The function celebrated the finish of the Walter de Veer Memorial tournament, a popular interstate teams competition that is held each year as part of the sport’s National Championships. The event is contested over three consecutive days to determine the best State/Territory representative team of bowlers with averages not exceeding 180 in the Men’s Division and 170 in the Women’s Division in a handicapped competition. Each team consists of seven players, with five on the Lanes at any one time.

“The Walter De Veer Memorial Tournament fosters, develops and advances a spirit of good sportsmanship and fellowship, as well as promoting and maintaining a good relationship amongst the representative teams and provides an opportunity for a combination of graded and handicapped competition” explained recently appointed TBA Chairperson, Peter Coburn.

In addition to the presentation of trophies to the winning Men’s and Women’s division teams, and the overall Team Winners from the Northern Territory, several other important Awards were announced last night.

The top five average, with handicap, male and female bowlers were announced as the “2003 TEAMS OF THE YEAR” with bowlers from North Queensland, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria sharing the honours.

The Team of the Year line up for 2003 is:-

Men’s division: Colin Reese (Nth Qld), Andrew Krink (NT), Garry Lee (Tasmania) Garry Arnol (Tasmania) and Michael Taylor (Nth Qld).

Women’s division: Tania Thompson (NT), Betty Pacher (Nth Qld), Brenda Kirkwood (WA), Sue-Anne Welch (WA), Lorraine Miller (Victoria)

TBA’s Chairperson’s Award was presented to Andrew Krink from Darwin while the corresponding Directors’ Award for a female bowler was won by Tania Thompson, also from Darwin. The criteria for these prestigious Awards is based on the number of games bowled during the Walter de Veer tournament, the number of points won and pins over entering average by individual bowlers in competing teams.

The popular Sportspersons’ Awards, chosen by peer vote for good sportsmanship, were won by Manuel Shih from the Perth suburb of Forrestfield, while another Northern Territory bowler, Sandra Mueller from Alice Springs, received the accolade in the Women’s division.

While there was no official Award for Team uniforms, the outfits of the North Queensland team stole the show. The men wore black pants with dapper Team blazers sporting a badge with the North Queensland team colours, red ties and even “team” moustaches while the North Queensland ladies wore stunning evening gowns. “We wanted to be unified….we wanted to be a team, and look like a team” said TBA Level 2 Coach, Peter Finitsis. “We started this concept in our training sessions and this has really bonded us….we’ve become such good friends, we’re going to have a Reunion in Cairns and we’re not going to lose that friendship that’s been established” he added.

Full scores from the Walter de Veer Memorial tournament and photos from last night’s Presentation ceremony can be viewed on TBA’s official website -www.tenpin.org.au.