Charlie Boswood, Mackenzie Parsons and Jacob Cartwright representing Victoria at under-18 bowls nationals.
When it comes to bowls talent in the Goulburn Valley, the kids are more than all right.
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While most their age are worried about exams, ATARs and uni options at the moment, the trio of Charlie Boswood, Jacob Cartwright and Mackenzie Parsons are busy polishing medals won at the 2025 Australian Under-18 Bowls Championships.
Four days representing Victoria at Tasmania’s Devonport Country Club from November 10-13 brought ultimate success for the locals, underpinned by Boswood (Shepparton Golf) and Carwright (Wunghnu) topping the podium in the boys’ fours.
The duo, originally from Kyabram, teamed up with Max Heaton-Harris and Harry Coleman for a storied gold medal finish, winning five of their six games to secure top of the group.
“I thought we were going to go out and give it a fair go,” Boswood said.
“Like most other years, we’ve always had a really good side so I think it was a pretty good effort.
“We couldn’t complain the way we were all playing - we were playing pretty good.
“We knocked off arguably the best side, NSW, beat all the others and just missed out to Queensland. But we did enough to win overall with our shots up and games won.”
That wasn’t all for Boswood and Carwright.
Boswood ran it back with Max Heaton-Harris in the pairs, earning silver behind top side NSW, while Cartwright clinched bronze in the triples.
Moama’s Parsons missed out on a podium spot by a place in the girls’ triples, and though she didn’t find success in the singles, she wouldn’t return home empty-handed.
Team Victoria took out the overall silver medal behind a classy NSW outfit, seeing Parsons, Cartwright and Boswood cap off a memorable campaign.
For Boswood, the cherry on top came in the form of a boy’s Player of the Series gong for Victoria, his second in as many years at nationals.
“I think it was good for me because I thought I played half-okay,” Boswood said with a laugh.
From one Kyabram native to another, Olivia Cartwright has also lit up the bowls' scene recently - but this time, at an international level.
Singles runner-up at the Australian Open Olivia Cartwright is now female world number two. Photo: Bowls Australia/Paul A. Broben Photography.
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Paul A. Broben Photography
At the start of November, World Bowls Series released an update of its rankings, and Cartwright has shot up the table to be named the second-ranked female in the sport.
This year saw Cartwright claim second in the prestigious Australian Open singles, while also repeating the feat in the fours.
She also suited up for the Jackaroos in October, receiving her official playing cap, and the 21-year-old is identified as an emerging Jackaroo in the national pathways program.
Cartwright won the Victorian Indoor Championships in July.
The updated rankings show Cartwright with 633 points, trailing only New Zealand’s Selina Goddard (656).
