Local bowler Monique Crothers has qualified for the first ever Junior Bowls Premier League (BPL) Challenge, which will enable her to showcase her skills on the national stage.
Monique is only 10 and bowls in the Deniliquin Bowling Club’s Weekend Pennant competition.
And now she is also on her way to the first of its kind Junior BPL Challenge in February.
Like the adult competition, it brings together the best bowlers from around the country.
The junior challenge is for bowlers under the age of 18, meaning Monique could be playing against bowlers nearly twice her age.
The concept of the league is not unlike the T20 Big Bash competition in that it has franchises or teams with players from all over Australia, and even some International players.
There are currently 12 active teams in the BPL, with Monique on the Moama Steamers team.
There are also teams based in Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania.
The idea for this particular junior event was born out of a shared desire from the Sunbury and Moama bowling clubs to have more events for junior bowlers throughout the year.
Qualifications for the event were held on Sunday at Moama and Sunbury.
By qualifying, Monique becomes the first Deniliquin bowler to be a franchise player in the BPL.
“It was great to see Monique qualify, along with Todd Brain and Josh Cartwright. She played well throughout the day with some big bowls in the final,” Moama Bowling Club greens venue manager Stuart White said.
“The Junior BPL Challenge will be played alongside the BPL teams, with the final being livestreamed through Bowls Australia before the finals series starts with the main teams.
“There will be 12 sides in the Junior BPL Challenge, with every franchise sponsoring a team.
“This is a national competition played on the biggest stage.”