NSW bowlers will battle it out to represent the state at the national championships. Photos: Destination Wollongong.
A one-off special sporting event to determine the best bowlers to represent at the national championship will be hosted in the Illawarra, attracting hundreds of competitors from across the state.
Bowls NSW has announced the Illawarra will be the stage of its 2026 Nationals Qualifiers, with Men’s and Women’s Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, and the Mixed Pairs State Finals competitions set to expose bowlers and bowling enthusiasts to venues and experiences right across the region.
“Wollongong is a great location for an event of this scale, with quality bowling facilities, a strong local bowls community and plenty for players and supporters to enjoy during their visit,” Bowls NSW CEO Tim Rowe said.
“We are very grateful for the continued support of Destination Wollongong and look forward to working with Figtree Sports, Club Windang, Woonona Bowling Club and Club Thirroul to deliver a successful event.”
The event, of which Destination Wollongong is an official partner, comes on the back of a successful competition in August where more than 600 female bowlers came to Wollongong to compete for the crown of State Pennant Champions.
Now a change to the season calendar which shortened the qualification period for the Bowls Australia National Championships 2027 has provided a unique opportunity for the region to hold another major event for the sport – with four local clubs joining as hosts.
Wollongong will host the one-off event, which will attract sportspeople from across the state.
With no regional qualifiers, the event is open to all affiliated bowlers across NSW to give them the opportunity to earn their place on the national stage while also experiencing all the wonders of the Illawarra.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Bowls NSW Nationals Qualifiers to Wollongong this November, and to continue our partnership with Bowls NSW following last month’s Women’s State Pennant Finals,” Destination Wollongong General Manager Jeremy Wilshire said.
“With games stretching from Thirroul right down to Windang, players and their supporters will have the perfect opportunity to get out and experience more of Wollongong, from our beaches and coastal walks to our local cafes and restaurants.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the region and hope they take the opportunity to experience what makes Wollongong such a great place to stay and play.”
The qualifiers will start on Wednesday 25 November with the triples competition, followed by the pairs, fours and singles before concluding with the mixed pairs on Wednesday 2 December.
Entries are still open across all disciplines, but there is a cap on competition numbers.
For more information visit the Bowls NSW website.
