2023 ANC TO SEE LARGEST ELITE TEAMS EVENT EVER HELD

Release provided by Strike 3 Bowling

After a very successful event in 2022, hopes were high for an even bigger 2023 and with applications now closed, this years ANC will see a record 31 Rachuig teams and 16 Shield teams taking part in the ANC from 25 June at Zone Bowling Moonah.  The innovations and enthusiasm have been well received right across the country with Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania all showing the way forward in clearly demonstrating that the traditional state team and the new franchise teams can co-exist for the benefit of the sport and elite level participation. 

A key goal of the expansion program was to better engage with the bowling industry and pave the way for them to get directly involved in the ANC.  Caboolture and Ballina showed the pathway in 2022, Ballina now expanding to four teams this year, and we are excited to announce the inclusion of the Logan City Wolves with Adult and Junior teams. From across the ditch, Aotearoa will join us from the Manukau Super Strike centre to again give the `locals’ as much grief as possible!  It’s not just bowling centres joining the fray either with the ANC providing a perfect opportunity for Pro Shops to get involved and promote their businesses to a much larger audience than the traditional league bowler, with Bedrock Bowling supplies entering two competitive teams under the name Team Bedrock Moonah.

In another great innovation for our sport, showcasing its diversity across all spectrums of society, we welcome the Australia Pride Monarchs to the ANC with a single male team in 2023 that is sure to grow to multiple teams in the years ahead.

The two supporting Australian Masters events will also see the biggest fields assembled for these events in recent years, thanks to the innovation of the one entry system, which automatically gives all attending players a spot in the Masters field.  This will see 186 players take part in the Masters and more than 100 players in the Junior Masters.  This in turn has led to a few scheduling challenges for the Masters, and what a great problem to have, which will now see a full 24 player cut for men and 16 players for the women.  Yes, a full 24 game PBA style matchplay and 5 player stepladder awaits our elite male players.  With the Masters fields full and the Junior Masters with limited spots reserved for development players, both tournaments offer excitement and bowling experiences not seen for a long time at a `Nationals’. 

It is great to again be able to talk about an elite level tournament having over 250 entries more than four months before the first balled is even bowled.

The 2023 ANC will see Australia’s and New Zealand’s best players come together in Hobart to celebrate our great sport in exciting competitions and friendships, both old and new, at what is now Australia’s premium elite level bowling festival.

Further information can be found in the Guide to the Event