The Nationals will be staged by the sport’s governing body, Tenpin Bowling Australia (TBA), in association with volunteers from the Illawarra region, and, as a prelude, Illawarra StrikeZone and TBA hosted an evening of not-too-serious competition last night between teams representing Illawarra media and supporters of the forthcoming National Junior Championships, including Shellharbour Tourism.

Under the banner of some creative Team names, local media organisations, the City of Shellharbour and the three Bowling Centres that will act as the Championship venues fielded 3-person teams, with the “CHANNEL TENPINS” emerging winners, under protest from the “PRIME POSSUMS” and the ‘WAVE WARRIORS” at the winners having drafted some talented ring-ins.

The light-hearted tournament was an introduction to the activity - and fun - that the forthcoming Australian Junior National Championships will bring to the region this month.

TBA Technical Advisor, and Illawarra StrikeZone proprietor, Andrew Frawley welcomed guests to the reception last night, and introduced several of the region’s high achieving local athletes, including perfect-game shooter Stephen Cowland from Blackbutt and Wollongong’s Stephen Reynolds. Teenagers Cowland and Reynolds are two of just 20 young male and female bowlers who have set their sights on selection for the team that will represent Australia at the II Commonwealth Youth Games to be held from 29 November to 4 December 2004.

The Commonwealth Youth Games Training Squad was recently announced by the CEO of Tenpin Bowling Australia, Alex Popov at the conclusion of a highly competitive weekend roll-off at Dragon City Lanes, the Centre that will act as host venue for the sport at the Games in Bendigo.