Sunday, November 11, 2007

Road to the world cup- I have never been so proud/upset

There are times in everyone’s life that moments don’t seem quite real.
Ann-Maree Putney (AMP) was bowling on the TV pair and I was with Andrew Frawley sitting 10 lanes to her right watching the bowling on the huge TV screen that had set up.
I told Andrew that for some reason AMP looked like she had for seen the future. So positive, so confident. I knew that she knew, she was going to win.
She has been to the world cup more than anyone else I know, and always makes the TV show. This time, I can see the look in her eyes; this time there was no one in the building that was to take what is rightfully hers.

Strike after strike, she repeated her shots better than I have ever seen her do. There was fire in her belly and she let that fire out through every shot she bowled.

I kind of felt sorry for the Korean..... "Does she know what she is in for?" I said to Andrew.

The 2nd game. So important. She struck, and then again for a double after a few troublesome and stubborn corner pins.
I screamed "that’s our girl". She just didn’t stop striking. Andrew and I were up on our feet every shot, yelling support.
The 10th frame. She let the ball go and it was a little in, get there we yelled. High on the head pin and the 4 pin the last pin to fall.........

I looked at Andrew and jumped on him. WE HAVE ANOTHER WORLD CHAMPION.
I ran to the lanes and gave AMP the biggest hug whispering in her ear," You are such a good girl, im so proud of you."
Years of near finishes, had built up years of torment from this event. AMP is a tough girl, I have never seen her cry, but there were tears of joy flowing.

I had never been so proud of a fellow bowler in my life. I knew what this meant to her and to see her dream come true....well, I have no words to describe how happy I am for her.

My turn:

I watched the men’s matches, hoping to see a pattern developing. I did, Bill Hoffman from the USA was striking alot. But that’s ok; I can strike with the best of them.
I walked out to congratulate Bill for winning his match and say sorry to one of my best friends Andres Gomez. Andres worked so hard to get to the TV show, and his scores do not tell the picture of well he bowled.

I started 148, for the first game of the final..... I was no more nervous than I have been in other events, but for some reason everything looked small. My target, the lanes, I don’t know how to explain it.
I was not so positive in my body language, I was in trouble.
I had asked Andrew to sit with me and be my coach on the lanes. I have trusted Andrew with my bowling and he could possibly be the only person in the world I would ever let sit with me while bowling.
He did what a great coach does. Relaxed me without me even knowing he was doing it. Talking about everything else other than my bowling. We both knew where I had to move to, he just wanted to make sure I was going to throw the ball the way I can.

It worked like a charm. I felt so relaxed while bowling, laughing softly in between shots. The lane started to appear larger and my target was huge. 268 and felt I now have a chance to win.

It's amazing how in every match there is a moment where at the end of the game you look back and say "that changed everything".
Bill tripped the 4-9 and a Brooklyn strike in frames 4 and 5, to give him a turkey.
I felt like someone had taken the wind out of my sails. This was so unlike me. I never worry about the other guy, and I never lose my positive attitude.

I think this is what im more upset with myself about; I let it all get to me. I didn’t show it physically, but mentally I was thinking "why is he so lucky, give me a break".

The 9th frame came and I needed to strike out. I made a move left on the approach and for a change I let it go good, perhaps too good. The ball jumped off the spot and I left a 4- 10. Bill had already won, 3 strikes in the 10th would mean Bill needed -1 on his first shot.

I was so upset. Still am really. I wanted this so bad, but I let fear get into the way. "What if I lose" "What if I leave a pocket 8 pin and he carries everything" These are not the thoughts of someone who truly thinks he will win the world cup. AMP didn’t come close to thinking them.

The old saying, you live and learn, is so true, but along with that saying you need patience.
Im young and I know I will win a world cup in my life time; I just wanted it the easy way.
Never again will I let fear stop me from winning.

I just want to say thank you, on behalf of AMP and myself for all the support via this website or via messages.
We are truly proud to be Australian and it’s a wonderful thought knowing a country is right behind you.

AMP is a WORLD CHAMPION.

And......I will be some day, well that’s the plan!

Jason Belmonte
__________________

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Road to the World Cup- The final

OK....

So i have made the final 3. I bowled amazing in the 8 game, top 24 round. I shot 2038 for 8 games which broke the previous record set by good mate, Osku Palermaa.
Seemed like everytime i let the ball go it wetn right where i wanted it to and i let it go perfect. That gave me a huge lead going into the top8 round robin portion the following day.
I started the round robin a little slow, lost my first match 205-246 to 2nd place Bill Hoffman, with 30 pins for a win, my head started to crunch some numbers and i know in this format, 250 is not impossible to catch.
I couldnt get going, bad ball reaction along with a few bad shots resulted in some poor games.
Bill came within 130 pins with 2 games to go. I made a drastic move on the lane and played much straighter, further to the right.
Good move i think.....
I bowled a perfect 300 and put my number seeded position out of reach.

Now i have to play the winner of Andres Gomez of Columbia and Bill Hoffman of the USA......

Im nervous because i know who ever wins that match will be extremly tough to beat....

Wish me luck

Belmo

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Day 4- Road to the World Cup

Today was so much tougher on the lanes than any other day.
To explain what i mean, pair to pair was again tricky but the lanes were so different to the otehr 3 days it was really confusing.
I bowled great and scored 1400 for 6 games. No games over 257 and no games under 223. I made all my spares and hot the pocket so much more today.
The backends were so tight, carrying the 10 pin was extremley hard.

I increased my lead by a few more pins, which is good, but the way that the other guys are bowling, it would only take an 'ok' day and the boys could run around me.

I have 8 games left of qualifying with the top 24 then a further 8 games round robin with the top 8

If i make my spares and bowl well, ill be there bowling for the title and thats all i want to do.

Belmo

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Day 2- The road to the world cup

OK, so we started at 8am today......

Im not the best person in the morning on the best of days, so when i have to start at 8am with not to much sleep (jet lag is really killing me this time) i felt like it was going to be tough to compete at a level i would be happy with. But like all times when i bowl, i get a little nervous and the body seems to perk up.

I started great....249, 255 and 245, or something like that. Then i hit a couple of pairs which have gained a reputation in the centre as 'crappy'. I shot 190 and 213, then finished off with 222.
I missed 3 makable spares and through a few really bad shots, so i was not very happy with my bowling but my score was much better than i thought it should be.

I play at 8pm tomorrow, so i hope a good night sleep and a little time to unwind will help a bunch.

Will let you know what happens....wish me luck

Belmo

Monday, November 5, 2007

Day 1, off to a good start

Day 1,

The lanes played so different to the practice it was amazing. The oil carried down further and played so much tighter.
I could get to the pocket with out to much drama but because of the carry down, carrying the 10 pin made life a little hard. In saying that, if you hit your tarhet at both the arrows and at the break point, the carry was great. The bowling centre has great carry by nature, so when you threw it good you struck.

I shot 1452 for 6 and felt like i bowled well. A couple of pairs were tricky but in general i felt like each lane did what i thought they would do.

The scoreing pace is much lower than normal world cups and i think that it suits me that way. With the tight lane pattern and seeing how importing sparing everything is, i feel i have a great chance to do well.

But each day is a new day and in this game 2 days are never the same, so lets hope i bowl well

Will let you know

Belmo

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Road to the Bowling World CUP

Hey all,

Sorry for the delay in this. Russia has not the internet advancements as many other countries i go to, so finding time to find some internet has not been easy, but as of today the bowling centre has opened some free wireless.

It took me over 30 hours to get to St. PetersBurg, Russia, but the prize that awaits is so worth the time spent cramped on a 747 QANTAS plane.

The city is full of rich history and culture. When i get some more time ill explain more in depth.

We finished the practice session today, the lanes are ok. Easy like they have been over the years at the world cup, but the biggest difference is the oil and the pairs. The oil carries down the lane extremely fast and pair to pair is a little tricky. in saying that the scores will still be very high but i dont think anyone is going to break and records this year.

i start bowling at 12pm my time, so ill let you know how i go when im done.

I´ll also write a little story in the sites when i can....some amazing buildings and churches here

Cheers

Belmo

Monday, October 1, 2007

The last supper!

Sorry for late entry.... A couple of the hotels we stayed at didnt have internet access, and because we finish quite late, there was nothing open near by either.

So tonight was the last night of the Storm Fair. We all had a blast. Pete and I had some side action on the games, 1000 Yen a game and 1000 for series. I am happy to report i made 4000 off him :)

Thing though is that we are all having so much fun, sometimes you forget that you are gambling and do trick shots for spares or strikes and can lose a game by a couple of pins, well that was the excuse Pete gave me hahaha

After the bowling we went to a really nice Korean BBQ place, where you cook your own food. Sounds funny, i mean we pay top dollar for food we have to cook ourselves haha.

Pete stood up and gave a great speech to close the night off, he may of had a couple of wines but his Japanese was spot on :)

All the guys went on out to a karoke club....not my scene so i stayed at the hotel and chilled out with Tommy Delutz for a little.
What a top bloke he is...... Will be adding him to my facebook for sure :P

Anyway, i really enjoyed my time in Japan. The team over here were amazing to work with and not only did i work with some of the greatest bowlers i know, i learnt a bunch from them too, not to mention laughed about 80% of the time i was around them.

Some of the stories the guys told (which i can not repeat here anyway) were 1 in a million.

I have a 4pm flight out tomorrow to Panama where ill meet Jason Walsh. Will be great to hang out with him and bowl in a high quality event.
Hope i can throw the ball as well as i have been throwing it here in Japan

Will let you know

Belmo

Friday, September 28, 2007

The worlds largest bowl!

I have been to Las Vegas a few times now and i thought their bowls were big. One particular bowl there was called The Showboat, later renamed to Castaways. It was 106 lanes. 70 in a straight line, then a round the corner 36 more.

Thats nothing !!!!!

Nagoya, the city i am in, has a bowling centre called 'The Grand Bowl'. They didnt lie.
156 lanes split over 3 levels. 52 on each. Up untill a year ago they actually had another 52, making it 258 lanes, but due to costs of running so many lanes, the sold the equipment on the 4th floor and did some renovations to the other levels.

Nothing more weird than changing lanes from 136 to lane 88. Seeing a lane with 3 digits is really funny. Would hate to have to move from lane 154 to lane 4 :) better call a taxi :)

The demo day went well, not quite as busy as the last few days, we got out of there a little eariler, 1030pm. But we signed more autographs than ever. At least 300 people needed shirts, bags, shoes, pictures, towel, posters and a couple of arms to be signed, the whole group felt like our hands were going to freeze up from siging so many things.
I have been trialing some new bowling balls here for Storm, and i have been using the Sure Fire and the new Attitude Shift. Both are now coming everywhere with me....keep a look out for these too, they really are worth every penny.

Off to do another demo, will let you know where and how it all went.

Jason

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Japan Part 2

Another day, another city.

What do we do???

Ok so everyday we do 3 hours of 1 on 1 coaching, followed by about 1 hour of a ball demo (we are using some asian release bowling balls) that is then followed by a quick dinner then a 4 game Pro-Am with at least 6 on a pair.
We start about 2pm and finish about 11pm everyday. It is a long day but we get to do what we love (bowl and help people) so the time does fly, but by the end of the day you are completly stuffed.
The hotel rooms in Japan are very small, almost like a areoplane toilet size (not kidding) and every morning we travel on abus from anywhere from 2-6 hours to get to our next host city.

Bowling with Pete, Tommy and Timmy is great fun, we all put in $40 each (along with the JPBA bowlers) in the pro-am and play some pot games to make the night a little more fun.
The first night i got swept, but last night i shot 1089 for my 4 games and won 3 ot of the 4 ($10 each a game)...... Got my revenge :)

I have to run, i am getting called as im writting this to hurry up :), the Japanese run a very tight ship let me tell you, everything is followed to the minute.

Best be off

Belmo

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Let the Tour begin

JAPAN STORM FAIR TOUR:

The Japanese and Storm have a very close working relationship, Japan rank 3rd in the world regarding to Storm ball sales, so for the past 10 years, Storm along with Japanese bowling company HI-SPORTS, began a travelling coaching/demo tour around Japan.
Storm sends their best pro's to this event and i have been lucky enough to of joined them once before in 2005.
This trip Storm and Roto Grip have sent, myself, Pete Weber, Tommy Deluze Jr, Tim Mack, Steve Klopeken, Purvis Granger, Hank Boomershine and Chris Schlemmer.
We travel to 6 cities in 7 days and do Pro Am's plus one on one coaching with as many bowlers as we can fit into the day.
When i came here in 2005 everyday was packed with bowlers and families wanting to be taught by some of the worlds best bowlers, i also remember in 2005 a few 2 handed bowlers, so maybe ill see a few more this time around.

The tour starts in Osaka and ends in Toyko (West to East of the country). The days are long starting at 10am and finishing around 10pm, but its a great chance for me to learn from the best and be able to hang out with bowlers who i have looked up to for many years.

Ill let you know how it all goes

Jason

Monday, September 17, 2007

World Cup Qualifier.....South Pacific CLassic

Last weekend i competed in Australia's world cup qualifier, the South Pacific Classic (SPC). It's supposed to Australia's biggest and best event, but for some reason, the last few years, entries have gone down and the atmosphere inside the bowl has dropped to an all time low.

There are a million reasons why i think this has occured, but i think that chat is for a different time and place.

On to the story........

Format:
12 games qualifying (split over 2 days, so 6 and 6) top 24 coming back on the Sunday morning to bowl another 6 games qualifying, with carry over pinfall, then the top 12 play a 11 man round robin. The winner will be who ever knocks over the most pins over the whole weekend, a proper event.

The condition was the hardest i have seen in Australia for quite some time. It was a 41 ft pattern and the carry down occured quick and very inconsistant from lane to lane and pair to pair.
220 was a great game.
I started the first of 6 games with 180 something and 150 something, then followed it by another 180 something. It was the worst i have bowled in about 5 years.
I couldnt get close to hit my target and even if i did, i chose the wrong ball and was playing in the wrong part of the lane. My next 3 games were 230, 220 and 170. i finished -51 for the 6 games and was 270 off the lead.
I was extremly upset with my performance and knew i needed to change a few things if i was even going to make the first cut to 24 bowlers.
I was sitting in 48th and needed a big 2nd day.

I changed the surface to a few of my bowlings balls to try and get the ball to read the lane much more consistant.
It worked wonders. my next 6 games were 254, 243, 215, 222, 194 and 247.
I jumped into 4th place, only 170 off the pace. I felt with 6 more games of qualifying and 11 games of matchplay, i could catch the leaders and win the event.

The Sunday morning did not go to as planned. I bowled 20 over for 6 and bowled much better than my score said i did. A bunch of pocket 7-10's and solid 9's and 7 pins cost me dearly. But thats ok, i still had 11 games and with 20 pins bonus for a win i had plenty of games up my sleeve. Only 220 off the pace i was right where i wanted to be (to use a Tim Mack quote there)

Matchplay started and i was in trouble early. 180 and 204 to start. My reaction was awful and the leaders still looked great. I made a drastic move and started to play the right gutter, harder, faster and more direct.
Why didnt i move there earlier?????
I had a great reaction, 230, 230, 250 and 260 were the games to follow, and because the scoring pace was so low, and i won all my games, i leaped into 2nd, only 40 off Paeng Nepomuceno from The Philippines.
5 games to go and it was game on.... The lead swapped between us a few times and then it came down to the final game.
I was on 5 and 6, he was on 3 and 4.
He was 36 pins ahead, so it was vital that i won my match and he didnt. Then all i would have to do is beat his score by 17 and i would be the champ.
One good thing though is 3rd place could not catch me, so either way i would be able to represent Australia in St. Petersburg, Russia for the world cup, because Paeng is not Australians there for can not win the spot for the world cup.
I needed a strike in the 9th and all 3 in the 10th to shut Paeng out. I stuck on the approach in the 9th, made a spare, then missed left a touch in the 10th and it had no chance of striking, another spare. Now i finished with a game of 220, got my bonus pins and had to wait for Paeng to bowl. He needed a double in the 10th to win the event, he nailed the first, then split the 2nd shot. He had thought he had won, someone then told him that he must win the game and get his bonus befor he could get excited about winning, his opponent, also needed a double to beat Paeng.

I couldnt watch, if Bruno (Paeng's opponent) strikes twice i win. The first was BLACKJACK!!!! Only one more, i turned away, then looked back again just as he let the ball go, it got stuck on his thumb and looked to be going brooklyn. It hit high and the 10 pin was the last pin standing, it wobbled but not enough to fall. Paeng won the SPC for a 2nd time in his career and i came 2nd again for the millionth time in my career.

I was happy with my result considering how i started, but to get the chance to win and not take it, upsets me a little.

Ah well, now i get to focus on the World Cup and try and win that...... I sure hope i do.

Ill be in Japan and Panama for the next couple of weeks and will update you how those trips go!!!!

Cheers

Jason

Saturday, September 8, 2007

What a bizarre ending!

The last 6 games of the 12 man round robin were played today. I was 30 pin inside the cut to make the TV top 5 step ladder and was only 120 off 2nd.
It was realy bunched and because the scoring pace was so high, a 190 could mean a 100 pin turn around (thats with the 30 pin bonus).
I started ok, 231, lost, but felt like i could put together a few good games, i needed to.

My next 3 games were 289, 279 and 264 (front 9 with a open in the 10th) for a nice 832 series and moved into 3rd. I was couldnt catch the leaders, so my goal was to stay in 3rd and i did just that.

I waited for the first match to finish on the show then my turn.

Korean's are by nature very strict, and with live TV, the time table was to be followed to the minute.
I bowled against a Korean Pro, Y.H Byeon, doesnt do to much with the ball just hits the pocket every shot.
He opened in the 8th to give me the chance to shut him out, and i did just that, 267 - 222.
My next match was to play against a Japanese Pro, Shigenori Sakata. A very funny guy who was a little weird on the lanes.
This is where the story gets interesting.............

Going into the 9th and 10th i could shut him out and bowl 246. As i was getting ready to bowl in the 9th frame, Sakata, who had taken about 20 seconds to walk off the approach, walked by while i was drying my hand, clenched his fist and raised it to my face. Of course i took it as a joke, smiled it off and stepped on the appraoch.

I threw the ball ok, and for some reason the ball never hooked where it had been all game. 2-10. I miss it and strike out in the 10th for a 212.
Now, while i was bowling my 10th frame, a local Korean guy was yelling loudly the whole time. I had no idea what he was saying and was getting a little cranky at him because if i strike out, it would force Sakata to mark the 10th.
Now this guy yelling turns out what he was saying was, was that Sakata should be dis-qualified or i should have another shot due to un sportsman like conduct.......
After i finished i sat down and the translator came over to me and asked if the taunting from Sakata put me off, causing me to bowl a split.........
I told her of course NOT, everything was fine. But there is a rule in the KPBA that a player can be disqualified or the player affected can re-bowl that frame if the tournament director deems it worthy.
So the question i had to answer was, do i take the 9th frame again, bowl a strike and shut out Sakata, based a rule that i break almost every other event :) or do i decline the offer (because i think taunting is part of step ladder bowling) and make him throw the spare.
As much as i wanted to bowl the shot again, it just didnt seem right. He did nothing wrong, just taunted me (ok maybe a little close to my face, but that didnt put me off) something that i am guilty of most the step ladders i have been in.

I rejected the offer and asked that Sakata finish the game.

Now dont forget this is live TV, going around the whole of Korea. Sakata, accused of bad sportsmanship now has to get up in the 10th and mark after 15 minutes of debate if he should even be bolwing.
The tournament director then got made the annonucement about the rule and my decision and gave Sakata the green light.

He stepped up and bowled a great shot and struck. I finished in 3rd, but it will be a match i'll never forget.

The winner of the event was Isao Yamamoto from Japan, a great bowler, he lead from game 1 and desereved his win.

Can't wait to get home and see Kimberly and the rest of the family, plus it will be nice to ask someone the time and not have to play 'guess what im trying to say' haha

Cheers for reading...

Belmo

Thursday, September 6, 2007

The 2nd block and the finals

Didn't get a chance to write last night, i was extremly tired, so ill give you the run down of yesterday and today.

I bowled the fresh last night and the lanes were much easier, i could play around the 2nd arrow ad the ball went down the lane very smoothly.
I made some bad shots when i needed it, but i knew that if i could limit myself to 1 bad shot a game, i would be happy.
I finished 524 over for my 16 games qualifying and was sitting 6th. The lefties are killing us, with 3 in the top 4, but i feel like if i bowl well enough i can make the TV show.

The finals started at 9am this morning. I flew out of the gates, 243, 259 and 267. I was only behind the lead by 91 and felt like the ball was going to strike every time it hit the pocket.
I moved to a really bad pair and was 41 in the 4th frame, somehow i managed to get to 202. Bad news though was i lost about 70 on the leaders.
From that game i could find a rythem or line to the pocket that was good enough to keep up. I finished with games 224,194,226 and 237. Not bad but when the field is averaging 240, its not good.

I make the top 12 round robin in 8th position. There was no reoiling between the break (which was bad news for me).
We played 6 of the 12 games today and tomorrow we play the other 6. The only good news was that in the round robin you get 30 pins for a win, i had about 100 pins to catch and if i could somehow bowl well, with those bonus pins, i could bridge the cap quickly.
I started slow again, 202 and 220. My ball just didnt hit the pins like i wanted it to.
I made a small change in speed and release and shot 268, then followed it by 266, then 237 and 226.
I made a few pins and am now sitting 5th, with the top 5 making the TV show.
The lefties are killing everyone, top 4 are lefties then me, then the guys behind me are only a few pins back.
Tomorrow i need to GET ON!

Will let you know if i won ro not

Jason

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Day 1 of the KPBA

OK so the format goes like this.....

16 games qualifying split over 2 days (8 and 8). The top 32 come back and bolw another 8 games. From there the top 12 play a round robin and then a top 5 TV show.

I was to bowl in B squad. The carry down squad. A squad finished and the scores were very big, the top 6 in the squad shot over +300 and the top 70 were averaging the card.
Bad news for us right handers is that this bowl is left handed friendly and the lefties have an amazing look.
This got me a little nervous because the fresh looked great but the carry down got messy.

My first few shots looked ok, I was playing up 15 out to about 7. Then i dont know what happened, but my ball could not stay right of the head pin.
I moved a little left and the ball wouldn't move......There was somuch oil in the middle of the lane and the carry down of that oil made for a very small backend. If your pace was a little quick, your ball missed the head pin, if you missed right the ball just flew off the spot and went high.

I moved rather deep and slowed my ball speed right down and put a few rev's on the ball and just played in the oil.
It was ok, one pair killed me, hitting the pocket was not so hard, knowcking them over was impossible, 178 (and yes i missed the 3-6-9 twice).

I finished up something like 240 over, i didnt see the scores before i left, i had to hurry back to the hotel for dinner then bed.

Tomorrow i play on the fresh, and i know my scoring pace has to be high or i could fall way down. Hope i can knock them over a few more times today.

Will let you know how it all goes

Jason

Sunday, September 2, 2007

My first Korean PBA event

I have been lucky enough to of been invited to play in a KPBA event, sponored my Storm Bowling products.

It's not my first time to Korea, actually its the same bowling centre i bowled in for the World Mens Championships, this time last year.

Im staying in the same hotel as well..... Things look very much the same as last time too.

I had a few delays in my flights so it took a little longer than i wanted to, but im here safe and sounds and i have all my luggage, which these days is something to get excitied about on its own :)

I have a day off tomorrow, then a practice session the day after....Will let you know how it goes and who is bowling. Rumour has it that 5 PBA players, plus 30 Japanese Pro's are also competeing, so im really looking forward to this.

Talk soon

Belmo

Sunday, August 12, 2007

My first Indonesian Open win

The 2 day final (16 games, split into 8 and 8) had begun and i was a little nervous about the lane pattern, it had started to play closer and closer to the gutter each day, which would of made me more comfortable if i had the right equipment but i didn't.

I started the first 3 games slow, just trying to make every spare, the condition was brutal. If you missed left or right, to fast or to slow, with the wrong release you were punished. If you bowled more than 250 on this pattern you bowled a great game. Not to mention the pin carry is very bad here.

I found a decent line to the pocket, bowling quite hard but very straight around the 17th board at the arrows. I left a million 10 and 7 pins, plus each game had at least one split. Pair to pair was just as tricky as well.
Many players including myself would struggle the first part of the game, find something good to finish the game, move pairs and the lanes were completely different. Like i said, 250 or higher was a great game.

By the end of the first day i was sitting first, by 9 pins but had another 8 games the following day.

The next day the lanes felt impossible, i bowled 100 over with next high series for the day was 50 over. The scores were so low, noone could score any high games.

I needed a 220 game in my last game to qualify top seed and i did, 224 to be exact.

I was top seed into the step ladder which is a huge advantage. If i am to loose the first match in the final, the challenger must then beat me again to win the title.

I started the final game well with the front 5, i felt those 5 strikes were my best 5 shots of the week, but like always the lane started to change a little and i left a split in the 6th and a spare in the 7th.
The young Korean i was playing had 2 spares and 4 strike in his first 6 frames meaning i was behind with 4 frames left.
The Korean left a split in the 7th, struck the 8th and spared the 9th. Meaning all i need was to stay clean to win..... i doubled the 8th and 9th and then the match was won.

My first title in Indonesia and i could not be happier.

After the match there was a press conference and there were many TV and newspaper cameras in the room. I felt like i was Roger Federer at the Australian Open haha

This was my 2nd trip in Indonesia and i will be back for sure

Jason

Earthquake hits Indonesia!

"OH MY GOD, everybody out of the hotel" was the cry from Andrew Frawley. A powerful 7.5 earthquake hit Jarkarta and it was the first time i had ever experianced such a powerful blow from mother nature.

The hotel swung left and right, the walls in the hotel starting to crack and the lighting hanging from the hotel lobby was swaying uncontrolably.

The quake was so powerful that it actually knocked Tim Mack out from his bed while he was sleeping (on the 17th floor). I was both nervous and worried that the building i was staying in was to fall any moment, but reasuring words from Andrew calmed me down.

I was feeling a little tired but after the quake is was impossible to get to sleep.

Jason

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Jakarta, Indonesia aka Crazy Town

Indonesia is a country that truly is unlike any other country in the world. It is so crazy here that the word crazy actually means 'normal'.
The road rules are worse than in Manila, (if that is possible) and the streets are covered in rubbish. But if you look past that and talk with the locals, they are some of the nicest people in the world.
The hotel is nice and the staff will bend over backwards to help you, but you may have to explain things a few times. Their English is ok, but some words get lost in translation. For example i ordered a ceaser salad at the hotel when i checked in and a pizza arrived haha. Not what i was expecting.

The bowling centre is 60 lanes, split into 40 on 1 level and 20 on another level. They play completely different too.

The lane condition for the Indonesian Open is extremley tough. The ratio is 1.5:1, meaning that any error in speed or accuracy is punished. It's the way bowling was meant to be i think.

I attempted to qualify in the morning and afternoon, had an ok ball reaction, was just throwing a bad shot every so often, and those bad shots really hurt your scores.
The night squad i changed my approach and played much smarter and straighter and bowling great. 930 for 4 games which will qualify easy on this pattern.

The finals are in a couple of days so i will take a few days off and relax and watch my mates bowl and support them, hoping they all make the cut.

I'll update you again in a couple of days

Belmo

Monday, July 23, 2007

1st @ New South Wales Open

The New South Wales (NSW) Open is one of Australia's hardest event to win in recent years. The condition has been extremly tough and out of the last 6 years a lefty has won it 5 times.

Format:
10 Games qualifying that is then followed by the top 30 playing a further 4 games the next morning. From there the top 15 men have earnt the right to play in a 3 way round robin formatt. 1st on the paid gets a bonus 20, 2nd gets 10 and last gets nothing.

I qualified quite well, coming in 3rd after the 10 games, missed a few spares that i shouldnt of, but over all i felt quite happy with my performance.
The pattern was not quite as tough as previous years but you still had to make great shots.
The bowling centre (AMF Castle Hill Bowl) is fitted with GSX Brunswick machines and pro anvil lane surface, meaning the lanes played much straighter because of the surface and carrying is very hard because of the GSX machines.
If you bowled a 250 plus game, you bowled a great game. Just a little speed or angle of entry variance you left a corner pin for sure.

My good friend George Frilingos was leading by 150 heading into the round robin part of the event.
George is by far the hardest bowler in Australia to beat, he has won 12 national titles and like Tiger Woods, once is in the lead heading into the final day, is extremly hard to catch.

We started the round robin and i knew the only way i was going to catch George was to win as many round robin matches i could, to get the bonus pins and to strike alot.
I did just that, the 7 game round robin saw me average 249, i won 5/7 matches, a tie for 1st in another and 2nd in the other match.
That didnt stop George from doing the same though, George won 4/7 and 2nd in the other 3 matches.
It came down to the last game. On my pair was George and Shaun Cummings. Shaun had injured his left knee and was basically crawling to the line, so that left just me and George in a head to head battle.
I down by 30 or so pins, that meant i needed to beat George by 20 scractch, get my 20 bonus, and that should be enough.

It came down to the 10th frame and the crowd were feeling the presure just as much as we were.
I was up first, threw the ball and threw it bad. Was just way to fast, i just hit the head pin, leaving the 2 pin.........WAIT A MINUTE........ a pin has come from no where and rolled the 2 pin for a strike. "That's one for me" i screamed.
I needed the next one in the 10th to shoot 240 and shut George out. I let it go perfect, i knew it off the hand, the 10 pin the last to fall before a screaming messenger smashed it into the wall. .

I have won the 2007 NSW OPEN.

George, like the sportsman he is shook my hand and gave me a hug and said "great bowling". Not easy to do when you have lead the entire event untill the last frame of the last game.

This was the first national title i have won in my own home state of NSW, so i am extremly happy to break that drought.

I used a T road Solid all weekend and it truly is one of the best balls i have used. It does everything i need it to do.

Till the next event, which i think is in Indonesia in 2 weeks......Be good and keep on rollin!

Monday, July 9, 2007

Thats how the high roller goes!

To win the high roller you need a combination of skill and lucky. You can not make it on skill alone and no matter how lucky you are, you need skill to have any chance.
Now if you are not on your game and you dont have any luck, you will be exiting the event in the 1st round......like i did.

I bowled well for 4 frames of the game, my opponent bowled well for 5 frames, he had more luck than i did, hence when he through a bad shot it struck, when i did it was split.
I have only myself to blame though, dont get me wrong, it should never of come down to luck to win the first match. If i bowl well, then i have the match won early and thats the end of the story, but i played awful.

Dis-appointing is really the only word that comes to mind, but i am young, i will getover this loss and i know the next time i put my shoes on, i would have forgotten this horrible end to a great event.

Jason

Friday, July 6, 2007

Some more High Roller news

Sorry for the late reply.

Bowling starts at 10am and finishes about 10pm, its a all day thing, you never really get to leave the bowl, so the last couple of nights i have been drained......but i think i have just enough energy to update you :)

I played great today, i made both $1000 rounds and i feel like as each day comes i am playing better and better.

The lanes play a little easy on the fresh but with every game that is played, the lanes get drier and drier and its not long till i am lofting the left gutter.
I am using a Fired Up, with a touch of polish on it and it looks great, but thats all i have that looks like i can shoot big numbers..... Just hope it holds up in the super final.

Will let you know how it all goes tomorrow

Jason

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

How your luck can change!

Las Vegas..... A place where in a single moment your luck can change from great to crappy and of course crappy to great.

I played in the high roller again today, i bowled well but the cut scores were so high again that an un-timely corner pin would be the difference from 240 to 220 and of course that it can take to knock you out of any round. No cash for Jason again at the high roller :(
Good news for the Aussies though is that Glen "Chip" Loader bowled great and made it not only to the cashing round but he went on to make it to the super final of the high roller, giving him a chance to win the main event.
So just wanted to say WELL DONE CHIP!!!!!!

After the high roller qualifying was a $5000 sweeper. 3 games in a set, 2 squads and the best scores over both squads gives you there placings.
My first attempt was miserable. I bowled games 142, 143 and 144. Ok so i didnt try for the whole set but i had no look, no chance of cashing.....nothing.
I debated with myself if i should just call it a night and try and forget that today ever happened, or have one more go and hope a miracle occured.

Well a miracle did occur, i shot 268, 268 and 222 (758) to win the sweeper and the money.
My day went from a nightmare to a kick arse dream :)
I have so much more confidence now and i am ready to throw a million strikes for the rest of the week.

As one of my best mates Andrew Frawley would say.............IT'S GAME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jason

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Not to plan!

Ok so i started bowling for the high roller today.

Its simple......1 game, beat 3/4 of your division move into the 2nd round. From there beat 1/2 of the guys in your division, the you claim $1000 (sweet) and then on the to 3rd round. The 3rd round, again in your division you take the top 6 scores, those top scores then reward you a spot in the rand final.

I played 3 games. 237, 233 and 236, It wasnt till then 3rd attempt i made the 2nd round. The scores are extremly high this year, normally 215 makes the first cut and 200 makes the 2nd round for a $1000......not this time.

But thats Vegas, today was today and you can bet every dollar in your pocket that tomorrow will be totallt different.....lets hope so.

Talk again soon

Belmo

Sunday, July 1, 2007

VIVA LAS VEGAS

"Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas"

Thats the sign you see as soon as you drive into Las Vegas.

My trip started in Orange, we had a terrible snow storm and all roads to get to Sydney were closed. I drove 3 hours in the other direction so i could drive around the snow (where the roads were open) total drive time was almost 8 hours, plus the 14 hours to LA, plus the 1 hour to San Fransico and then on top of that Victor Meyerhoff (one of my best mates from the states) drove 9 hours to Vegas, total travel time 32 hours to Vegas.

Vegas is simply one of those cities that anything you want, need or see can be done at any time any day.

The bowling tournament is at Sam's Town Hotel Casino. Its a cowboy style casino, really targeted at the older generations and is not a place i would say it worth visiting, but that where the High Roller is, so this is the most logically place to stay.

There are 3 events on at Sam's Town. The high roller, the A Game and the Red Hot. I bowled tonight to try and qualify for the A Game, bowled greatm 130 over for 5 games and have made the semi finals, which start tomorrow.

Vegas is hot this time of year, i mean it is a desert :) so shorts and shirts are all you need. I hope to maybe have some relax time and hit the swimming pool.

Will keep you updated day by day...hope i keep having good news

Jason

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

1st @ Melbourne Cup 2007

Melbourne Cup has been an event i have had great success at.
I won in 2002 and 2004 (and now 2007) and ran top 3 every year in between 2002-2007.

This is a special tournament too. It has a different format and the prizes you can win (un-cut diamonds) makes this event one of Australia's biggest.

This year would be the last time this event was to be held at the Ed Fleming Lanes in Melbourne. The bowling centre is closing down and re-locating so i really wanted to do well.

The first day of qualifying did not go to as planned. 8 games and i was sitting 6th. I missed a bunch of spares and was not very happy with myself. I knew that if i was to win this event i would have to spare everything i left and find, then keep, great timing.

The next 8 games qualifying was much better. I shot 320 something over and made every spare and at the end of the 16 games qualifying i was in the lead by 100, from great mate Jarrod Lean.

The finals are very funny. Top 30 make the first round where all the even numbered place finishes after qualifying (2nd, 4th, 6th etc) play a round robin, 3 to a pair with 20 extra pins for a win, 10 for 2nd and 0 for last on the pair. The odd numbered bowlers did the same.

Pin fall is carried over all the way.

After that the top 15 then make the final. Where again 3 way round robin, 20 pins for a win, 10 for 2nd and 0 for last.

I bowled great all day. I won by over 200 pins from Andrew McArthur and George Frilingos (both lefties, which makes the win even more sweet haha) I never missed a spare (till i knew i had won) and felt like i could strike on almost every shot.
I averaged 240 for the round robin (14 games) and won all my matches bar 3.
I won the 2007 Melbourne Cup for the a record 3rd time and this year the diamond was the biggest ever.
0.62 of a carrot worth $5,500. Plus $3,500 for the event in cash.
But even more special than that was i had taken Kimberly along with me this year, so to win with her there to share in the excitment was even cooler. She is for sure my lucky charm, wish i could take her everywhere!!!!!!!!

So, all in all not a bad weekends work if i do say so myself.

Next stop on the tour calender in Viva Las Vegas, for the High Roller. I will be trying to defend my title that i won in Feb earlier this year.......till then be good to your mum!

Belmo

Monday, May 28, 2007

K and K Classic- How Bizarre

The K and K Classic was the event I missed my last cut in for any tournament around the world.
That was this time in 2005. I made a deal with myself not to do that again.
Kedron bowling centre has like a curse against me, just walking in the doors i felt like something bad was going to happen.
How right was I??
In my first of ten games of qualifying both of my strike balls had their cores inside pop. Another way to explain that is the core had moved inside and the ball rolls about as good as a pumpkin down the lane. The only thing i think that causes this to happen is when bowling balls have been on long plane trips, the temperture is so cold that if the balls get thrown around by baggage handlers it can cause the 'pop'. Well thats what i have been told in the past and i dont know of any other possible ways this can happen.
It has happened to me twice before, once in Dubai and once in Vegas, so when i happened again i knew it straight away.
Not to worry though, i just had to bowl a lot straighter than usual.
I some how spared my way and struck my way to 180 over about 200 off the lead. Still 6 games to go for the top 30 then cut to top 15 for a 3 way, 7 game round robin with bonus pins for wins.
I drilled up a brand new ball that i could get my hands on (Thanks Ryan Burton) and drilled it up (thanks to Brando's Pro Shop) ready for the finals.
The 6 games in the morning I bowled quite good, a couple of bad breaks at the wrong times but all in all i felt like i had a chance to really make a run at the title.
The re-oil occurred after the 6 games, and the players were from 30 to 15. i was sitting 8th about 100 from 2nd and about 250 from first.

When i made my way back to the pairs after lunch to bowl the round robin i noticed my shoes were no longer next to my bowling balls.
I looked up and down each pair of lanes and so did a few of my mates, but no shoes. We made announcements, but still no one found them.
The lanes turned on to practice and i need a pair of shoes.

"Size 11 please" i asked the staff member at the counter.

I had to bowl in house shoes for the whole of the round robin. Let me just say house shoes are not as much fun to bowl in as i see the public enjoying them.
I missed spares left, right and centre. Sliding was so hard to find any consistency, i must of hit my target at the arrows with my first shot about 45% of the time.

I ended up 10th in the event, i was both happy and cranky at that placement. It was nice to bowl ok when your equipment breaks and goes missing, but at the same time I wished i could of bowled full strength.

Queensland, Australia has once again knocked me out of the ring, not sure how many times i can keep getting back in the ring before i throw in the towel.

Jason Belmonte

Monday, May 21, 2007

Coming up!!!

So i have been home now for a few days, catching up on some important sleep and spending time with all my family and friends.
Catching up with everyone is great. You hear all the news from everyone while you are gone and although there is not much news with Orange itself, the people living in it always have new stories to tell.
Some have to go overseas or interstate for a holiday, for me, coming home and seeing everyone is my holiday.

Now that I have relaxed a little i have to start planning where im going for my next bowling adventure.
Australia has a few great tournaments throught out the year and the next few weeks have 2 of them.

My first stop will be to Brisbane for the K and K Classic, then 2 weeks after ill go to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup.

I will keep you updated how they all go.

Belmo

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Home sweet home!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like the old saying goes......"There is no place like home". I have missed home a heap and to drive down the main street of Orange, although it's not very long :) was wonderful.

After 30 plus hours sitting on planes or in airports, i was greeted in Sydney by my parents who made the trip to Sydney to pick me up, i would of driven myself but the police had decided to take my licence off me for the 3rd time, they think i drive too fast?? Only 4 more weeks left and ill be legally aloud to drive again.

Orange may not be the most exciting or exotic place i have been to in the last 5 weeks, but to me it the best. It's the perfect place to come home too, small quite and friendly. Plus all my friends, family and my wonderful girl Kimberly are here and i have missed them so much.
Can't wait for the home lunches and dinners ill be served by all the family, boy have i missed them too :)

I have league tonight, but something tells me after the 2 days of travel and the constant bowling over the past 5 weeks, i can treat myself to a little rest and forfeit.

Not sure what i am bowling in next, hopefully something in Australia. Will keep you all updated though.

Belmo

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Vi är svenska mästare!!! (We are Swedish Champions)

Like the heading suggests, Pergamon won!!!!

What a day, drums and songs sung all day, the crowd fuelling the players to perform. THE BEST FUN BOWLING I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!!!!!
Knowing each one of your team members is behind you, willing you to strike is a feeling hard to describe. Its unlike any other team bowling i have ever seen or experienced.
Pergamon dominated each game and i personally bowled much better today. i averaged 245 for my bowling and it felt GOOD!

Our flight back to Gothenberg leaves in a few hours where the party will start. When Alex says he is having a party, its not your usual party i have been told.
He always finds ways to exceed his last party, and because this was Pergamon's 5th straight win (which no other Swedish team has ever done) i am sure tonight will be massive.

I'll be heading home tomorrow night and i cant wait to get back to the sandy shores of Australia. Although travelling is fun, i miss home so much. I miss all my mates, my family and more than anything else my wonderful fiancé Kimberly. Only 48 hours till i am home sweet home.

Belmo

End of the semi finals

We played the 2nd set of the best of 3 match...... Pergamon is now into the GRAND FINAL.

We played ok today, nothing special, but all you need to do is win and that's what we did.
I am extremely looking forward to the final, we are playing a team called Advance, who caused an upset to make the final.
I have been promised that our supporter will bang their drums louder than ever and scream chants till we win....hope we as players don't disappoint them.

Will let you know how it all went after we win :P

Belmo

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Swedish League Finals

Sundsvall in Sweden is the city that is hosting the league finals. League in Sweden is unlike league back home, each player joins a club and they travel to play against another team, kind of like a footy season.
I joined team Pergamon about 18 months ago and this is my first ever league match.
8 players on each team, with 1 sub, play a total of 4 games in the doubles format. Pretty much its doubles team VS doubles team on each pair for 1 point and 1 point for the team who has the highest pin fall over all the lanes for that game. So 5 points maximum for each game, 20 total for the set and we play a best of 3 match.

We played the first set against Falkenberg. The lanes played alot different to the practice session but Pergammon did what we had to do to win the first set.
My team tonight consisted of Me, Osku Palermaa, Tore Torgersern, Tomas LeAnderson, Martin Larsen, Robert Anderson and the sub was Par Svensson
So on paper that team is extremely strong and we proved that on the lanes.
What makes this event so cool???
There is LIVE STREAMING of the event, you can see us play frame per frame, on each pair with Swedish commentary :) The link is www.livestream.se click the big blue pic/words in the middle of the page and it will bring it up. Also from ball one to the final ball drums are played loud and crowd is chanting songs like at a soccer match.
Pergamon has over 80 supporters here and each one screamed till it hurt. The supporters were flown from Gothenberg (where Pergamon is station) by a man called Alex Kotton. Alex owns Pergamon and he is the guy you have heard of, that you wished you knew :)
Alex is far from any financial worries and loves bowling, but more than he loves bowling he loves Pergamon and its players and its supporters more.

We play the next set tomorrow against the same team, if we win that set we are through to the grand final.......If we bowl the way we should, we will be bowling for the title.

Talk soon

Belmo

Monday, May 7, 2007

WRM- A day to forget

I was the higher seed so i have the option of chosing which pattern the match would start on. I very rarely chose a pattern that i think my oppenent would not prefer, rather i chose the pattern that i think i would bowl better on.
For me on the fresh, the long oil i felt much better. I started the game with a strike then a ringing 10, i slipped at the foul line and missed the spare, followed by 2 more strikes and a solid 7. Peter had an early lead and never looked like missing, he finished the game 258 and when i knew i could not win i moved around the lane to see what else i could do.
The short was awful, never had a clue where i was to stand or throw the ball. The pattern felt so different. I had 2 opens in the first 5 frames, Peter spared the 3rd frame and struck the rest, for a nice 279. He had 537 total and i would of needed 3 games to beat it.
Peter bowled great, and even if i bowled well im not sure if i could of kept up. I wish him all the best and i hope he goes on to win.

Now i know I am a little cranky about losing and this may seem that i am having a whinge, but hear me out.
As bowlers we play on some ridculas formats, most go by with out too many people saying anything but this event, THE WORLD RANKING MASTERS could be the worst format for bowling in the world.
This event is supposed to show case 'who' the best bowler in the world is. Osku lead this event by 200, i was next and we are both sitting in the grand stands watching the semi finals???
24 games on short, long and duel patterns and then we play best of 3???
Does that make sence to you??
Wonder how Tiger Woods would feel after leading a major, then been told to play 3 more holes against someone he beat by a truck load.

This is the problem we have with bowling.....The best does not always win, and this week OSKU was the best and he is having a beer as we speak!

Belmo

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Quarter Finals

Only 8 left.
Osku
Me
Stu Williams
Paul Moor
Martin Lasen
David O'Sullivan
Peter Ljung
Tomas Gross.

Its now a best of 3 matchplay formatt and based on the qualifying positions, Peter Ljung and I will meet.
These best of formatts are very unpredicable, anyone can shoot any score. I will have a tough game in Peter. The Swedes are used to this formatt and if given the chance to win, Peter will take it with both hands.

Like always i am nervous the night before, my head is always running a million miles..... But i hope by the time i have my shoes on, the nerves will be gone and ill be able to bowl my best.

Will let you know how i played

Belmo

Friday, May 4, 2007

WRM Long Oil

If there is a bowl that you have been too and you think it has AMAZING CARRY, well times that by 100 and that's close to how good the carry here is.
THe pins hit the walls and bounce off them like trampolines. Some of the strikes you see are impossible to produce in a 'normal' bowling centre. So many splits that turn into strikes because pins have bounced from somewhere and taken out 2 or more pins......truly amazing to watch and no matter how much i try and describe it, it has to be seen to be believed.

Because each lane has a CATS on it, you can go to the kegel website (if you click the heading it will take you there) and check out all the stats from all the players for all the games we played. Really cool to see where we were playing, during any game, ball speed and rev rate.

Because pattern ended up really dry, i was throwing the ball over the left gutter and i dont think CATS can read some of the shots because the ball was in the air when it passed the first sensor :)

I bowled up and down today, first few games were great, felt good and the ball looked great, then i hit the transition and a bad pair and i lost a little bit of the feel. But patience is a virtue.
The lanes dried up fast and i made a couple of bad moves, till i finally decided that the ball cant hook in the air :) Over the left gutter, hard and fast, just the way i like it :)

Im sitting in 3rd with the short oil starting tomorrow, check the website for all the complete scores and other info.

Will let you know how i do in the short as soon as i finish

Belmo

Thursday, May 3, 2007

World Ranking Masters warm up

Kegel training centre is something quite unique. Its a 12 lane bowling centre inside a 75000 square foot building.
Lake Wales is the city the bowling centre is in, but im staying in another city called Winter Haven about 20 minutes away.
The best way i can describe both places is........Dry, boring, hot and middle of no where. There really is nothing to do.
I went to the bowl to have a warm up and test the lanes out. The centre is set up to perfection, regarding the lanes. Each lane is perfectly flat, has perfect lane surface and each lane has C.A.T.S (Computer Aided Tracking System). C.A.T.S is amazing, it gives you exact read outs of how fast you bowled, which board you hit and how many revs you place on each shot.
Something that has revolutionised coaching.
The carry at this bowl is so good its stupid. I expect the scoring pace to be massive for the event.

Will keep you up to date with how the event goes when it starts

Belmo

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Coming to America!

Its 2:14am, i have arrived into Florida, bagless, tired and cranky :)
The flying time from Istanbul to Orlando should be about 12 hours in total, but i had 2 delays of more than 2 hours each, plus waiting for luggage that decided it would prefer to have a holiday without me.
At least the hotel im at (The Holiday Inn) has high speed internet for free :)

Will let you know all about Florida when my eyes are more than a 1/4 open.

Belmo

Monday, April 30, 2007

Runner Up in Istanbul

2nd again at the Istanbul Open.
Im happy though, in a 1 game step ladder anything can happen, and this time i was the guy who couldn't find the pocket.
I played Mathies from Switzland in the semi final and bowled up and down through out the game, going into the 10th i needed all 3 stirkes to win by 1 pin. I threw the ball great and nailed each one. 225-224
Osku had played Paul Moor in the other final and Osku started with the front 6 and Paul never looked like striking, so it was another all 2 handed final, (something i think will happen a few more times in the future).
I was playing a little to the right all day, around the 2nd arrow, hard and straight. The TV pair were playing a little funny all tournament but i thought that would help me because i was playing straighter than Osku, guess i was wrong.
Osku was throwing the ball threw 4th arrow and was just smashing the pins, i couldnt get near the pocket.
He shot 257 and i managed to strike out from the 8th for a 195, i moved in deeper to where he was, but it was a little too late.
2nd again, like last year and my 5 week tour has been ok so far.
6th in Kuwait, 2nd in ABF tour (Kuwait), 1st at the World Masters and 2nd in Istanbul. Guess you cant be to upset with that run.
Off to Florida for the World Ranking Masters, i have a 14 hour flight and a few days of rest before i start.
Lets hope i can keep throwing the ball the way i have been.....

Belmo

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Istanbul Open

OK. So After we had an eventful day walking around Gallipoli and staying up for over 36 hours, Frawls and I both thought it would be a great idea to bowl the 9pm squad when we got back to Istanbul.
Um whose idea was it again???
Both of us played awful. The format is a 6 game re-entry with the top 8 getting 3 byes and the next 8 getting 2 byes and so on till the top 42 make the cut.
After our poor display of bowling, we wne t back to the hotel to rest up for the next days plays.

Sleep didnt seem to help, the next 2 squads i felt like i was aiming at a thumb tack and the tach seem to get smaller and smaller.
The lanes played a little funny, some pairs in the house are almost 20 boards drier, Frawls believes it has something to do with the installation.
My 4th attempt i decided to play smarter and take the massive hook out of my game and play as straight as possible....seemed to work 180 over for my next 6 games and i was on top of the leader board with 2 days left of qualifying.
Now i get to wait and hope i stay in the top 8 and get the 3 important byes.

Frawls is bowling now and is in great shape, 130 over after 4 and looks like he will smash my score. He told me the 500 Euro practice he had in the last 4 squads was well worth the money haha.

Will inform you all how the finals get on in a couple of days.

Belmo

Istanbul Open

OK. So After we had an eventful day walking around Gallipoli and staying up for over 36 hours, Frawls and I both thought it would be a great idea to bowl the 9pm squad when we got back to Istanbul.
Um whose idea was it again???
Both of us played awful. The format is a 6 game re-entry with the top 8 getting 3 byes and the next 8 getting 2 byes and so on till the top 42 make the cut.
After our poor display of bowling, we wne t back to the hotel to rest up for the next days plays.

Sleep didnt seem to help, the next 2 squads i felt like i was aiming at a thumb tack and the tach seem to get smaller and smaller.
The lanes played a little funny, some pairs in the house are almost 20 boards drier, Frawls believes it has something to do with the installation.
My 4th attempt i decided to play smarter and take the massive hook out of my game and play as straight as possible....seemed to work 180 over for my next 6 games and i was on top of the leader board with 2 days left of qualifying.
Now i get to wait and hope i stay in the top 8 and get the 3 important byes.

Frawls is bowling now and is in great shape, 130 over after 4 and looks like he will smash my score. He told me the 500 Euro practice he had in the last 4 squads was well worth the money haha.

Will inform you all how the finals get on in a couple of days.

Belmo

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Gallipoli

From Istanbul to Gallipoli its a 5 hour drive and in this traffic it can feel like 10.
Finding ourselves a ride to Gallipoli was harder than we both first thought. All the tours were fully booked and noone wanted to drive us 5 hours to Gallipoli, stay for the dawn service and drive right back so we need to find a guy who knew a guy who knew another guy that could help us.
After an hour of trying to find someone, we got a number to a guy who organised everything from pick up, food and travel home.
His price though was not something we liked, $400 US each but you know what, to experiance something that means so much to every Australian, i would of paid more.

Gallipoli is famous for the landing of Australian and New Zealander army troops to fight the Turks in World War 1. At school I learnt a lot about this battle and the stories told were horrific.
10,000 Men died at ANZAC beach, the main reason they lost tha many was because of the terrain the men fought in.
Once the ships laned onto the beach the a cliff of 30ft sttod infront of them and the Turish Army used the ANZAC men as taregt practice.

The dawn service commenced and the weather was freezing, about -1 plus the wind off the water made sitting still impossible.
9000 people attened the service and it was extremly powerful and emotional. I cant not put into words how the men must of felt during that campaign and i am extremly grateful and thankful to the men who lost theirs lives to keep Australia safe.

It is something ill never forget and something that will stay fresh in my mind for many years to come.

Thanks to the Frawls who made this trip so much better than if i went on my own.

Bowling starts tomorrow, will keep you updated on that.

Jason

Istanbul Arrival

Istanbul is a wonderful but chaotic place :) People everywhere and cars pack the roads like everyone is in The Istanbul Car Racing Open.
Horns are there to let everyone know "im coming around you, so move".
The hotel im staying (sharing with Andrew 'Frawls' Frawley is small but nice and also expensive. 90 Euro a night and the room just fits us both in. But when you are as tired as i am right now a bed on any kind is worth that money.

Tomorrow Frawls and I are going to Gallipoli to experiance the dawn service on ANZAC DAY, this is something i am really looking forward too.

Jason

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

WORLD MASTERS CHAMP

There is nothing more nervous than sitting in the players room waiting for your match.The players all look calm but each one of us knows that we are about to play only 2 games and anything can happen.Thoughts of all the bad things that can go wrong start running through your mind..... Your palms start to drip with sweat and your heart races so fast nothing really feels real.You congratulate your mate for winning his/her match or express your sadness for them losing as you walk passed them down the hall, knowing in 5 minutes time its going to be you who is congratulated or consoled.The announcement for your name to make your way down to the lane happens and then BANG!The nerves are gone and it feels like your watching the show rather than staring in it.The match is a blur and really can’t remember much of it, but you know the result.A big fat W next to my name, sweet, but hang on, I have to go through all those pre game feelings again???Each match doesn’t get any easier, you watch each player bowl and see how good they really are and see how high they can score.What happens if I can’t find a line??? I could get beat on World Wide TV by over 100?? Those thoughts come back and the palms get sweaty again.With each round more and more pictures are taking from the crowd, more and more autographs need sighing and you start to feel like a pro golfer I have never realized that bowling does get so much respect from those who love the game!!!!!!!The players room has mixed emotions with every match, some lucky to be alive and they know it, others feel ripped off and want there shot at the title they feel they deserve. but at the end of the day we are all in the same bar, all buying each other drinks all laughing together, that’s what makes bowling better than any sport in the world!How do you beat a pro???Nothing beats playing a PRO. and Chris Barnes is not just any pro. Countless titles as an amateur and then to make a name for yourself on tour and win what he has won, respect from the players just oozes out of him.Before my match with Chris he walked up to me and said " No matter what happens on this lane tonight between us, let me just say that I think you are amazing and if I lose, I would want it to be to no other"WOW, the guy is bloody cool!Not only is he one of the greatest players in the world, but a great guy too. Beating him just got even harder!The match is over so quickly and all I can remember is after I threw the winning shot I fell to the approach exhausted. He took every ounce of energy out. He shook my hand, let in and said you will be one of the best ever......WOW how and what do you reply with that other than.......Hmmm cheers mate. That match is something ill never forget, not because I won, but because it taught me that things can happen to you if you want them to happen.The final match........What were the odds??? If someone had of told me I would shoot 524 in the final and my opponent was not going to spare, would I take the score???I would take it in a heart beat....Paul said the same thing too after!566-524!!!!!!!!The most fun I have ever had bowling, the crowd were so energetic and every shot felt like the roof was coming off.I can’t tell you what I did, or why I struck 23/24, what I can tell you though every shot I threw, I threw it like it would be my last.The 2nd 300 on TV in my career and it will be the luckiest 300 you have ever seen!!!I won’t give too much away, but I know you will love the 11th when you see it!!! I DID!The 12th though..... As soon as I let it go I screamed ITS GOOD and before the ball hit the 45ft down the lane I yelled WHOO HOOOOOO....I knew it off the hands!!!!!!!The crowd went wild and Paul, like the gentleman he is was the first guy to shake my hand and congratulate me.The 2nd game is a little bit of a blur, I remember leaving the 4-9 and that’s it! Funny how sometimes you remember the bad shots more prominently!!!!!I am the 2007 World Masters Champ..... and im proud of it. My bowling idol (the Frawls) told me to go one better than him and I didn’t want to let him down!Messages from my family and friends came in as soon as the last shot was thrown and some of the things said nearly brought a tear to my eye. To have the support from a country that is a million miles away makes this Aussie boy proud to say he is Australian.Calling Kimberly (my Fiancé) mum and dad and my sister was just as exciting as winning. Screaming down the phone line that you are the winner will never get boring!!This years Masters was the most exciting one I have ever been too, not because I won, but because each match had a script you couldn’t write better if you tried!!Bowling is alive and well, sometimes you just need to have a closer look!Jason Belmonte

Friday, April 20, 2007

World Masters in England

I have arrived into sunny England, Yes sunny. I cant believe it either, but the weather was actually real nice. I met up with pro bowler Chris Barnes today, we went and had some lunch, then for the next few hours i explained to him the game of cricket, we were watching a world cup match in the hotel bar. He actually caught on real quick, even giving his opinion on a few wickets and shots played.
I have my first match against Jens Nickle on Friday night at 9pm over here, im nervous about it. Jens is one of those players who i find real hard to beat, i hope Friday night at 9pm i get lucky!

Click the title to go to the World Masters home page....other wise its www.worldtenpinmasters.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Welcome

Join me in my 'Travelling Diary' as I talk about my travels to various parts of the world playing Tenpin Bowling Tournaments.