cluBarham, New South Wales, Australia, has welcomed World Bowls and its champion of champions competitors as the 2025 event begins.

“We are truly blessed and so excited to have the best bowlers in the world here with us and as you can see, we love to share what we have for your enjoyment and experience,” said cluBarham CEO Jason Wallace at the opening ceremony.

This event has been 19 months in the making, he continued. I remember World Bowls CEO Neil Dalrymple’s EOI in January 2024. Then to be awarded this prestigious event for two years, we all celebrated for what we knew was coming our way. During this time, there have been many people to thank. Firstly, to Neil Dalrymple for giving us the opportunity to showcase our facilities to the world and the great partnership formed over the past years – thank you to you and your team.

To our cluBarham board of directors for having faith in me to push hard for this event and more to come as we stage the World Bowls Series finals in December.

We are so excited to show you our warm country hospitality and we aim, every day to make your day.

Thank you to all competitors for winning your way through and visiting us. Mayor of Murray River Council, John Harvie, acknowledged the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today and paid respects to their elders past and present.

I’m pleased to join you all as we officially launch the much-anticipated 2025 World Bowls champion of champions tournament.

It’s great to see such a buzz in town as we welcome the world’s most elite bowlers to Barham.

Hosting this prestigious international event is a significant achievement for our region, placing Barham on the global stage and showcasing both our outstanding facilities and the warm hospitality of our community.

I would like to congratulate cluBarham for the exceptional work done behind the scenes to secure this event and for the continued care and commitment they show in maintaining world-class facilities. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

Thank you also to the team at World Bowls for bringing this event to Barham. We look forward to witnessing some outstanding competition as bowlers from across the globe compete for the world title. It is an exciting time for our community, and I am confident this tournament will highlight everything our region has to offer.”

World Bowls CEO Neil Dalrymple congratulated the 57 players from 33 nations for qualifying for the event and thanked cluBarham for hosting the event. Uncle Ron, a local first nation gave a welcome to country, while a gift was presented to every player and ITO by World Bowls and the Murray River Council. cluBarham president Steve Wilson, club manager Josh Forster and bowls coordinator Stephen Arthur were also in attendance.

Caption

From left: Neil Dalrymple, World Bowls CEO, Jason Wallace, cluBarham CEO, Steve Wilson, cluBarham president and Mayor of Murray River Council, John Harvie