Around 40 bowlers took to the greens at West Tamworth and Tamworth City for the zone’s annual junior carnival – the biggest roll-up in the five years it has been running.

“It was brilliant to see how many we finished up with,” Bannister said.

Bowlers came from Coonabarabran, Gulgong, Wee Waa, Inverell, Glen Innes, Guyra, Armidale, Gunnedah, Lightning Ridge and around Tamworth, and Bannister said it was pleasing to see all the hard work coming to fruition.

Equally as pleasing was the quality.

“It’s very good, the talent that we’ve got coming through,” he said.

Gunnedah siblings Caleb and Ella Cameron were among those to shine with Caleb winning the under-18s and Ella finishing runner-up in the under-11s division.

Caleb was given a mid-game scare in the final by his West Tamworth opponent Zoe Stewart. Eventually prevailing 17-13, he was up 16-2 at one stage before Stewart closed the gap to 16-11.

He said he “drew well” to set up his big lead but then lost concentration for a bit.

The 16-year-old has been playing bowls for “about three or four years” after his interest was sparked watching his cousin play.

Last year he teamed up with Zac Doring to win the district junior pairs title and was runner-up in the singles.

His biggest triumph though came at Dubbo, where he and Coonabarabran’s Tom Bowman won the 15-18 years event at the annual Noel Sloane Junior pairs carnival.

Next up is the pennants, where Cameron will play for the Gunnedah No.6 side.

Younger sister Charli, 8, also played on the weekend, joining Ella, 10, in the under-11s division.

Ella took up the game about 12 months ago.

“Wherever Caleb plays if she can play, she plays,” mother Joanne said.

She said there is a healthy rivalry among the siblings, who have done battle on the rink on a couple of occasions. Most notably in the pairs carnival at Gunnedah last year where Ella and her partner came out on top against Caleb and Charli.

Ella was defeated by West Tamworth’s Riley Flynn 12-8 in her final after outlasting Wee Waa’s Mekhi Ross in a thrilling semi-final on Saturday afternoon. It came down to the final end with Cameron picking up one shot on the 17^th to pip Ross 12-11.

Flynn had an easier time of it in his semi, beating Wee Waa’s Hunter Doring 12-5.

In the under-13s, Coonabarabran’s Sam Bowman was too good for Inverell East’s Connor Walters in the play-off for first and second getting up 17-9.

Walcha’s Chad Hawkins was third after beating Samantha Robinson (Armidale Ex-Services) 17-11.

Wee Waa’s Dustyn Allen scored nine shots over the last four ends of the under-15s final to pull away for a 17-7 win over Inverell East’s Tori Bell. He had earlier in his semi-final got the better of Ashton McConnell (Glen Innes) 17-11 while Bell overcame West Tamworth’s Jack Skewes 17-12.

Brittany Camp (Armidale Ex-Services) won the third-fourth play-off in the under-18s, accounting for state under-18s side team-mate Kasey Cone (West Tamworth) 17-10.

Bannister was thankful to West Tamworth Bowling Club and Tamworth City Bowling Club for hosting the carnival. 

McDonalds and Red Rooster also donated vouchers as prizes.

The next event for the zone juniors is the state singles, which will be played at Manilla on March 2 and 3. Nominations close on Saturday February 23.