2025 TBA President’s Junior Shield 🛡️ – Results Wrap
By Matt Stevens
The 51st edition of the TBA President’s Junior Shield has officially wrapped, capping off an unforgettable week at the 2025 TBA National Junior Championships.
Over the course of the event, over 3,600 games of bowling were played — including more than 1,100 intense Shield matchups. The atmosphere was electric, the rivalries fierce, and the teamwork inspiring.
🏆 South Queensland added another chapter to their proud history, securing both the Overall and Male Division titles, while North Queensland reaffirmed their dominance in the Female Division, going back-to-back and further solidifying their reputation as the top girls’ team in the country.
With so many moving parts, results, and honours to celebrate, this post brings together all the key outcomes — including division winners, All-Star selections, and the award recipients from the Shield Presentation Dinner that brought the championships to a fitting close on Saturday night.
🏆 Overall Champions – South Queensland
With a near-perfect balance of contributions from both their boys and girls teams, South Queensland captured the 2025 TBA President’s Junior Shield Overall Title — a powerful display of consistency, depth, and team spirit across all three days of play.
South Queensland’s win included:
- 🥇 Male Division title
- 🥈 Female Division silver
- 🔢 180 total points (91 from the girls, 89 from the boys)
This marks South Queensland’s 19th overall Shield title, and their first since 2022 in Tasmania — another proud chapter in their Shield legacy.
👏 Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates South Queensland and all the bowlers who stood proudly on the podium in this year’s overall race. An incredible effort from all teams!
🥈 Silver – North Queensland – 173.5 points & 🥉 Bronze – New Zealand – 171.5 points
👧 Female Division Champions – North Queensland
North Queensland have gone back-to-back, claiming the 2025 TBA President’s Junior Shield Female Division title with a commanding total of 101 points.
After positioning themselves at the top by the end of Day 2, NQ’s girls only strengthened their grip on the lead, closing out the event with a confident final day performance.
🌟 The team effort was powered by:
- Emily Hinspeter – 3rd overall in individual standings (187 avg, 11 wins)
- Emily Starkey – 5th overall (186 avg, 13 wins)
- Sophie Jones – 14 wins across 19 games, continuing her stellar form after her Masters triumph
What makes this title even more special?
🌀 It’s the exact same six bowlers who captured the title in 2024 — returning together to successfully defend their crown in 2025. That’s legacy-level stuff.
📚 This is North Queensland’s sixth female division title (1997, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025), and their second time going back-to-back in this division.
👏 Huge congratulations to North Queensland on another historic performance — a true testament to their unity, resilience, and talent.
🥈 Silver – South Queensland – 91 points & 🥉 Bronze – New Zealand – 85 points
👦 Male Division Champions – South Queensland
The boy’s division was a thriller to the finish, with South Queensland holding a slender 1.5-point lead over New Zealand heading into the final match — against each other.
Although the Kiwis edged the individual wins 3–2, it was South Queensland’s total pinfall — 954 to 905 — that earned them the crucial bonus points and a 4–3 victory, sealing the division title.
South Queensland closed the event on 89 points, led by three standout top-10 individual performances:
- 🔥 Tyler Clarkson – 203.2 avg, 12-8 record (3rd overall)
- 🎳 Samuel Kubik – 13-5-1, 200 avg, high game of 265 (6th)
- 💪 Calin Povey – 13-5, 197 avg (8th)
This is South Queensland’s 12th boys division title, and their first since 2021 — continuing a legacy that began back in 1992.
🥈 New Zealand put in a brilliant all-round effort to finish just behind on 86.5 points, driven by:
- ⭐ Cooper Mollet – 211.3 avg, 15-5 record, 279 high game (2nd overall)
- 💥 Layton Walker – 9-9, 191 avg
🥉 Victoria rounded out the podium on 77.5 points, holding off a fast-finishing North Queensland.
- 🎯 William Zaccaria, fresh off his Masters title, topped the individual standings with a 14-4 record, 211.4 avg, and another All-Star nod
- ✨ Flynn Slade – 10-7-1, 195 avg
- 💥 Josh Threlfall – 7-10, 192.9 avg
👏 Congratulations to all three podium finishers — and especially to South Queensland, your 2025 TBA President’s Junior Shield Male Division Champions!
🥈 Silver – New Zealand – 86.5 points & 🥉 Bronze – Victoria – 77.5 points
⭐ 2025 TBA President’s Junior Shield – All-Stars
The All-Stars of the 2025 TBA President’s Junior Shield were officially recognised at the Presentation Dinner, receiving their commemorative plaques in front of teammates, coaches, and supporters.
All-Star selections are awarded to the top five male and female averages, provided the athletes have bowled in at least two-thirds of the event’s scheduled games.
🏅 Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates the ten outstanding athletes selected as 2025 Shield All-Stars — a recognition of excellence, consistency, and contribution to their teams across the entire event.
🎳 Jason Belmonte Sportsperson Awards
For over a decade, superstar Jason Belmonte has generously supported the TBA President’s Junior Shield by sponsoring its Sportsperson Award program — recognising bowlers who embody the true spirit of the game.
Voted on by team managers following play on Days 2 and 3, the award celebrates athletes who display exceptional sportsmanship, attitude, and respect throughout the event.
🏅 2025 Recipients:
Shylah Dawson (New Zealand)
Jason Attard (New South Wales)
Both athletes were presented with their Jason Belmonte Sportsperson plaques at the Shield Presentation Dinner and will also receive a brand new Roto Grip Attention Star S2 bowling ball, generously provided by Jason Belmonte himself.
👏 A huge congratulations to Shylah and Jason — your character and conduct set an example for all junior athletes to follow.
🌟 Special Awards
A number of special acknowledgements were presented during the Shield Presentation Dinner to celebrate standout performances from the broader 2025 TBA National Junior Championship.
These awards weren’t tied directly to Shield results, but recognised exceptional milestones achieved during the week:
🎳 Flynn Slade (Victoria) – First Ever 300 Game
🏅 Presented with a commemorative plaque for bowling the first perfect 300 game of his career during the championship squads. An unforgettable moment!
🎳 Lachlan Spencer (South Australia) – 299 Game
🏅 Awarded a special plaque for coming just one pin short of perfection — a brilliant effort and worthy of recognition.
👏 Also joining the celebration was Hayden Miller (North Queensland), who rolled an impressive 296 during the championships. While not an official award recipient, Hayden was invited to join the photo alongside his fellow high scorers to mark an incredible collective achievement.
🙌 A huge congratulations to Flynn, Lachlan, and Hayden — proof that big moments can come at any time during the championships!
🎓 Ageing Out – Class of 2025
One of the most emotional moments each year is celebrating the bowlers who are aging out of the junior division. Their final appearance at the TBA National Junior Championship marks both an ending and a new beginning as they transition into the youth division.
To each of you — thank you for your commitment, your spirit, and the example you’ve set for younger bowlers. We look forward to watching your journey continue.
North Queensland
- Sophie Jones
- Sophie Greaves
- Emily Hinspeter
- Isabelle Wallwork
- Kohan Davis
- Lachlan Hembrow
South Queensland
- Chloe Piffero
- Jasmine Walker
- Calin Povey
- Charlotte Fennell
New South Wales
- Jason Attard
Victoria
- Logan Young
- Josh Threlfall
👏 Congratulations to all our ageing-out athletes — your presence has made this event what it is. We wish you every success in the youth ranks and beyond!
📍 2026 Venue Announcement
We’re excited to confirm that the 2026 TBA National Junior Championship will head north to the Sunshine Coast!
🏖️ Suncity Tenpin / AGL National High-Performance Centre will proudly host next year’s event from 11–18 April 2026.
Stay tuned for updates, with event information expected to roll out by mid-year. Let’s aim to make 2026 the biggest and best Junior Nationals yet — we’ll see you on the coast!
Photo Gallery
Click below to view some fantastic shots captured at this year’s President’s Shield. A big thank you to Rikki Pool for capturing these amazing moments!
