Bocce used to be considered old men sport in old country, but is now emerging as a new sport played at many different levels and is suitable for people at all age groups and all levels fitness and ability.

The best of our country junior bocce players get selected every year to represent Australia in the Junior World Championship for under 18’. For the second year running this honor goes to two junior players from Fairfield area, Luke Miner from Panthers St Johns Park –Triglav and Nicholas Rossi from Marconi Club, with the other two players being Nicholas Cooper and Mathew Moffatt from Morwell, Victoria.

Panthers St Johns Park- Triglav is the only one of fifteen Panthers Clubs, whose home sport is Bocce.

The Bocce group was very succesfull through the years in Bocce Federation of NSW. While the club is also supporting cricket , soccer and other sports, bocce is the only sport being played on club’s grounds at St Johns Park. The club’s bocce coach Louis Magajna was appointed the second time running Australian National coach for the National team for The World Junior Championship, taking place in in Biella in Italy this year , starting on 10 th of September 2006 and finishing on 15.th of September .

Photo: The team going to Italy:The coach Louis Magajna , Nicholas Cooper , Nicholas Rossi, Mathew Moffattt and Luke Miner.

Luke Miner ,one of the clubs junior players, also distinguished himself as a member of Westfield Sports High School Cricket Team, who recently traveled to England and returned undefeated after five games against English teams in all parts of England.

Young Luke is also one of the best Juniors in Bocce game in Australia and for the second time he won a place in four members national Junior Bocce team.

Nicholas Rossi from Marconi Club also represented Australia last year and he won a bronze medal in precision throwing .

We are interested to find more young people to assist them to became elite athlets in this game . Many oportunities exist for talented juniors to participate at State, National and World Championship level and they have the best chance to travel the world and meet new and interesting people.Anybody interested can call Panthers St Johns Park 9610 1370.