Glenbrook Panthers Bowling Club hosted the 2018 NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) Bowls Triples Championships from June 13-14.
The event was the culmination of nearly 500 eligible secondary schools competing in the Final 16 Championships.
Three local schools featuring members from the Glenbrook club qualified for the finals, along with players from as far away as Kempsey, Trangie and Coolamon – representing the 10 sporting associations within the CHS system.
Warilla High School emerged as winners and may well have set a record that will not be beaten in a generation – five consecutive state triples championships, each with a different team. Hunter River High was runners-up for the second year in a row with a young side of Raymand Terrace bowlers. Elderslie High, near Camden, finished third after defeating a quality Kempsey High side.
Host club Glenbrook Panthers was very proud of its members’ efforts, which were split between three different schools.
Nepean High School was the best performed local team. Despite only losing a single game, they finished in ninth position in the state. Glenbrook member, Tom Holburn, who was recruited to play men’s metropolitan #1 pennants at Wallacia this year, skipped two inexperienced bowlers from Nepean High. They relegated Blaxland High’s Erin Swatridge, Joe Hart, Bayley Dalton and Maddison Swatridge to 12th in NSW. Another Glenbrook Club player, Jenna Catford, was sensational in guiding another group of non-bowlers from Cranebrook High to 15th, with a late loss to fourth place Kempsey being a highlight.
Glenbrook is a current “hotspot” for junior bowls development in NSW. Erin Swatridge and Tom Holburn will represent the NSW Top 5 Under 18s against Queensland in Brisbane next month. Additionally, the club has six players who have represented Zone 5 under 18s which extends from Blacktown to well past Goulburn. The club provides an extensive and inclusive training program to cater for new and emerging bowlers through to elite levels.
Glenbrook Panthers welcomes any player wishing to learn, enjoy and succeed in the sport of bowls. To promote the development of junior bowls, Glenbrook is holding a junior recruitment open day as part of the club’s monthly friendship days. This will be held on Sunday, June 24 commencing at 2pm. A barbecue will follow at 4pm. Contact Karen Mcleod (Glenbrook Panthers) on 4720 6800 to register .
