State Champions Crowned Across Four Pairs Divisions
Queensland’s best bowlers have claimed their titles at the 2026 Bowls Queensland State Championships Pairs, with champions crowned across the Open and Over 60’s divisions. Contested at multiple Gold Coast clubs over 20-21 May, the four competitions saw fierce competition and standout performances as players battled for gold in pairs play.
Over 60’s Women’s Pairs
Patricia Cullinane and Julie Keegan have claimed the Over 60’s Women’s Pairs title, capping a commanding run through the finals with a dominant 24-10 victory over Anna Wilson and Lorraine Young in the gold playoff.
The pair’s path to gold proved clinical and assured throughout the knockout stages. When they took to the greens in the quarter-finals, their bowling intent was immediately apparent as they built pressure on their opposition throughout the match. The experience and positional play from Cullinane and Keegan proved the decisive factors as they navigated their path through the finals with composure and tactical awareness.
Advancing to the semi-final, Cullinane and Keegan faced Vicki Cameron and Karen Pollock in a match that would determine their route to the gold playoff. The contest proved decisive from the outset, with Cullinane and Keegan controlling the game to secure a 22-10 win and book their spot in the championship decider.
Running parallel to their campaign, Anna Wilson and Lorraine Young demonstrated their own quality and determination throughout their finals run. In the semi-final, Wilson and Young edged out Heather Bailey and Karen Morgan 21-15 in a match that showcased the competitiveness of the Over 60’s Women’s field. That victory set up a tantalising gold playoff between two pairs who had both executed their game plans effectively to reach the title decider.
The gold playoff saw Cullinane and Keegan deliver when it counted most. They established an early lead and never relinquished control, working methodically through the ends and maintaining their composure under the pressure of a championship final. Their consistent delivery across the twenty-one ends secured the 2026 title with a commanding 14-shot margin, a victory that underlined their tactical awareness and execution throughout the competition. Cullinane and Keegan’s ability to accumulate shots while restricting Wilson and Young proved the defining difference, and they claimed their state championship with authority.
For the bronze medal, Gail Crompton and Debbie Logan faced Heather Bailey and Karen Morgan in a match that decided third place. After falling to Cullinane and Keegan in the semi-finals, Crompton and Logan bounced back immediately with a gritty performance that showcased their resilience. The match proved tightly contested throughout, but Crompton and Logan held firm to defeat Bailey and Morgan 26-19 in a battle that went down to the final ends.
Crompton and Logan’s journey through the finals demonstrated their credentials. In the quarter-finals, they overcame Bronwyn Torrens and Suzanne Kington with a convincing 24-7 victory that announced their championship ambitions. Their semi-final loss to the eventual champions proved no disgrace, and their ability to regroup and secure the bronze medal underlined their quality and competitive spirit. Third place in the Over 60’s Women’s Pairs represented a strong finish for the pair, who had navigated a demanding finals series against experienced opposition.
The Over 60’s Women’s Pairs showcased the depth of experience and skill within the age group, with every finalist delivering strong performances throughout the competition. Cullinane and Keegan’s title win served as the highlight of a division that produced compelling matches and demonstrated the commitment of Queensland’s senior female bowlers to excellence in the sport.
Over 60’s Men’s Pairs
Thomas Tarrant and Milan Bondzulic have claimed the Over 60’s Men’s Pairs title, delivering a dominant 28-8 victory over Douglas Kleinhans and Darren Black in a gold playoff that showcased their superior control and accuracy throughout a memorable weekend of competition.
Tarrant and Bondzulic’s run to the title was impressive from start to finish, demonstrating consistency and tactical awareness that separated them from a competitive field. In the post-section qualifying rounds, they faced Gary Andrews and Peter Gregory Leon in a match where precision and shot selection proved paramount. Tarrant and Bondzulic prevailed 24-16, positioning themselves as genuine contenders for the title.
Entering the Round of 16, they faced Colin Bray and Ossie Moore in a match that required them to impose their game and execute their tactical plan. Tarrant and Bondzulic delivered convincingly, claiming a 23-13 victory that announced their championship credentials to the field. Their bowls were true, their line control evident, and their ability to convert narrow leads into dominant margins proved consistently effective.
The quarter-finals presented another opportunity to build momentum. Facing Stephen Graf and Glen Bailey, Tarrant and Bondzulic continued their winning trajectory with a 19-12 victory that kept them on course for the gold playoff. With each successive match, their confidence grew, and their understanding of how to execute under pressure became increasingly apparent.
Their semi-final opponent, Matthew Bell and Gary Gilligan, provided stern resistance and represented the calibre of opposition present in the Over 60’s Men’s division. Rather than being intimidated by quality opponents, Tarrant and Bondzulic responded with a composed 22-15 performance that maintained their unbeaten run through the finals and booked their spot in the gold playoff.
The gold playoff saw Tarrant and Bondzulic face Kleinhans and Black, who had negotiated their own path to the final through impressive performances throughout the competition. Kleinhans and Black had upset Alan Pritchard and Hugh Mackenzie 20-18 in their semi-final, announcing themselves as championship contenders and worthy opponents for the final showdown.
The gold playoff proved a one-sided affair. Tarrant and Bondzulic came to the greens with clear intent and executed their game plan with near-perfect precision. They established total dominance from the opening ends, taking control of the jack and the match through superior shot-making and tactical awareness. Restricting Kleinhans and Black to just eight shots while accumulating twenty-eight represented a masterclass in controlled bowling. The twenty-shot margin of victory claimed the 2026 title in commanding fashion, underscoring Tarrant and Bondzulic’s superiority across the weekend.
Alan Pritchard and Hugh Mackenzie secured the bronze medal in a tightly contested playoff against Matthew Bell and Gary Gilligan. After falling to Kleinhans and Black 20-18 in the semi-finals, Pritchard and Mackenzie demonstrated the resilience required to compete at the highest level by immediately bouncing back to claim third place. Their 24-23 victory over Bell and Gilligan proved tight and competitive, a match that went down to the final ends and reflected the quality present throughout the Over 60’s Men’s division.
Women’s Open Pairs
Angela Francis and Bronwyn Stevens have claimed the Women’s Open Pairs title, defeating Sheridan Gollan and Teresa Smedley 20-15 in a final that showcased composure under pressure and consistent execution throughout their championship run.
Francis and Stevens’ path to gold proved direct and controlled from their opening matches. Entering the quarter-finals, they emerged ready and immediately made their presence felt, defeating Sharon Weatherby and Tara Ferrier 19-10 in a composed performance. Their semi-final opponent, Sophie Kiepe and Emma Rowbotham, posed a stern test that proved the match of the round. Francis and Stevens prevailed 15-14 in a match decided by a single shot, demonstrating the mental toughness required to claim the title. That victory secured their place in the final and set up a championship decider.
Gollan and Smedley reached the final after a dominant showing of their own. They defeated Lauren Schultz and Eileen Swanson 14-11 in the quarter-finals, showcasing the skill and precision that had carried them through their earlier rounds. They then advanced via a 16-13 semi-final win over Jo-Ann Inch and Charmayne Sleeman, a hard-fought contest that demonstrated their ability to perform when pressure mounted. Their route to the final proved competitive, and they arrived as genuine challengers for the title.
The final itself saw Francis and Stevens establish early control and maintain their advantage across the match. Their consistent execution and accurate delivery proved too much for Gollan and Smedley, as Francis and Stevens worked through the ends with measured precision. Their five-shot victory marked a composed performance that earned them the 2026 crown, capping a clean run through the finals that showcased their quality throughout the competition.
Sophie Kiepe and Emma Rowbotham claimed the bronze medal with an impressive 32-11 triumph over Jo-Ann Inch and Charmayne Sleeman in the bronze playoff, demonstrating a level of dominance that underlined their quality throughout the competition. Kiepe and Rowbotham’s margin of victory proved commanding, securing third place with a twenty-one-shot advantage. Their bronze medal finish reflected a strong showing in what proved a competitive division with multiple capable pairs vying for honours.
Men’s Open Pairs
Brendan Wilson and Aaron Hewson have claimed the Men’s Open Pairs title, defeating Wade Clayton and James Webster 20-11 in a gold playoff that reflected their composure and consistency throughout a large field of competitors.
Wilson and Hewson’s journey to the title showcased their ability to perform under pressure across multiple matches. Entering the Round of 32, they delivered a statement victory over John Wilson and Drew Hay, claiming a 27-9 win that announced their championship credentials. That dominant form continued in the Round of 16, where they defeated Jacob Nelson and Kane Nelson 20-10 to confirm their status as genuine contenders. Their combination of skill and tactical awareness proved increasingly evident with each successive match.
Their quarter-final opponent, Jay Dawe and Kristian Crocker, had surprised many observers with their run through earlier rounds. Wilson and Hewson proved too strong, securing a 23-5 victory to book their spot in the gold playoff. That win suggested dominance, and they carried that form into the semi-final where they extended their winning streak.
Clayton and Webster earned their spot in the gold playoff through impressive performances of their own. They defeated Shane Greentree and Mark Crighton 23-9 in the quarter-finals, establishing themselves as serious contenders. They then recorded a composed 23-12 semi-final victory over Jason Crockett and Colin Pollock, a performance that confirmed their ability to execute under pressure. Clayton and Webster arrived in the final as proven finalists, having navigated a strong field to reach the title match.
The gold playoff saw Wilson and Hewson establish early control and maintain their advantage throughout the match. Their disciplined approach and consistent execution proved decisive, as they worked through the ends with purpose and accuracy. Their nine-shot margin of victory secured the 2026 title, marking a composed performance that crowned them as Queensland’s Men’s Open Pairs champions.
Jay Dawe and Kristian Crocker claimed the bronze medal, defeating Jason Crockett and Colin Pollock 18-16 in a tightly contested bronze playoff. Dawe and Crocker’s bronze medal finish reflected their strong showing throughout the competition, demonstrating the depth of talent within the Men’s Open division. Their ability to navigate a large field and secure a podium finish underscored their credentials as quality bowlers capable of performing at championship level.
The 2026 Bowls Queensland State Championships Pairs would not have been possible without the support of Club Musgrave, who provided outstanding hosting facilities and support throughout the weekend. Bowls Queensland also acknowledges the invaluable sponsorship of Experience Gold Coast, whose backing ensures these championship events continue to showcase Queensland’s best bowlers at the highest level of competition.
