TBA50 National Teams Challenge – Day 2 Recap
By Matt Stevens
The TBA50 National Teams Challenge continued today at the TBA National High Performance Centre on the Sunshine Coast, with bowlers taking part in the second discipline of the challenge – Doubles.
The action returned to the lanes in pairs for another six games, adding valuable points toward both team standings and the All-Events race. Today, it was the men’s turn to set the pace before the women hit the lanes in the afternoon session.
Male Division – Doubles
New South Wales/ACT continued their gold rush start to the 2025 TBA National Teams Challenge, making it back-to-back gold medals after a commanding performance in the Male Doubles event.
After going 1-2 in the singles, the pairing of Jaime Carroll and Troy Byrne were unstoppable, combining for 2,622 pinfall to comfortably secure top honours. Bowling with confidence, Byrne maintained his brilliant form from Day 1, backing up his Singles gold with a rock-solid 1,322 six-game series (222 avg), which included raising the tournament high score with a 277 in game five.
The ever-consistent Jaime Carroll provided the perfect complement, posting 1,290 (215 avg) and delivering four consecutive 200+ games to help set the tone as the duo powered NSW/ACT to another gold medal.
South Australia’s Barry Clarke and Ben Muir claimed silver on 2,361, both delivering consistent sets to keep their state near the top of the standings. After waiting nine years for his first medal at TBA50 Nationals, Clarke now finds himself with two in as many events in 2025.
The New Zealand combination of Terry Mustchin and Mike Gibbs rounded out the podium with 2,315 for bronze, showing great consistency across the six games and helping steer their team to a productive point day.
All-Events
Byrne’s back-to-back gold medals and Jaime Carroll’s silver-and-gold effort have cemented them as two of the early stars of the tournament, with both holding the top spots in All-Events heading into the final day. Ben Muir sits in third after his silver with Barry Clarke in the doubles, and Terry Mustchin holds the fourth and final All-Star position.
Male Overall Standings
Two events are done, one to go!
Following the doubles event, a major shuffle in the standings saw New Zealand rocket from sixth to first after an impressive showing that included a bronze medal and another pair finishing fifth. The Kiwi’s lead the field with 341 points.
NSW/ACT now sit close behind in second on 336 points, thanks to the dominant performances of Byrne and Carroll, while North Queensland hold third on 325 points after a consistent opening two days.
With one event – the Teams of Four – still to come and All-Events points yet to be finalized, anything can happen on the final day!
Female Division – Doubles
It was a huge day for North Queensland, with the experienced pairing of Heather Robertson and Suz Wenzel holding their nerve through a chaotic day of leaderboard changes to claim gold in the Female Doubles event.
Across six fiercely contested games, the standings shuffled repeatedly before Robertson and Wenzel emerged on top with 2,225 pinfall, capping off a consistent day that rewarded their steady approach.
Early on, it was North Queensland’s other duo – Karen Smith and Shirley Wrathmall – who set the early pace, with Smith firing back-to-back 200s to open the event. At the halfway mark, Smith and Wrathmall continued to hold the lead, but Robertson and Wenzel were beginning to surge. By game four, the eventual champions took control and a lead they would not surrender.
The final stages were full of drama. The NSW pair of Karen Crane and Debbie Staier made a late push to move within 45 pins of the leaders, while the Northern Territory’s Broni Morgan and Kellie Hart produced a late surge as well – Hart delivering multiple 200+ games – to jump back into podium contention.
In the end, Robertson and Wenzel’s experience proved decisive as they close out the win to deliver North Queensland Gold and Silver in the Female Doubles, with Smith and Wrathmall finishing second. Morgan and Hart held on for third, securing bronze for the Northern Territory and a strong points haul heading into the final day.
All-Events
North Queensland’s Suz Wenzel has moved to the top of the All-Events standings after backing up her Singles bronze with a gold medal performance in the Doubles. Wenzel’s consistency across both days sees her leading the field heading into the final discipline.
Tasmania’s Karen Commane remains one of the steadiest performers of the challenge, holding second place after another solid showing, while Lyndell Ballis (SA) sits close behind in third. Kellie Hart (NT) rounds out the top four all-stars at the moment after an impressive effort alongside Broni Morgan in the Doubles event.
Female Overall Standings
North Queensland continues to dominate the Female Division, extending their lead after a superb showing in the Doubles event that saw both of their pair’s finish on the podium, The Queenslanders sit in a commanding position on 425 points heading into the final day.
Victoria remains steady in second on 365 points, while NSW/ACT surged up the standings from sixth to third after a strong all-round team effort. With just the Teams of Four to come, and finalising the All-Events, the race for the podium is well and truly alive.
Overall Team Standings
Led by their women’s brilliance, North Queensland maintains its hold on the overall standings, sitting atop the leaderboard with a commanding 750 points. Their men’s squad also played a key role, adding a consistent 325 points to the total.
NSW/ACT moves into second place on 648 points, fueled by another gold medal in the men’s division, while New Zealand continues their steady climb – jumping from fifth to third on 612 points after a breakout day in the both Doubles events.
Two days down – one to go! Tomorrow Teams of Four!
