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Get your own Free Home PageThe tenth annual New South Wales Country Championships conclude at the Orange Tenpin Bowl this weekend with singles, doubles and team events to be bowled today and the Country Masters tomorrow.
The Championships, which began in Orange in 1990, have been a great success with virtually every squad having a capacity field last weekend. There's a similar situation this weekend with bowlers from the Central Coast, the Hunter Region, Sydney, Canberra, Nowra, Bathurst and Orange fighting for the Championship prizes.
Orange bowlers fared very well on the first weekend of competition in the championships that are sponsored by the Orange City Council and Hansen's Optometrists.
Competing against the adults, junior star Jason Belmonte was in great form shooting an impressive 1966 all events tally (218 average for nine games) to lead the open grade comfortably from Orange's Steve Reil who also bowled well for an 1888 series (209 average)
Belmonte, who shot the championships high game of 267, leads the open grade singles with a 655 series. The open singles has been very competitive with other good scores coming from three other Orange players in David Hayward 628, reigning junior city champion Greg Perry 604 and adult city champion John Cooney 600.
Belmonte teamed with his father Aldo to lead the open doubles with an 1175 series and was also part of the team that leads open grade with a great 2561 series (213 team average). Other members of that team were Tony Richards, Mark Lijic and Steve Reil.
In the women's division Orange's Bonnea Wiseman also had a top weekend and is currently leading four events.
Wiseman fired 1710 to head the all events standing sheet while her 600 series was best in the open singles. Wiseman and Gwen Britt shot 1085 to lead the doubles while her team featuring partners Britt, Dianne Gee and Judy Louie was first with an 1874 series.
Looking through the standing sheets after the first weekend of competition other Orange bowlers leading their events include Michael Moorby (B singles), Moorby and Bob Waddell (A doubles), Gary Johnson (C singles and all events), Johnson and John Rapley (B doubles), Gary Evers and Brian Penrose (C doubles).
Lading in the women's division were Renae and Maree Caltabiano (A doubles), Rebecca Belmonte (B all events) and Belmonte and Bindi Irwin (B doubles).
Michael Moorby shot a nice 266 game during the championships while Orange's Marisa Belmonte bowled the top female game of 247.
Leading in mixed doubles were June and Steve Reil (open) and Rebecca and Aldo Belmonte (A grade).
A full list of results will be given in next week's column.
Entry forms are now available for the Mid City Motor Lodge Overlander Restaurant Valentine's Day tournament at the Bowl on 14 February.
Orange's first commitment in the Country Challenge will be at the Tuggeranong Bowl next weekend while the first Central West Pennants round is set for 7 March.
Jason Belmonte's great form from the Country Championships spilled over into league play at the Bowl during the past week.
In the Friday Triples Belmonte unleashed games of 239 and 258 for a 689 series while he rolled a hot 1336 six game block in the Monday Scratch Singles with scores of 236-277-234-214, including 701 for the first three.
It was another night of big scores in the Friday Triples and apart from Belmonte's effort other notable series were turned in by David Rosser 223-202-208 (633), Steve Reil 224 (619) and Mark Lijic 226 (607).
Other games worthy of mention came from Aldo Belmonte 244, Lyn Handel 256, David Hayward 204, Tim Irwin 209-204, Mario Mastronardi 212-211, frank McGovern 203, Henry Phillips 226, June Reil 208, Tony Richards 203-203 and Bonnea Wiseman 213-203.
After a sluggish start Mark Lijic also did well in the Scratch Singles, coming home with 217-206-216-257 (896/4) for a 1267/6 series.
June Reil just missed 1200, shooting 237-224 (853/4) while Steve Reil started well with 208-220 (616/3). Other good games were bowled by Wally Price 202-207, Chris Collins 215, Tim Irwin 221-208-201 (611/3), Craig Perry 202-212, James Dubbelde 204-224 610/3), Rebecca Belmonte 212-203 and Joe Werner 230.
Jason Brown was the only player to shoot 600 in the Auto Style Wednesday Doubles, rolling 211-246 for a 635 trio. Other good games were bowled John Cooney 203-208, Jim Dullaway 203, Henry Phillips 215-200, Debbie Seers 203, Sharon Trudgett 236-200 and Wally Price 201.
Kevin Bragg and Leo McKay, fresh from his recent no-tap tournament victory, rolled personal best games of 209 and 234 respectively.
In the Wednesday 7:30 league Jason Osborne fired a 242 while Kevin Carr shot an even 200. In the same league last week Osborne rolled a great 279 game while Trevor Connerty put together a 206 game.
Andrew Scully rolled an even 200 in the Monday 6:30 league while Lachlan O'Neill bowled 201 and Craig Stojanovic a personal best 194.
Other high games this week include Ken Perry 213, Barry Rosser 201, David Rosser 235, Tim Irwin 200, Boris Ostini 202 and Will Harvey 201.
Did everyone remember to watch the Strike It Rich Skins on Capital television last weekend?
Australia's triple gold-medallist from the 1998 Commonwealth Games, Cara Honeychurch was the top player of the Skins winning $6,500 in the final.
The event featured some of the best bowing talent in the world. Representing Australia were Carol Gianotti who led the money list on the US LPBA circuit in 1998, Andrew Frawley, Commonwealth Games gold medallist and 1998 World Cup champion Maxine Nable and Carl Bottomley.
The international stars included Rick Steelsmith (US pro, former Masters winner and former world amateur champion), Bill Rowe (Canadian champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist) and Tim Mack (world amateur bowler of the year for 1998). Very impressive indeed.
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