Sport

Young guns going for gold at prestigious bowls event

By Oliver Shedden

May 15, 2025

Gracie Retallick (left) will compete in the Junior Golden Nugget off the back of her girls singles championship at the Bowls Victoria under-18 state championships. Photo: Moama Steamers.

Promising young bowling talents Jacob Brighton and Gracie Retallick will be heading to Tweed Heads in July to take part in the most prestigious under-18 bowls tournament in the country, the 22nd Annual Junior Golden Nugget.

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Taking place on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, the Junior Golden Nugget is the premier singles event for under-18 lawn bowls players, and it has become a highlight on the calendar for young bowlers across Australia.

Club Tweed will once again be hosting the competition, which will draw top talent from across Australia and abroad.

There will be six international players participating at the event, with four bowlers coming from Hong Kong and two from New Zealand.

A total of 48 bowlers, 24 girls and 24 boys, will compete for glory at the competition that is widely recognised as a stepping stone for Australia’s best young bowlers to national representation.

Jacob Brighton (middle) will also compete at the Junior Golden Nugget after his superb 2024 efforts and strong start to 2025. Photo: SSV.

Brighton and Retallick are no strangers to the big stage, with the latter having just had great success at the 2025 under-18 Victorian State Championships, nabbing the girls’ singles title.

Brighton, on the other hand, has had an equally strong start to 2025 after a stellar run last year with the young gun going back-to-back with Moama in the BCGBR pennant and placing runner-up in the under-18 boys’ pairs at the Victorian Bowls Open.

As part of their nomination to participate in the prestigious event, players had to submit evidence displaying their worthiness to compete.