Benalla bowls young gun Koby Cromie has been recognised for his terrific season on the green, taking out the top junior gong to be named Bowls Australia’s Male Under-18 Bowler of the Year at the 2024 Bowls Australia Awards Night.
The accolade is just reward for Cromie, who enjoyed a breakout campaign at state and national level in 2024.
A stunning rout at the Victorian Championships in April kick-started the supreme season for Cromie, where he blitzed all comers to win the under-18 singles, doubles and triples in a brilliant display of bowling, announcing himself as one of the top juniors nationwide.
He confirmed that notion with a stunning come-from-behind victory at the Australian Open on the Gold Coast in June, where despite finding himself trailing 8-18 in the final against New South Welshman Travis Moran, showed great composure down the stretch to snatch a remarkable 21-19 win and, with it, the title.
The wins kept coming at national level, with Cromie clinching a ridiculous third-straight under-18 boys doubles title at the national championships in October alongside good mate Charlie Boswood, while also claiming bronze in the singles and a silver as part of the Victorian team that finished runner-up to NSW.
With multiple titles at state and national championships in his pocket this year, Cromie was recently announced as a member of the Victorian state-based academy team for 2025, with an eye to the Commonwealth Games in 2026 in Glasgow, which will feature bowls.
Cromie is currently plying his trade for Essendon in the Metro Weekend Pennant premier division — his second year with the club having helped guide the side to the premier reserve title last season — with the Windy Hill residents sitting fourth on the ladder through seven rounds with a 3-4 record.