In another local triumph, Townsville resident, Anthony Miekle from Condon won the Men's division of the 2003 Restricted Cup. Also competing for the first time in the sport’s National Championships, 18 year-old Miekle defeated Kevin Dillon from Clifton Beach in Cairns in the final round of the event late last night. Chairperson’s Award winner from the previous Walter de Veer Memorial tournament, Andrew Krink from Darwin, finished third in last night’s event.

The Restricted Cup is a handicap event based on 90% of 200 and is open to all adult TBA affiliated bowlers whose averages are 184 and under for Men, and 174 and under for Women. In the final round, each match is contested over two games with scratch pinfall plus entering handicap determining the winner. Bowlers from the North Queensland region have dominated placings in many of the events contested so far in what is effectively a three-week bowling extravaganza.

Bowling in the Nationals in singles, doubles and teams events continues throughout the weekend at Kirwan Bowling Centre. On Monday, while qualifying for the Open Masters continues at Kirwan, attention refocusses to Currajong Super Bowl for the staging of the 2003 Classic Cup. This is a scratch event with separate divisions for TBA affiliated bowlers with averages of 199 and under for Men and 189 and under for Women. Play begins at 9am and spectators are welcome.

On Tuesday afternoon, the qualifying rounds of the Australian Open Masters will begin at Kirwan Bowl, with the prestigious TBA Australian Masters final scheduled to commence at 9am on Wednesday, 5 November. The Masters Champions are likely to be decided by around 4pm and, again locals are invited to come to the Bowling Centre to see some of the world's top ranking bowlers in action.

The finale event at this year's Nationals is the Walter Rachuig Interstate Teams Trophy. The three-day event is renowned as a highlight event at the Nationals, bringing together the cream of Australian bowling talent from every State and Territory. As either a participant, avid supporter or simply a curious observer, the Walter Rachuig Trophy tournament will certainly be one of the most exciting and colourful bowling spectacles ever likely to be witnessed, as male and female teams - including most of the sport's elite National Training Squad - vie for the honour of winning the coveted Trophy. This year, for the first time, teams will represent both South and North Queensland and a Team from New Zealand has also been included.

The tournament will be opened by the Member for Townsville and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, the Hon. Mike Reynolds, AM, MP at 9am on Thursday, 6 November at Kirwan Bowl. Teams of seven (with five bowlers on the lane at any time) will play six games per day until mid-afternoon Saturday - an exciting and noisy atmosphere is assured and locals are encouraged to come along to barrack for their team and enjoy the atmosphere of a “one of a kind” sporting event, the like of which is played nowhere else in the bowling world.

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