A bevy of budding bowlers were bitten by the bug on Monday when they rolled up for the inaugural Australia Day Triples tournament at Bowral Bowling Club.

72 bowlers, many of them new to the sport, donned the all-whites and limbered up the bowling arm for the event which boasted $720 in prizemoney.

Virgin bowlers of all ages took to the greens and Bowral bowls secretary Ken Handley said it was part of a new approach the club was undertaking.

“It’s all about introducing new people to the game and getting more people to the club,” he said.

“We want to utilise these public holidays and I think the sport has a lot of potential to attract a whole new group of players.

“The response we’ve had is just fantastic and we could have had even more players except for the fact that we have a green out of play.”

Handley was also quick to correct the common perception that bowls was strictly the domain of retirees.

“At the elite level it’s actually become a young persons sport,” he said.

“They have more agility and more stamina and can play better.”

The club has backed up its intentions to attract a more diverse membership by handing out sponsorships to a host of sporting clubs in 2002.

Highlands United Soccer Club, Bowral Hockey Club and Bowral Rugby League Club have all benefited from the bowling club’s generosity.

And although bowls arts and soccer might be at opposite ends of the sporting spectrum, Highlands United first grader Craig Ash claimed the whole team were converts to the game.

“It’s a great social game and it’s fantastic to learn off the older folk,” he said.

“They’re very encouraging and have plenty of good stories.

“It’s just a lot of fun and we’ll be coming back for more.”

Overall winners of the tournament was the trio of Ben Roux, Joan Maine and Terry White with two wins plus 28.

Runner-up was the team of Elaine Jones, Daisy White and Joe Luketina on two wins plus 17 while third place went to Peter Weatherstone, May Smith and Steve Della on two wins plus 10.

First game winners were Peter Besnard, Robin Reid and Phil McIntyre who won by 23 while Jennifer Handley, Faye Jones and Lew Wilson were the winners of the second game.

The club intends to conduct similar competitions on most public holidays throughout 2002.