Budding Border bowlers have access to a champion in the new operator of Wodonga's bowling alley.
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Paul Delany, who became the youngest International Bowling Federation medalist at 15 for the United Kingdom, moved from Sydney to Wodonga with his family last year.
He and a business partner purchased Twin Cities Tenpin Bowl when it was put up for sale in 2016.
The start of the pandemic made business conditions difficult for previous lessees, so Mr Delany decided to relocate to Wodonga.
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"We ended up coming down and taking over the day-to-day operations," he said.
"We did a fair bit of work, putting in new machines, and cleaned it all up.
"The second closure hit hard - we had only been open for about five weeks before we were shut again - but we've been going again since November 5.
"We're just happy to get going again.
"My family is in Ireland and they're all in lockdown."
The second closure hit hard
- Paul Delany
Mr Delany struck up a quick friendship with Australian bowler Andrew Frawley while taking part in the World Youth Championship, which led to a working holiday as a 17-year-old in Illawarra.
When he was coaching overseas in Kuwait, he and his wife decided to move to Australia for the birth of their first child.
"I met the previous owners of the business here at Wodonga and when the previous landlord put the place up for sale a couple years ago, myself and a friend of mine from Illawarra bought the land and the building," he said.
"There's a big block of land here - we would like to go with more lanes and maybe mini golf.
"The first thing is to try and stabilise.
"We want to promote the sport, but also the recreational side of things."
The renovated bowling alley, now 3D Lanes Wodonga, is running night leagues and has a close association with Belvoir Special School and other community groups.
Mr Delany recently hosted the Victorian Country Cup and is seeing interest grow in what he says is truly a worldwide sport.
"There's a lot of people in the area and there's not much you can get out and do as one family," he said.
"There's a lot of people here who have been in and around this game for a long time ... it's huge in the states and in Asia.
"Not many people know that the greatest player in the world is Australian, Jason Belmonte from Orange."
