Ready to rumble at state level

By Josh Huntly

Aug 9, 2022

Rolling on: Jacob Brighton will suit up for School Sport Victoria’s under-18 bowls team. Photo: Steve Huntley. Photo by steve Huntley.

Echuca-Moama bowls prodigy Jacob Brighton will roll for Victoria again after his selection for School Sports Victoria’s under-18 squad.

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Brighton, out of Echuca College, will link up with the 17-strong team bound for the School Sport 18 Years and Under Bowls Championships from September 14 to 16 in Sunbury, with the young talent looking to build on an already successful year.

He will be hoping to emulate his state success from April, when he claimed the under-18 state championships triples alongside Rochester College’s Cameron Keenan, who has also earned a spot on the team.

The third member of that winning team, Kyabram P-12 College and Victorian representative Olivia Cartwright, is also bound for the competition.

Jacob successfully navigated a series of trials to book his place on the team, and at just 13 years of age he continues to defy his youth to mix it with the big guns.

Following a strong showing at last year’s Victorian titles, Jacob made a strong run at the under-18 singles title at the Australian Open in June before bowing out in the quarter-finals.

He also became East Shepparton Bowling Club’s youngest A-grade club champion last season, progressing to the Goulburn Valley Playing Area’s Champion of Champions tournament.

At the Victorian under-18 state singles in 2021, Jacob, then 11, announced his arrival with a runner-up placing.

By Josh Huntly