FOR ADF members interested in a different type of sport, the Australian Services Bowls Association (ASBA) is preparing for the National Championships in Brisbane between September 16 and 20.

The ASBA Championships is a sanctioned event and caters for bowlers of all degrees of competency and both genders. Lawn bowls is one of the few sports that compete without gender bias.

The championships incorporate competition between all states in a combined service format. Interservice and combined service competitions are conducted at both state and national level with the national team playing fixtures against visiting countries.

They also compete every second year at the Arafura Games in Darwin. The 2001 games saw a gold medal in the pairs competition and the fours team won a Games Medallion for special achievement.

This year’s selection process will again select a national team for competition in the games and also a team of four will represent the ADF at the Asian Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast the week after these nationals.

One of the pre-requisites to play in service competition is that ADF members are to be members of a civilian club – most play at the higher level in their own clubs because of the competitiveness that is incorporated in Defence sport.

For more information on lawn bowls within the ADF, visit the website at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/adfsc/sports/BOWLS/asba.htm or contact the ASBA President WO2 Mick Carley on (02) 6933 8409 or the secretary, WO Russell Wise on (02) 6265 1370.

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