New South Wales update
Update from LCC
What an amazing and fabulous eight weeks we’ve had at LCC! We’ve certainly been busy and the bocce committee have been working hard to make our courts and bocce drome look even more grand! People were busy painting the cement walls to make the place look bright and new, refreshing the courts and making them stand out. All who have visited have noticed and commented on the new looking courts. We still have more to do to make the club look like we mean business. Thank you to Lucky, Patrick, John and Joe for their painting skills and all the committee members for supporting this massive project.
On Sunday, March 30, all Special O’s across NSW came to fill the courts and there was only standing room left. A superb day organised by Mary Greig and her family. The NSW Special O’s came with all their best playing skills and fans and cheerleaders! Many won ribbons within their categories and team events. The LCC bocce committee gathers 12 volunteers to support this day and referee all the matches. Thank you to Remo who liaises with Special O’s and coordinators, and prepares the courts for them.
We also hosted the NSW Bocce State Championships on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 with players from our club, Marconi and Dural Bocce clubs. All players were positive and demonstrated their best playing skills. Thank you to the NSW Bocce Committee for running the competition and to the LCC bocce committee for cooking the barbecue lunch for all. Congratulations to all winners and players for the great two days of competition. Thank you also to Nella for baking all the beautiful cakes and crostoli.
Junior and seniors members trained before Easter and shared a few eggs for the celebration. See the photo with our junior players and the new painted walls! Happy Easter to all.
Special news
On March 11 in the grande ballroom, the Liverpool Catholic Club board of directors voted bocce as winner! Two bocce players, Linda Chiandotto and Nina Chiandotto, were nominated by the bocce committee for the Liverpool Catholic Club Senior (Linda) and Junior (Nina) Sportsperson of the Year award. Congratulations to them both for the nomination.
A massive congratulations to Nina Chiandotto who was named Junior Sportsperson of the Year. This was a wonderful surprise for Nina and her family, who were present that night. The LCC bocce committee members and their partners also joined to witness Nina being recognised for her wonderful achievements.
Nina was recognised for many achievements such as NSW Junior Champion for 2022, 2023, 2024, representing Australia in two international events over the past three years, and supporting the club participating in many events. This celebration was among all other club sports, like ice skating, ice hockey, rugby, toastmasters, and many more fabulous sports.
Bocce NSW State Championships 2025
The Bocce NSW State Championships 2025 were successfully held over the weekend of April 5-6 at the Liverpool Catholic Club bocce courts. Thirty-two of the best Bocce Volo players from the three Bocce NSW affiliated clubs (Dural Bocce Club, Club Marconi and Liverpool Catholic Club) competed in the men’s and women’s Doubles and Bowl/Throw events. It was wonderful to see all of the clubs represented in the finals stages of the competition, with a high standard of play and some tough games for the spectators to enjoy.
Club Marconi players came out on top in all of the event categories following some close games, all of which were played in good sportsmanship, showcasing both youthful skill and wise play from those players, with many decades of bocce experience.
Men’s Doubles
The Club Marconi pair Corentin Julien and Daniel Samsa were unstoppable in their run to winning the Men’s State Championship. Impeccable throwing from the young world standard Marconi players made it very difficult for the runner up pair, Gerry Fedele and Stefano Chiandotto from Liverpool Catholic Club, to get into the game, although they fought well to the end. Congratulations to Corentin and Daniel, both of whom will represent NSW in the upcoming National Championships in June.
Women’s Doubles
Ann Fioravanti and Santa Bruzzese from Club Marconi were victorious over the Dural pairing of Rose Vitale and Mary Calacoci in a wonderful women’s doubles final. All of the players were first-time finalists, yet they showed nerves of steel to bowl some very close bocce to the pallino, the Marconi team coming out ahead after a late comeback effort from Dural. Congratulations to Ann and Santa who won the championships after many years of trying and will now represent NSW for the first time at the Nationals.
Men’s Bowl/Throw
Corentin Julien from Marconi competed against seasoned campaigner and recently appointed National Coach, Stefano Chiandotto from Liverpool Catholic Club. After a high standard and high scoring exhibition of elite bowl/throw skills, Corentin emerged ahead with a well-deserved victory. Stefano, with his runner-up effort earned his place in the NSW men’s team for the National competition. Congratulations to both men.
Women’s Bowl/Throw
Doubles partners for this year, Nicole Samsa from Marconi and Melissa Danelutti from Liverpool found themselves at opposite ends of the bocce court for the Bowl/Throw event. The scores were very close throughout the game and after a tense battle between the two, Nicole came out in front by one point. Well done to both players, with Nicole representing NSW in the women’s team and Melissa representing NSW at the Juniors.
Thanks to the Bocce NSW committee, including president Joe Rozzo, vice president Anna Morelli, Liverpool delegate Linda Chiandotto and many volunteers from Dural, Marconi and the gracious hosts at Liverpool Catholic Club who contributed to the State Championships. We look forward to the National Championships and start of next season for 2025-26.
Winners:
- Men’s Doubles: Winners: Club Marconi: C. Julien, D. Samsa. Runners up: Liverpool Catholic Club: G. Fedele, S. Chiandotto
- Men’s Bowl/Throw: Winners: Club Marconi: C. Julien. Runners up: Liverpool Catholic Club: S. Chiandotto.
- Women’s Doubles: Winners: Club Marconi: A. Fioravanti, S. Bruzzese. Runners up: Dural Bocce Club: R. Vitale, M. Calacoci.
- Women’s Bowl/Throw: Winners: Club Marconi: N. Samsa. Runners up: Liverpool Catholic Club: M. Danelutti.
Contributed by Carl Pavia, Club Marconi Delegate, Bocce NSW.
Queensland update
QBF President’s Cup
The Queensland Bocce Federation (QBF) President’s Cup was held on the weekend of March 22.
The QBF wishes to thank Across The Waves Bocce Club in Bundaberg for hosting the event, providing a superbly maintained boccedrome, and delicious presentation lunch at the Across The Waves Club.
A special thanks goes to Lou and Ivy Masotti for providing a very generous sponsorship to assist the Brisbanites in their travel and accommodation expenses.
The two games of men’s and women’s Quadretta format were hotly contested between Across The Waves, Newmarket, and Redlands teams. Additional QBF men and womens teams, and a further women’s Composite team (two ATW and two Redlands) were formed to eliminate the need for byes.
Both the Redlands men’s and women’s teams were winners, with Newmarket men and the Composite women teams placing runners up.
The opportunity to have state and interclub competitions to promote the sport of bocce and interclub comradery remains a QBF objective.
Victoria update
First-ever MER Bocce Cup
You’re invited to join the first-ever MER Bocce Cup, which will be held on May 2 and May 9 and include an all-inclusive competition. Arrive at 6.30pm, with games starting at 7pm sharp. Finals will take place on May 9.
There will be prizes (gift vocuehrs) for athletes that place first, second, third and fourth. All other athletes and players will receive consolation prizes.
To book your place, please call Ian Hampton on 0417 469 959 or Michael on 0419 330 977, or register online via this booking link.
Entries close on April 25, 2025.
Let’s make this a yearly competition and have some fun with our family and friends!
General information:
- This is an all-inclusive invitation for our Bocce athletes to partner with a family member, a friend or anyone else for a fun two nights of friendly Bocce competition. The competition will be a Doubles event whereby each athlete and a partner will compete against other athletes and partners.
- This event will be run over two nights.
- The first night is May 2, 2025 from 7:00pm and 8:30pm.
- The second night is May 9, 2025 from 7:00pm and 9:00pm.
- It is essential that you attend both nights.
- The entry fee is $6 for each competitor (athletes and partners).
- Non players can make a donation via the booking web site or a gold coin on the night.
- The pairing of athletes and partners will be as ticketed for the first night.
- The paring of athletes and partners may be randomly selected for the second night (to add a bit of fun).
- When purchasing tickets please enter the names of each competitor before payment.
South Australia update
Coopers Brewery Cup
On April 6 the Campania Sports and Social Club hosted the Coopers Brewery Cup. Coopers Brewery is an iconic South Australian family-owned and run company. Thank you to Coopers Brewery for your ongoing support.
There were 14 duos competing for first prize. Giuseppe Musolino, a calm and focused player, 91 years young, was first prize winner with Raffaele Zollo. Well done! The sponsor was unable to attend and the prizes were presented by Mr Steve Maglieri.
The winners of the Coopers Brewery Cup competition are:
- First: Giuseppe Musolino and Raffaele Zollo
- Second: Rosa Maglieri and Angelo Addabbo
- Third: Filomena Meggetto and Antonio Di Blasio
- Fourth: Gerry Covino and Achille Rossi.
Adelaide Cemeteries Authority Enfield Mausoleum Easter Cup
It was a full house at the Sicilia Club on Sunday, March 23 for the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority Enfield Mausoleum Easter Cup.
There was fierce competition between the 14 duos of bocce players. Any extra run was necessary to decide the winners for third and fourth place. Silvana Velardo, a bocce player from the Gold Coast also participated in the competition.
Thank you to Adelaide Cemeteries for your ongoing support. Thank you to the volunteers of the South Australian Bocce Federation for organising lunch and running the competition. The sponsor was unable to attend and the prizes were presented by Anna Piccirillo Committee Member of the South Australian Bocce Federation.
Congratulations to the winners:
- First: Angelo Addabbo and Antonio Petroccia
- Second: Maria Ciaramella and Raffaele Zollo
- Third: Lidia Addabbo and Gerry Covino
- Fourth: Franca Romano and Tony Maio.