Qld Over 50s bowling championships held at Bundy Bowl and Leisure

A Bundaberg bowling alley is hosting the 20th Queensland Over 50s Bowling Championships this week, with many calling the event ‘better than Christmas’ and some of the players considered royalty.

A proud tradition of the Bundy Bowl and Leisure centre has celebrated its 20th anniversary, with over 50s bowling champions converging on Bundaberg from across Queensland to play and celebrate.

Bundy Bowl and Leisure manager Pete McElligott said the championships had a way of bringing a diverse community of Queensland bowlers together, with some players coming every year since it was first held in 2002.

“It’s a Bundaberg event that is only ever played here, and Bundy teams have won it many times over the years,” Mr McElligott said.

The championship’s are open to teams of any size with more than 200 competitors from six areas playing in 2022.

“Our oldest competitor turns 90 in four weeks time, and has come up from Logan City Lanes in Brisbane,” said Mr McElligott.

Teams play four games a day over four days, with the total pins knocked averaged against the amount of players in the team.

Mr McElligott said while some teams could be competitive, it was the level of friendship among the players that kepts people coming back.

“People are more about enjoying themselves than competing for major prizes,” he said.

That hasn’t stopped some players from setting high standards for the event, including scores well above 190 averages.

Profile on the players

Many players were seen bowing to the Bundy Bowl ‘Queen’ Betty Culverhouse.

Betty ‘The Queen’ Culverhouse, 89

Betty ‘The Queen’ Culverhouse has been coming to the over 50s Championships for eight years, and earned her nickname from being the oldest player at the competition.

“In four weeks time, I am 90 years old, so I am royalty just for this week,” she said.

Mrs Culverhouse began bowling more than 40 years ago when she, her late husband and younger brother took up the game in Ipswich.

Mrs Culverhouse returns to the event every year as she enjoys the chance to catch up with old friends and keep active.

“Everyone is just so nice, I do it for the fun and the friendliness,” she said.

Mrs Culverhouse said she wouldn’t call herself a competitive person, but it was clear she had a winning spirit.

“I like to win, but it’s not an absolute must,” she said.

Maureen McCormack, 73

Maureen McCormack is a long time attendee of the event, and has been competing for 18 years.

“I started at the old centre and my husband and I joined the old team for something to do 35 years ago,” she said.

As a long time competitor Mrs McCormack said the chance to see everyone year after year and make new friends was what kept her coming back.

“To me, it’s about seeing your friends and I enjoy being active,” she said.

Mrs McCormack also plays in the local league, and said it gave her a hobby and a different lifestyle.

“My children are all grown up, so it gives you something to do and my husband has joined the league this year as well,” she said.

Sandra Frau had one of the best games of the week, bowling a 202 on Monday.

Sandra Frau, 59

Sandra Frau calls herself the baby of the group, as the youngest player in her Townsville team.

Being the youngest hasn’t stopped her from hitting the top of the leaderboard after bowling one of the highest games of the week with a 202 on Monday.

“I played for the Queensland team before I had a stroke a while back,” she said.

She no longer is able to play to the same level as in her youth, but doesn’t mind the chance to play for fun.

“Life is too short to be serious all the time,” she said.

Ms Frau has been coming along to the event for four years, and said it was a great opportunity to catch up with friends.

“I play for the friendship now, and I play with the Logan team at home as well,” she said.

Ms Frau began her journey into bowling at thirteen years old, when her father took her to her local lane.

“We weren’t allowed to bowl unless we kept it out of the gutter,” she said “there were no lane barriers in those days.”

Del Ross, 80

Del Ross has been a long time bowler and loyal attendee of the event, and said it was like a “homecoming”.

“It’s been going for a long time, you make friends from around the state and they come back every year and we’ve been friends for years,” she said.

Mrs Ross has been a long time contributor to the management and preparation of the competition, working with her husband to get players accommodation and organising prizes and raffles.

Mrs Ross said it was the ease of the game and the low stress attitudes she enjoyed more than anything else.

As a Bundaberg player, Mrs Ross said playing the league gave she and her husband a chance to see more of the state as they travel to compete.

“They’re very close friends now, they’re not just competitors,” she said. “It’s better than Christmas with all our friends coming together.”

Arthur Ross, 82

Arthur Ross took up bowling more than 40 years ago, and said he has had a good week at the championships this year.

“I’m not competitive anymore, but I try and make my average every game,” he said.

Mr Ross said it was the good exercise and good friends that kept him playing.

“You can have a social time, you can be as competitive or not competitive as you want,” he said.

Mr Ross recently retired from coaching younger players, and said he had a genuine love of the sport.

“I just wanted to give back, teach the kids and give back to the sport so bowling will keep going,” he said.

* The championships continue on Thursday, September 15.