Fast Lane

story first published in the Central Western Daily, Saturday 9 January, 1997

The first tenpin bowling tournament of the year is rapidly approaching, with qualifying well underway for the Bob Jane T-Mart/Harvey Norman Discounts 7-no-tap event.

Bowlers roll four games in the qualifying round with the top 20 players moving into the ten game final on Australia Day. The top qualifier receives free entry into the final.

The format is again the extremely popular seven no-tap where players are awarded a strike for knocking down a minimum of just seven pins.

As witnessed in previous tournaments using this format, including last year's final, there will be plenty of "perfect" games and it will take ten excellent games to win this year's prizes.

The top prize on offer is a set of all-rounder tyres valued at $400 while the minor prizes are electrical goods.

* * * * *

Listed below is the 1997 tournament calendar, recently issued by the Orange Tenpin Bowling Association.

As stated each year, it's advisable to either get a copy of the calendar from the Bowl, if there are any left, or keep a copy of this page from the C.W.D. handy so you're aware of all the tournaments throughout the year. Events are local, unless stated otherwise.

January


11-12	Liverpool Cup, Western Lanes Liverpool
18-19	Brunswick Australian Cup, Top Ryde
26	Bob Jane/Harvey Norman 7 No Tap final

February


1-2	N.S.W. Country Championships, Mayfield
1-2	Southern Cross Cup, Balgowlah
8-9	N.S.W. Country Championships and Masters, Mayfield
9	Valentines Scotch Doubles
22-23	Country Challenge, round 1, Dubbo

March


1-3	City of Sydney Championships, Bankstown
2	Orange Junior Masters
8-10	City of Sydney Championships, Bankstown
9	Pennants, round 1, Orange vs Dubbo
15-16	Country Challenge, round 2, Bathurst
15-16	Newcastle Cup, Mayfield
22-23	N.S.W. Junior Championships, Bankstown
28-31	N.S.W. Junior Championships and Masters, Bankstown

April


12-13	Orange Cup
20	Pennants, round 2, Dubbo vs Bathurst
26-27	Country Challenge, round 3, Canberra

May


3-4	Coca Cola Under 21, Enfield
11	Orange Masters
17-19	Lake Macquarie Open, Bennetts Green
18	Pennants, round 3, Bathurst vs Orange
31	Country Challenge, round 4, Mudgee
TBA	N.S.W. State Championships (venue to be advised)

June


1	N.S.W. State Championships
7-8	Kidney Foundation tournament final
7-9	N.S.W. State Championships
14-15	N.S.W. State Championships
14-15	Hunter Valley Open, Maitland
15	Pennants, round 4, Dubbo vs Orange
21-22	N.S.W. State Championships
21-22	Australian Junior National Championships, Bankstown and Enfield

July


19-20	Gosford Open, Gosford
20	Pennants, round 5, Bathurst vs Dubbo
26	Foundation 41 Singles
27	Foundation 41 Doubles

August


2-3	Country Challenge, round 5, Orange
9-10	A.C.T. State Championships and Masters, Canberra
10	Pennants, round 6, Orange vs Bathurst
28-31	South Pacific Classic, Bankstown
31	Pennants finals 1-2-Jrs, Bathurst
31	Pennants finals 3-4-5, Dubbo

September


6-7	Orange City Championships
13-14	Country Challenge, round 6, Wagga
20-21	Orange City Championships
27-29	Canberra Open, Woden

October


11-26	Australian National Championships and Masters, Perth

November


8-9	Sydney Tenpin Cup, Parramatta
15-16	Country Challenge, state final, Canberra
22	O.T.B.A. Annual General Meeting
23	O.T.B.A. Adult-Junior Tournament
23	O.T.B.A. Barbecue/Presentation Day
30	Pennants Annual General Meeting, Orange

December


6	Pee Wee tournament
6-7	Western Open, Bankstown
7	Junior Cup, Orange

Dates for this year's Central West Tournament Bowlers Association rounds will be given as soon as they are available.

* * * * *

The Orange Open, traditionally held in February has had a change of date and format. The event, now titled the Orange Cup, will be held in April.

This year the lucrative tournament will be restricted to bowlers from just the Central West. This will give local bowlers a great chance of sharing in the spoils usually ransacked by their Sydney and interstate rivals.

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