Gunnedah’s Tim Thorning was named NSW Bowls male junior bowler of the year for the second straight year, as the awards night was held at the Wenty Leagues Club recently.
With bowlers aged 18 and under being eligible for the award, Thorning edged out Travis Moran of Warilla and Tom Rich of Merrylands as Thorning was the only candidate from Club Gunnedah in any category.
Thorning’s list of achievements included gold medals in the boys fours and overall sides, as well as silver in the boys triples and boys overall at the Australian U18 championships.
Thorning was also a semi-finalist in the Junior Golden Nugget boys singles competition and in the Australian Open U18 boys singles.
The Gunnedah bowler was the State U18 boys singles champion and State junior 7-a-side singles gold medallist, as well as being the Zone 3 men’s singles champion.
Thorning said it was “pretty exciting” to achieve the award as he was only the second person to win it back-to-back.
“I wasn’t really expecting to win it, so it was a bit of a surprise,” he said.
Thorning also earned selection in next year’s ACT/NSW state-based Jackaroo Academy squad, alongside bowlers from clubs including West Tamworth, Warilla, Engadine, St Johns Park, Canberra, Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Yass.
With camps and clinics being part of the program, Thorning said he was glad to have this opportunity as he had a goal to represent Australia.