Hinterland Bowls marks historic season at Nambour Presentation Day

Seventy-four players and guests gathered at Nambour Bowls Club on Sunday for the Bowlers Paradise Hinterland Local League's 2026 Presentation Day. The afternoon celebrated a landmark season and the resilience of a host club that has had a difficult year.

Nambour Bowls Club hosted despite still recovering from serious flood damage sustained 12 months ago. Club representative, Nev Perrin, acknowledged the year had been tough, but confirmed that a recently-secured grant would fund much-needed repairs to the club's lighting and infrastructure.

The centrepiece of the afternoon was the formal presentation of Glasshouse Blue as the 2026 BPHLL Open Champions, the first club to be inscribed on the new Open Championship Shield, donated by BPHLL founder Baz Neil. Glasshouse Blue earned the title through a rain-affected finals series, defeating Palmwoods Hawks in the Grand Final. Kenilworth took out the Presentation Day social competition on the day.

The 2026 season was the most significant in the BPHLL's 14-year history. Following a vote of member clubs, the competition retired its separate Ladies and Men's divisions in favour of integrated Open club teams, a change that has drawn strongly positive feedback from across the membership. Each of the 11 participating clubs received a $75 voucher from principal sponsor Bowlers Paradise, while Paul Carson of the Sunshine Coast Bowls Shop donated a set of bowls for a draw open to every attendee.

Competition organiser Andrew Friday said the competition's strength lay in its clubs. "What makes this competition special isn't the bowling, it's the clubs," he said. "This competition was built on the idea that hinterland clubs deserve a competition of their own, and 14 years on, I think we've well and truly delivered on that. The fact that other clubs across the region are now taking notice tells me we're doing something right."

Further information at www.bphll.au and www.rangecommunitynews.au.