defined the 2024 TBA National Senior Championships, culminating in the TBA50 National Teams Challenge,” said Wilson.
“This exceptional event not only celebrates the skill and dedication of our bowlers but also highlights the strength of our tenpin bowling community, both on and off the lanes. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to Nathan Stein, our National Bowling & Operations Manager, for his exemplary efforts in bringing this event to fruition, rounding out an incredibly busy year for TBA.
“As I embark on this new journey, I look forward to collaborating with the bowling community to build on our successes and drive innovation, ensuring that tenpin bowling continues to flourish and inspire future generations in Australia,” added Wilson.
Award Presentations
As part of the evening’s celebrations, several key awards were presented, with the CEO on hand to assist in the presentations:
Combined Champions:
Queensland/New Zealand received their medals and the coveted TBA50 National Teams Challenge Champion Shield.
Congratulations
- Mark Stretton
- Jayson Masters
- Suz Wenzel
- Heather Robertson
- Shirley Wrathmall
- Karen Smith
- Hamish McGregor
- Daryl Painter
Combined Podium
Victoria – Second Place
Congratulations:
- David Edwards
- Ian Strahan
- David Farquharson
- Robyn Flynn
- Robyn Bull
- Karen Newman
- Jason Newman
New South Wales – Third Place
- Troy Byrne
- Jim Bakirtzidis
- Jamie Carroll
- Nick Koumandakis
- Jenny Burton-Douglas
- Tina Hohmuth
- Madeline Fitzroy
- Janet Baker
- Female Pointscore Champions: Victoria celebrated their 11th title since 2010, highlighting their dominance in the event.
- Male Pointscore Champions: New Zealand lifted the trophy again after successfully defending their 2023 crown.
Sportsperson Awards
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Sportsperson Awards, recognising bowlers who exemplified sportsmanship throughout the challenge. These awards, voted on by team managers during the final two days of play, went to:
- Female Sportsperson of the Year: Lyn Hawkes (TAS)
- Male Sportsperson of the Year: Mark Stretton (NZ)
Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates both winners for their exemplary behaviour and positive influence during the competition.
All-Stars
Finally, the best four performing bowlers in each division within the challenge were presented their All-Star plaques.
Congratulations to the Female All-Stars of the Challenge:
- Robyn Bull (VIC)
- Madeline Fitzroy (NSW)
- Samantha Matthews (NT)
- Heather Robertson (QNZ)
Congratulations to the Men All-Stars
- David Farquharson (VIC)
- Troy Byrne (NSW)
- Ashley Riley (TAS)
- Roger Tucker (NZ)
“It’s been a hugely successful week at the 2024 TBA National Senior Championships. The camaraderie shared on and off the lanes has been wonderful to witness, and having eight teams participate in this year’s challenge was a fantastic result.
“We hope to see even more teams next year as we strive for continued improvement with our national events. We thank everyone for attending this year and can’t wait to do it all again in 2025!”
Tenpin Bowling Australia extends its gratitude to all participants, officials, and the Suncity Tenpin team for their efforts in making the event a success. Congratulations to all winners and award recipients, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!
In case you missed it, check out how the Championships finished by visiting the below links:
