At just 13, Harvey’s Dante Burnham is representing WA for the second time at national bowls competition
At just 13, Harvey’s Dante Burnham is setting off to compete against the best of bowling’s best — for the second time.
For the second year in a row, Dante will be representing WA as part of the State bowls team for the Australian Under 18 Championships set to take place in Tweed Heads in New South Wales in October this year.
The youngest player in WA’s team, Dante said it was likely he would be one of the youngest people to compete during the whole competition.
But, that doesn’t worry him.
Dante told the Reporter he feels good about his chances of victory heading back to the national championships.
“I feel pumped for it,” he said.
Describing the sport as a “mental game” rather than a display of physical prowess, Dante said his game had gone from strength to strength since he first started playing when he was nine.
With this being his second outing on the national stage, Dante is keen to keep the ball rolling, confident he can continue taking part in the Under 18 Championships for the next five years.
Dante’s father Anthony Burnham said he was proud to see Dante returning to the nationals this year.
With so many players in the Eastern States, the WA teams will be up against the best Australia has to offer, he said.
To coincide with his ongoing bowls success, Dante has also been offered a scholarship position at the Cockburn Bowls Club, where he can continue to hone his craft.
Though sad to be stepping away from the Harvey Bowling Club, Dante said the ongoing support of his local club had been invaluable.
“They’ve been really good support for me,” he said.
“Most of the people there taught me how to play and have been supporting me for years.”
Dante told the Reporter Harvey Bowling Club members Dave Goddard and Calvin Rodgers had both been heavily involved with his development as a player and deserved praise.
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