Representing section 4, which includes the central west, 11-year-old Tommy “ Billy Ray” Rich from Mudgee Bowls Club travelled to Warilla Bowls club last week to compete in the NSW State Junior Bowls championships.

After warming up with two wins in the Mudgee Minor Singles championship on Saturday last, Billy Ray with his team mates Lachlan Thompson of Gulgong, Leigh Brown of Molong and Jordan Thompson of Gulgong headed for the south coast.

To make it to Warilla the boys travelled to West Dubbo club in April and won the section 4 playoffs with four wins and a bye to their name over the weekend. The competition is a Singles, Pairs and Fours format with Billy Ray playing as second in the Fours.

He was also very unlucky not to be representing the Pairs as well after only being between by two shots by Jordan Thompson and Tim Walsh in the final at West Dubbo while playing with Lachlan Thompson.

On Tuesday the boys played games against section 5 Nepean, Bowral area, section 3 Gunnedah, Glenn Innes area and section 7 Merimbula, Batemans Bay area and won their way through to a semi final against section 14.

In the fours game, Billy Ray and the boys were holding a three shot lead going into the final end and were holding the shot. When their skip delivered his last bowl and in an effort to consolidate the teams strong position, he unfortunately contacted the Jack and sliced it to three of the oppositions bowls.

The opposition Skip then delivered his final bowl and won another shot for his team, giving them a total of four shots and a win of one shot over the hapless section 4 team. Section 14 went on to eventually be beaten by section 16 from the south coast in the State Final.

Although being disappointed by the close loss, Billy Ray can console himself with the knowledge that while the oldest boys competing in the junior competition are up to 17 years of age, at only 11, he has up to another six tries at the major prize.