Tenpin Bowling Australia Senior Carnival Locked in for 2022

Tenpin Bowling Australia (TBA) is pleased to announce that the TBA50 Challenge and TBA50 Cup will continue in 2022 by staging a standalone weeklong carnival.

The popular senior-aged events will occur from 22-30 October 2022, with a host venue still to be announced.

Following news that the 2022 Australian National Championship would narrow its focus on delivering junior and adult events in the one timeslot for next year’s event in Tasmania, many wondered what the decision meant for senior bowlers.  

Newly appointed National Manager of Bowling, Rules and Tournaments Morty Douglass has been working hard to find a solution as part of his new role with TBA.

The hiring of Douglass in the freshly created position aims to provide leadership from TBA on key bowling activities across the country. One of the role’s focuses is to ensure an overarching framework is developed for the sport to best service and support volunteers, promoters, proprietors and ultimately, the bowler.

“The bowling community rightfully asked questions following the ANC2022 announcement, and we are happy to announce we have delivered,” said Douglass.

“TBA recognises the importance of having a national championship for senior-aged bowlers. We take great pride in the fact that this is a lifelong sport. It is vitally important for us to have an elite pathway available for all key demographics participating in the sport”.

With new names assigned to the events in 2021, the TBA50 Cup concept was first established in 1986 with the TBA50 Challenge in 2007.  Both events have continually attracted the countries best senior bowlers battling it out on the lanes, with the TBA50 Cup also classified as a ranked event in the senior division season.

“I am excited to see what we can do with these weeklong carnivals for National Championships. The TBA Senior Carnival will be a weeklong showcase of current talent and future potential that will also assist with talent identification for national teams” explained Douglass.

“Eight days is a good fit with our registered centres, and I think it allows for creative thinking about how TBA constructs a championship event in the future”.

In addition to the new timeslot, Douglass revealed that the TBA50 Challenge would be sporting a new format with the introduction of Mixed Teams to the Challenge.

“The new format will offer greater flexibility to our smaller states and territories that may find it difficult to field two entire teams, yet also provide the opportunity for larger states to field two teams in the competition”, explained Douglass.

“The updated composition of teams will also allow a broader selection of potential venue hosts for the competition that we expect to lock away and announce shortly”.

A complete event guide and schedule will be released in the coming months with more information.