2026 Wyncity Youth Cup Recap
By Tenpin Bowling Australia
Clifton claims redemption and Gray goes back-to-back at the 2026 Wyncity Youth Cup
Samantha Clifton (NSW) and Seth Gray (VIC) have been crowned champions of the 2026 Wyncity Youth Cup, with both titles decided across a compelling two days of competition at Wyncity Keon Park in Thomastown, Victoria on 28-29 March.
Clifton delivered on the promise of her season-long credentials, converting a slender 15-pin Stage 1 and 2 lead into a 46-pin victory over Bella Westlake to claim her first Wyncity Youth Cup title – ending a run of close calls at the event. Gray meanwhile became the fifth male in the event’s history to win back-to-back titles, overcoming a deficit from Stage 1 to take out a commanding victory.
At A Glance
| Event | 2026 Wyncity Youth Cup |
| Dates | 28-29 March 2026 |
| Venue | Wyncity Keon Park, Victoria |
| Division | Youth Division |
| Status | 2026 TBA Nationally Ranked Event |
| Edition | 23rd |
| 2026 Champions | Samantha Clifton (NSW) & Seth Gray (VIC) |
| Full Results | View Here |
Overview
The 23rd edition of the Wyncity Youth Cup delivered everything the event is renowned for – tight leaderboards, surging performances across stages, and champions emerging through pressure. A sold-out field of 56 bowlers kicked off the 2026 TBA Youth Division nationally ranked season on the TBA Wombat 46 feet oil pattern, with the first ranking points of the year on the line and with international selectors also keeping a close eye ahead of the 2026 IBF World Youth Championships.
Results
Female Division
Podium
| Position | Athlete | Bowl | State |
| 🥇 | Samantha Clifton | Dullboy’s Social Co. | NSW |
| 🥈 | Bella Westlake | Logan City Tenpin | QLD |
| 🥉 | Elouise Cocks | ZONE BOWLING Watergardens | VIC |
The preview flagged Samantha Clifton as one to watch, and she made good on that billing from the very beginning. Clifton led the field after Stage 1 qualifying by 15 pins over Bella Westlake, a margin she maintained through Stage 2 heading into the Top 6 Matchplay.
In the final stage, Clifton won three of five matches to close out the title by 46 pins over Westlake with a final total of 4,161 pins at a 185 average.
It is Clifton’s first Wyncity Youth Cup title after several close calls at the event – most painfully in 2025, when Emily Hinspeter (QLD) overtook her in the final game of matchplay to win by just 14 pins. The New South Wales back-to-back Youth Division rankings champion had arrived with unfinished business, and she leaves with the trophy to show for it. Clifton becomes the first bowler from NSW to win the female division title at the event since Emma Stephen claimed the 2018 title.
Victorian Elouise Cocks was a standout performer throughout the event, holding third position across all three stages and leading the matchplay field with four wins from five matches, finishing with 4,084 pins. Kayla Piffero, Emily Starkey and Shanae Key competed strongly in the Top 6 rounding out the matchplay field.
Male Division
Podium
| Position | Athlete | Bowl | State |
| 🥇 | Seth Gray | Wyncity Keon Park | VIC |
| 🥈 | Connor Raines | Mackay Leisure Centre | QLD |
| 🥉 | Justin Dinham | Bowlarama Wetherill Park | NSW |
Jackson Buckingham set the pace in the male division, leading the field after Stage 1 qualifying with 2,341 pins – 28 clear of Seth Gray – posting 200-plus in all but one of his six games of the second appearance on Saturday afternoon with a high game of 264 in the ninth. However, Stage 2 belonged to Gray. The Victorian reeled off four of five games in the 200s to surge to a 70-pin lead over his nearest challenger Justin Dinham heading into matchplay, with Buckingham slipping to third.
In matchplay, Gray did enough – winning three of five matches to seal back-to-back Wyncity Youth Cup titles with a final total of 4,426 pins at a 197.1 average, winning by 84 pins.
Northern Queenslander Connor Raines was the story of the matchplay stage, continuing a charge he had maintained through every stage of the event to finish as runner-up with 4,342 pins – also winning three from five in matchplay. Justin Dinham rounded out the podium in third with 4,334.
Gray becomes just the fifth male to win back-to-back titles at the Wyncity Youth Cup, joining Glen Loader (2005-2006), David Porto (2007-2008), Sam Cooley (2010-2011), and Bernie Grueso Jnr (2020-2021).
Performance Highlights
Shoutout to Jeremy and Joshua Buttigieg – the two brothers from Shellharbour Tenpin Bowl in New South Wales both qualified for the Top 6 Matchplay!
HIGH GAMES
269 – Noah Rajkovic (ZONE BOWLING Watergardens, VIC)
235 – Lilly Lock (3D Lanes Wodonga, VIC)
Top 10 Standings
Note: Only the Top 6 advanced to Matchplay.
Female Division
| BOWLER | PINS | STATE |
| Samantha Clifton | 4,161 | NSW |
| Bella Westlake | 4,115 | QLD |
| Elouise Cocks | 4,084 | VIC |
| Kayla Piffero | 3,949 | QLD |
| Emily Starkey | 3,922 | QLD |
| Shanae Key | 3,898 | VIC |
| Brooke Buckingham | 2,930 | QLD |
| Summah Bennett | 2,928 | VIC |
| Sophie Greaves | 2,927 | QLD |
| Tamarin Christensen | 2,889 | QLD |
Male Division
| BOWLER | PINS | STATE |
| Seth Gray | 4,426 | VIC |
| Connor Raines | 4,342 | QLD |
| Justin Dinham | 4,334 | NSW |
| Jackson Buckingham | 4,272 | QLD |
| Jeremy Buttigieg | 4,119 | NSW |
| Joshua Buttigieg | 4,096 | NSW |
| Zayne Pirlo | 3,149 | NSW |
| Noah Rajkovic | 3,134 | VIC |
| Jake Sayer | 3,121 | NSW |
| Lachlan Howse | 3,094 | QLD |
Acknowledgements
TBA congratulates Samantha Clifton and Seth Gray on their 2026 Wyncity Youth Cup titles, and thanks Wyncity Keon Park for hosting yet another successful event. Thanks also to all tournament officials, volunteers, and most importantly – to every competitor who made the trip and brought their best to the opening ranked event of the 2026 Youth Division season.
Past Champions
| YEAR | MALE CHAMPION | FEMALE CHAMPION |
| 2003 | Brandon Qualischefski (Qld) | Clair Johnston (SA) |
| 2004 | Jason Belmonte (NSW) | Jayde Flanagan (Qld) |
| 2005 | Glen Loader (Vic) | Clair Johnston (SA |
| 2006 | Glen Loader (Vic) | Louise Ingoe (SA) |
| 2007 | David Porto (Vic) | Emily Robertson (Vic) |
| 2008 | David Porto (Vic) | Emily Robertson (Vic) |
| 2009 | Mitch Marris (WA) | Alicia Savill (Qld) |
| 2010 | Sam Cooley (NSW) | Kirsten Field (Vic) |
| 2011 | Sam Cooley (NSW) | Bec Whiting (Vic) |
| 2012 | Matthew Harriage (Vic) | Kaitlyn Commane (Tas) |
| 2013 | Paul White (Vic) | Emily Rigney (Vic) |
| 2014 | Jayden Leming (Qld) | Rachel Glare (Vic) |
| 2015 | Michael Murray (VIC) | Carly Giordmaina (VIC) |
| 2016 | Blayne Fletcher (QLD) | Janet Hunt (NSW) |
| 2017 | Bernie Grueso Jr (VIC) | Janet Hunt (NSW) |
| 2018 | Matt Clague (QLD) | Emma Stephens (NSW) |
| 2019 | Trent Webber (SA) | Chloe Jones (QLD) |
| 2020 | Bernie Grueso Jr (VIC) | Amy Shoesmith (ACT) |
| 2022 | Bernie Grueso Jr (VIC) | Grace Fahy (VIC) |
| 2023 | Nicholas Rajkovic (VIC) | Ellieh Bowman (QLD) |
| 2024 | Blake Walsh (NSW) | Hannah Clark (QLD) |
| 2025 | Seth Gray (VIC) | Emily Hinspeter (QLD) |
| 2026 | Seth Gray (VIC) | Samantha Clifton (NSW) |
