Tenpin Bowling
The players come from all over Victoria to play and practice.
Generally, our home base is Oz Tenpin Bowling Centre 53 Miller Street, Epping, and we play 6 games a day unless otherwise stated.
All VRI members are welcome to join in the fun – come and play! You may be good enough to gain a spot in our state side, which plays off against other interstate sides, for the Commissioners Shield and other trophies.
email vri@vri.org.au or call 1300 883 763 should you like further information about becoming involved with the VRI Tenpin members!
VRI Team Manager’s ARI 2025 (50th year) Report
The VRI Tenpin Bowling Club hosted the 50th ARI Tenpin Bowling Championships at Wynciy Keon Park from the 2nd of March to the 7th of March 2025
Sunday 2nd March 2024 bowlers and guests from Queensland, Victoria & New South Wales attended an official welcoming brunch at the Epping RSL where all players were formally introduced.
After the brunc all bowlers and visitors returned to their accommodation to change from collar & tie into their bowling gear in readiness for the Preview Tournament as 2.30pmpm.
The Preview tournament is the first Round of the Individual Scratch & Handicap Masters Competition.
As Team Manager & Diane as Secretary we had to attend Wyncity Bowling Centre for a manager’s meeting at 1.00pm to confirm submitted Averages & Handicaps for all states and to be advised of any changes to rules.
At 3.00pm 65 bowlers began to bowl 3 games to qualify for the Individual Masters.
After the 3 games were completed, all states returned to their accommodation for the evening to do whatever they wanted to do.
At 8.00am on Monday all bowlers were back at Wyncity Bowling Centre for the start of the Teams competition.
Prior to the start of play team photos were taken.
DAY ONE
Victoria started well and all states were equal after the first round however as the day progressed Victoria pulled away.
Day One Totals
1st. VIC 111 pts
2nd NSW 101 pts
3rd QLD 76 pts
DAY TWO
Victoria pulled away in the morning session and were leading NSW by 28.5 points. However late in the day NSW pulled back the lead to be only trailing by 1.5 point
Day Two Totals
1st VIC 206.5 pts
2nd NSW 205.0 pts
3rd QLD 164.5 pts
DAY THREE
Vic started very well and increased their lead to 8.5pts after the first round and then steadily increased their lead throughout the day.
Victoria pulled away in the afternoon to run out comfortable winners
Final Results
1st VIC 328.5 pts
2nd NSW 290.0 pts
3rd QLD 245.5 pts
Thursday was a rest day for all states in readiness for the Individual Scratch & Handicap Masters on Friday.
Victoria had a total of 16 bowlers in both divisions qualifying for the top 24 Bowlers.
Each bowler bowled 6 games to attempt to qualify for the top 16.
11 of the bowlers qualified for the top 16.
It was then like a Tennis Draw with a 2-game knockout to get to the final 2 in each division.
In the Scratch Division Victoria’s Pino Mascetti (VIC) played Wolf Miller from New South Wales in the final with Pino Mascetti victorious.
In the Handicap Division 2 New South Wales bowler played off in the final, Zoe Bird & Chris Boyle with Zoe Bird victorious.
After the Masters Finals all bowlers went back to their accommodation to get changed into their formal attire and go to the Farewell/Presentation Dinner at Epping RSL.
The following bowlers received ARI Awards:
Hayden Collings 269, Warren Rogers 246, Bob Leis 233 & Josh Holt 287 - High Team Game with Handicap 1035.
Pino Mascetti & Josh Holt were named in the All-Australian Scratch Team
Victorian Team Award Winners
The “Mary Award”:
Hayden Collings 269, Warren Rogers 246, Bob Leis 233 & Josh Holt 287
The Norm Bowen Award:
Rob Bate
The Leis Family Award:
Rob Bate
I would also like to congratulate the following people who received life membership & honorary life memberships
Life Members:
Norm Krajcer
Rob Bate
Jeff Taylor
Honorary Life Members:
Pam O’Neill (Sponsor of our Easter & Christmas Raffles for in excess of 22 years)
Sandra Hesketh
Michelle Bate
I would also like to Diane McCaig for the unnoticed work she does and did with the hosting of the ARI Tournament and putting up with me.
Peter Dwyer, Michelle Bate, Cindy Newell, Kerry Ruffels, Greg Hebbard and everyone who helped with the raffles and supporting the team.
It was good to finally break the drought after 11 years especially on the 50th anniversary of the competition.
The 51st ARI Championships will be held at Gosford NSW from the 1st to 6th March 2026.
John McCaig
Team Manager
ARI Tenpin Bowling Championships 2023
VRI 2023 Team
