I WILL ONLY POST ONCE ON THIS TOPIC, CABOOLTURE BOWL WAS APPROACHED BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED MANAGERS AND COACHES REGARDING THE QLD JUNIOR SHIELD TOURNAMENT AFTER THIS YEARS EVENT. I FIRST WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THERE IS NO ILL FEELING BETWEEN THE MCKENNA FAMILY AND MYSELF, SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE THE WELL KNOWN CONDITIONS AT ROCKY THAT CAN BE EXPLAINED AS TUFF AND TESTING OR IN OTHER PEOPLES OPINION IT IS INJUIRES JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN, NOT ONLY DO THE KIDS GET NO PRACTICE AFTER A BREAK FOR THE OILING MACHINE TO MAKE ONE OF ITS DEMO RUNS DOWN THE LANES, BUT MOST OF THE TEAMS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS EVENT MAINLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN BRISBANE AREA TEAMS WHO MOST OF THEM HAVE A HEAVIER OIL PATTERN AND THAT IS WHAT MOST OF THE JUNIORS/YOUTH EQUIPMENT IS SET UP FOR, WATCHING THE KIDS ENJOY THEIR TRIP TO ROCKY EVERY YEAR IN THE POOL AFTER BOWLING AND NOT AT THE CENTRE IS NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT. THE TRAVELING COSTS FROM THE ORIGINAL 8 CENTRES INVITED TO THE NEW EVENT WILL BE A SAVING OF OVER $30,000.00 WHICH CAN BE USED TO PROMOTE JUNIOR/YOUTH BOWLING WITH IN THEIR CENTRES. THE S.E QLD SHIELD EVENTS WILL BE BOWLED IN 2 CENTRES NOW, WITH THE JUNIORS AT ASPLEY AND THE YOUTH AT CABOOLTURE WITH A COMBINED ALL STAR, M & C TOURNY AND PRESENTATION AT ASPLEY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE CHANGE TO 2 CENTRES WAS TO ACCOMODATE EXTRA JUNIOR TEAMS FROM ROCKY AND BUNDY/MARYBOROUGH. THIS WAS NOT DESIGNED TO END THE ROCKY TOURNY, MAY BE THERE SHOULD BE MORE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT ONLY A FEW CENTRES OUT OF BRISBANE BOTHER TO ENTER NOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO KINGAROY, GLADSTONE, HERVEY BAY, MACKAY, TOWNSVILLE, MT ISA, CAIRNS AND THE LIST CAN GO ON, THEY ALL USED TO ATTEND????????. MAY BE THE ROCKY EVENT WAS LUCKY TO RECEIVE THIS MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE BRISBANE AREA TEAMS FOR SO LONG AND NOT ATTRACT CRITISISM FOR LOOKING AFTER THEIR OWN JUNIOR/YOUTH BOWLERS IN OUR OWN AREA, FINANCIALY, THE ENJOYMENT OF BOWLING AND NOT BEING TORCHED IN ONE OF THE LOWEST SCORING CENTRE IN QLD. ENJOYMENT OF TENPIN BOWLING IS TO BOWL YOUR AVERAGE AND HAVE FUN.
YOURS IN BOWLING,
BRIAN BATES.