Media release: 5 January 2007

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TWEED HEADS TO HOST INAUGURAL WORLD TEAM CUP

New South Wales giant Tweed Heads Bowls Club will go down in history when it hosts the inaugural World Team Cup in May.

Bowls Australia chief executive Mark Rendell today (5-1) announced the club, located near the New South Wales and Queensland border, had won the right to the nine-day tournament.

The 17-25 May event looms as one of the biggest on the global bowls calendar. It is tipped to rival the world championships in terms of recognition amongst bowlers.

Eight nations, representing the powerhouses of international bowls, will contest the World Team Cup.

A galaxy of lawn bowls stars will go head-to-head at Tweed Heads Bowls Club with huge crowds expected to pack the stands to catch the action.

In 2007 the event will feature Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, South Africa, New Zealand and Malaysia.

Bowls Australia developed the World Team Cup concept and after receiving the endorsement of World Bowls was granted the right to stage the event for the first three years.

Mr Rendell said the Tweed Heads Bowls Club had been awarded the event in 2007 after a competitive tender process.

“We thought long and hard and had a number of worthy submissions, but Tweed Heads Bowls Club fully deserves the opportunity,” Mr Rendell said.

“This event is destined to become one of the highlights on the global bowls calendar and it’s fitting a club as well known and admired as Tweed Heads was chosen to host it.

“The greatest players from the leading nations will be on hand to try and win a trophy that will rank right up there with the most important in the world. They will be vying for this prestigious silverware at a state-of-the-art venue that has been a loyal supporter of our sport.

“We look forward to the World Team Cup playing a major role in a completely revamped Australian bowls calendar in 2007.”

Tweed Heads Bowls Club chairman Peter Howell said it was a feather in the club’s cap.

“I am thrilled that Tweed Heads Bowls Club has won the bid to host the 2007 World Team Cup,” Mr Howell said.

“The Tweed Heads Bowls Club is already recognised internationally as an excellent lawn bowls venue and is renowned throughout the bowls world for hosting some of the biggest and most successful tournaments. This event will further enhance this reputation as well bring countless visitors to our local region.

“The club is grateful to the Tweed Shire Council, Gold Coast mayor Ron Clarke, the Gold Coast Tourism Bureau and TACTIC for supporting our bid to host this world event.”

Mr Howell was also full of praise for Bowls Australia.

“Without the foresight of the national body this exciting project would not have come to fruition,” he said.

“I would like to thank Mark Rendell and the Bowls Australia team for their backing of our club.

“They have shown great faith in us and we will do everything in our power to make this event the success it deserves to be.”

The 2007 World Team Cup will comprise events for men and women with each nation sending a team of six players — three men and three women.

A match will feature three disciplines singles, pairs and triples, with players only able to compete in two of the three disciplines.

The eight nations will be divided into two sections of four for sectional play. The top two teams in each section will proceed to semi-finals and the semi-final winners on to the finals.

In 2008, Bowls Australia will explore relegation and promotion options in conjunction with World Bowls.

ABC TV has already committed to televising the event with extensive coverage to be provided as part of the network’s regular Saturday bowls programming.