Teams from every State and Territory of Australia, an invitational team from New Zealand and, for the first time, teams representing both South and North Queensland, began the ceremony with a colourful march-past, accompanied by the event’s tropical theme music – THE HEAT IS ON.

The athletes in the Walter Rachuig Interstate Teams tournament exemplify the pathways that the sport of tenpin bowling has created. With bowlers often starting in junior ranks, and progressing through local and regional competition, the honour of State representation is highly sought after.

Mike Reynolds and Les Tyrell warmly welcomed visitors to the twin cities of Thuringowa/Townsville, acknowledging the significant impact that the National Championships bring to the region. A special connection to the sport was recognised when TBA Chair, Peter Coburn, presented Mayor Tyrell with a plaque commemorating the highlight of his league bowling career – a 225 high game.

Another significant aspect of the sport’s appeal was highlighted in this morning’s ceremony when Tracey Nunan from Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Sport & Recreation Association of Queensland explained the sport’s involvement in an initiative aimed to integrate athletes with a disability into mainstream competition via the PROJECT CONNECT program.

“This is an exciting time for tenpin bowling….Project Connect presents an opportunity for Tenpin Bowling Australia to get more people with a disability involved in this great sport” she said at today’s Opening. “Over the next couple of years Tenpin will work with the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Paralympic Committee and a host of other agencies, including Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association, to create opportunities for people with a disability, from grass roots to elite levels” she continued.

“Project Connect is a transition program for sports to help them establish a Disability Action Plan” she said. “In this sense it’s a starting point for many sports, not an end point. “Tenpin is already one of the leading sports in the country with regard to the inclusion of people with a disability. “Their leading role was recognised by the Australian Sports Commission in being selected as one of only six targeted sports in the first year of Project Connect” she stated.

Australia is recognised as a world leader in the development of opportunities in sport for people with a disability and the two main focus areas of the program are creating athlete pathways and breaking down the barriers within sport structures for people with a disability.

“PROJECT CONNECT was launched twelve months ago as a joint venture between the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Paralympic Committee”, said TBA CEO, Alex Popov. “CONNECT stands for Creating Opportunities Nationally through Networks in Education” he explained.

A moving rendition of the national anthem by local bowler, Camille Herring followed by the reading of the Oath of Sportsmanship by WTBA World Championship Gold Medallist, Michael Little, set the stage for an exciting three days of intense competition in the Walter Rachuig Trophy event.

At the end of play on Day One of the competition, South Queensland leads the combined points tally on 53.5 points, with New South Wales second just half a point behind on 53, and novice entrants North Queensland in third place just half a point off the pace on 52.5 points.

Play resumes at 9am tomorrow morning for a further six games of head to head bowling action between the cream of the country’s bowlers.

The tournament is the finale of a three-week festival of bowling at both Kirwan and Currajong Bowling Centres and spectators are welcome to attend - admission is free.

Full scores and photographs from the Walter Rachuig Trophy and Nationals events completed to date can be viewed on TBA’s official website -www.tenpin.org.au.