The sport’s future is on full display this weekend in Wellington, with some of the greatest youth
talents taking to the greens in a bid to be crowned the U18 and U21 National Singles champions
respectively.

Held over the long Easter Weekend, the Naenae Bowling Club will play host to both events, with
the U18 singles getting underway Friday and Saturday, prior to the coveted Kittyhawk U21
competition scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

Wellington youngster Seamus Curtin, a firm favourite to collect both titles in this weekend's competitions

One player tipped to make a big showing in both events is Wellington teenager Seamus Curtin, who has recently proved his singles form is as good as any player in the country, remaining unbeaten at the National Intercentre Championships and finishing third-equal at the recent National Open Singles Championships.

Curtin, who is the U18 reigning men’s champion, will undoubtedly be looking to carry his success through to the U21 category, with victory in this event further confirming his worth as one of the country’s brightest prospects rising through the elite tiers.

Hoping to stop Curtin in his tracks will be fellow Wellingtonians Finbar McGuigan and Brady
Amer, with McGuigan a former member of the New Zealand Development side and Amer an
established Johnsonville representative in his own right.

In the women’s field, last year’s reigning champion in both the U18 and U21 sections, dual
Clayton and Naenae club member Natasha Russell will be wanting to further stamp her mark,
though will face some stiff competition in the face of Glenfield starlet Paris Baker, Kahutia’s
Lucy Shanks and Te Atatu Peninsula’s Mackenzie Blucher - all talented campaigners in years gone
by.

However, like any event, particularly the youth grade sectors, the National U18 and U21 singles
provides a clear platform for new stars to rise and show their hands as ones to keep on the
radar going forward.

Winding back the clock, Blackjack stars like World Singles champion Shannon McIlroy and
Commonwealth Games skipper Mandy Boyd have both previously been in the winning circles at
these events, proving with the right results, ability and attitude - the heights to be achieved
can be as lofty as these youngsters choose to believe.

The format will see the U21 Men play seven rounds of section play, with both winners of the
section scheduled to play off in the grand finale on Monday, while the Women will play a straight
round robin of nine games to determine this year’s champion.

Meanwhile, the U18 format will be completed in much the same manner, with the two winners in
Men’s Section A and B going head-to-head for the top gong, while the women will play all
competitors over seven rounds in their solitary section.