Thanks Adam - tracking where the media release material I produce for Belmo and bowling generally is published is almost impossible without a professional clipping service, but it's always a buzz to see the sport and its high achievers acknowledged.
Jason's outstanding results throughout 2007 here and overseas unquestionably qualified him for the WORLD BOWLER OF THE YEAR accolade - here's an excerpt from the announcement published by the administrators of the Award last month ...
"Jason Belmonte of Orange, New South Wales, Australia was the WBW Bowler of the Year in 2004 and has been a major contender for the title each year since that time.
Maybe Jason took October off last year as that is the only month not to feature in his incredible 2007 resume. He started the year as runner-up in the ABF Tournament of Champions in Indonesia and in the South Australia Cup. February saw him as champion of the High Roller Tournament in Las Vegas then in March he was runner-up once again, this time in the Malaysian Open and he then captained the victorious ‘Rest of the World’ team in the inaugural Canon Cup.
Runner-up once again in the ABF Tour in Kuwait in April but then stood atop the podium in the prestigious World Tenpin Masters in England. (They forgot to mention he bowled a perfect game in the final of this televised event, only the second in the history of the tournament, and the first also by Belmo!)
Then on to Turkey to be runner-up in the Istanbul Open. May saw him on the winning Pergamon Team in Sweden before returning home to capture the Melbourne Cup and New South Wales Open titles in June and July. He also was awarded the ‘Sports Player of the Year’ and the ‘Outstanding Achievements in Sport’ perpetual trophy.
He kept his winning ways with the Indonesia International Open title in August and was the high Australian bowler in the South Pacific Classic, which won the place in the QubicaAMF World Cup, where he finished second to Bill Hoffman after leading the tournament from day one.
Jason finished off the bowling year by winning the Brunswick Australian Cup in December and is the top-ranked Asian zone player."
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It really was an astonishing year for Belmo, earning numerous radio and TV appearances as well as newspaper coverage and magazine articles in some of the highest profile sports publications in Australia and overseas.
It takes tremendous effort and teamwork to achieve this media coverage and Belmo's contribution to this process is a credit to him, and his dedication to the sport as a whole.
Lynne Clay
