PNB Competition Secretary, Cynthia van der Merwe, with gold medalist, Westville BC’s Jarred Bauristhene and PNB President, Ken Fann.
Image: Louisa Human
The future of Port Natal bowls was on full display this past weekend at Queens Bowling Club, where the district’s top Under 25 players delivered a thrilling showcase of talent, determination and sportsmanship in their singles championship event.
Spectators were treated to a weekend of high-quality bowls as our young bowlers battled through sectional rounds and knockout stages in pursuit of championship honours. Among the standout stories was the remarkable performance of the two youngest competitors in the field, 11-year-old Miah Ertekes of Stella Park and 13-year-old Megan Botes from Amanzimtoti. Both showed maturity beyond their years as they faced older, more experienced opponents with confidence and grit.
Ertekes, in particular, impressed by winning her section before narrowly losing her quarter-final to eventual champion Jarred Bauristhene. Her composure and competitive spirit, along with Botes’ spirited performances, point to a bright future for both young bowlers.
The semi-final stage produced compelling face offs. Firwood’s Tye Smit faced Hillary’s Keegan Bauristhene and made a strong statement early on, taking control of the game from the outset. Maintaining his momentum throughout, Smit secured a convincing victory to book his place in the final.
In the second semi-final, Queens’ rising star Taylor Laden battled bravely against Westville’s Jarred Bauristhene. Despite a determined effort, Laden was ultimately outplayed by Bauristhene’s consistency and experience, with the latter progressing to the final.
The championship decider proved to be a gripping contest. Smit dominated the early exchanges, leading for the first five ends before Bauristhene fought back to level the scores at 6-all on the sixth end. What followed was a closely contested battle, with the lead changing hands a few times over the next seven ends.
In a tense run, Bauristhene edged ahead 12–11 on the 13th end and held his nerve under pressure to steadily build on that advantage. Jarred eventually reached the winning mark of 21 shots on the 18th end, securing the Under 25 championship title in impressive fashion. Keegan Bauristhene secured the bronze medal.
Port Natal Bowls President Ken Fann praised the overall standard of play and the depth of talent on display. He highlighted the performances of the younger bowlers in particular, noting their ability to compete strongly against more seasoned players.
“This augers well for the future of Port Natal,” Fann said. “We need more young bowlers to keep filling the ranks from the bottom.”
Good news for junior bowlers in the district came with the appointment of Umhlali’s Linda Tolmay as Convenor of Junior Bowls for Port Natal. Tolmay recently managed the Under 15 and Under 18 teams at the BSA Junior Nationals in Bloemfontein, where she impressed with her leadership, mentorship and ability to inspire young bowlers.
Her passion for development and commitment to nurturing talent positions her well to grow the junior ranks. The district looks forward to the positive impact she will have in strengthening participation and elevating performance among emerging bowlers.
With such promising talent emerging and strong leadership, the future of junior bowls in the district looks exceptionally bright.