Ultimate contest with rich pickings
with Brett Wilkie
THE Inaugural Ultimate Bowls Championship (UBC) begins on Thursday at Warilla in NSW.
This is the first event of a three-stage series where 24 teams will do battle for a share in $500,000 prizemoney, the biggest in the sport’s history.
The UBC features threebowl pairs played over fiveend games with a new scoring system including points for touchers, whoever is holding shot on the crossover and for the three closest shots.
CEO Mark Casey has done a great job in securing the 24 franchises including teams from Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
“It’s very exciting that the time has come,” Casey said.
“Everyone has been waiting for the UBC to happen and now it’s here.
“We have created a style of play that will attract new people to our sport, matches will be cut down to 25 minutes and the scoring system will allow for both teams to score points throughout each end.
“This is going to make some for high-scoring, entertaining matches.”
“Our broadcast package is impressive. The events will be televised via 7TWO and Fox Sports in Australia, and we will go into New Zealand and Asia too.”
Play will be live-streamed on the 7Plus app, Kayo, Facebook and the UBC website.
Gold Coast/Tweed franchises include Exodas Transport featuring Aron Sherriff; Broadbeach BC including Ryan Bester, Sean Ingham and Ryan Burnett; Tweed Heads BC with Kelvin Kerkow, Kurt Brown and Chloe Stewart.
Other Gold Coast/Tweed players include Kevin Anderson (Albert Park Ultra Orbs), Wayne Turley (Dandenong) and I will play for the North Queensland Oz E Cool Roos.
MUDGEERABA “A” have taken out the Summer Nines after defeating Woongoolba “A” 75-50 in the final.
Both teams topped their sections of four teams on Saturday to advance to the final at McKenzie Park on Sunday.
Benowa “B” were third and Mudgeeraba “C” fourth.
Q SEVENS post-sectional rounds were played at various clubs over the weekend.
Successful teams head to Musgrave Hill this weekend for play-offs to get down to the grand finals, to be held at the same venue a week later.
Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach feature in the Division 1 section with eight teams remaining.
GOLD Coast Tweed men’s district team will compete in a Quad Series on Sunday at Gold Coast Bowls and Community Club with the games kicking off at 9am.
CONDOLENCES to Australian Jackaroo Nathan Rice and his family after the passing of his father Sooty last week.