The mother of a Tauranga 12-year-old who has excelled at 10-pin bowling is looking for community support to get her daughter to more tournaments.

Jade Lang has set her sights on tournaments nationwide and across the ditch, prompting mother Rachelle Lang to launch a Givealittle page this month to fundraise.

Jade won the 2024 National Open Graded Champion title – against older competitors – aged 11.

“I didn’t process it,” Jade said. “I had been bowling from 8 o’clock in the morning and didn’t leave until 6 o’clock at night.”

Then, the win hit her. “I realised I’d actually achieved this title,” said the Year 8 Tauranga Intermediate student.

Jade “holds her own” compared with fellow bowlers, said her coach, Mark Stretton.

“As a national coach, I want to try to grow the sport. So bringing these younger ones through is the key to that.”

Jade spends at least 10 hours a week at Tenpin Tauranga, where she first started bowling at the age of 9. “They all look after each other. It’s a family,” said Rachelle Lang.

“She’s well-cared for and has made friends with people of different ages through the sport.”

Tenpin Tauranga runs a programme called Bowl Patrol for younger participants, teaching them how to bowl.

Jade saw the older kids bowling, turned around and said to her mum: “I want to do what they’re doing”

Since then, she has flown up the ranks. She was crowned the 2024 Tauranga Classic Under-18 Girls Champion and set the 2024 National Graded Singles Record.

Today, she is ranked sixth in New Zealand U18 Girls, 11th in New Zealand U21 Women, and is a member of the NZ U18 Representative Squad.

Her future looks equally bright and busy. Jade will compete in the National Youth Championships, the Tauranga Youth Cup, the National Open Championships, and the Bay of Plenty Open this year.

Next year, Jade aims to attend the Tenpin Bowling Australia Junior Nationals, Masters, and Presidents Shield.

But her success comes at a cost. Each tournament requires entry fees, plus travel, accommodation, food and bowling equipment costs.

Rachelle said bowling shoes and balls cost anywhere between $400-$500. As Jade grows, she requires shoe and ball upgrades, prompting continuous expenses, Rachelle said.

Unfortunately, grants aren’t available to Jade because she is an individual sports athlete under the age of 16. “There’s just no support out there,” Rachelle said.

Grants that Jade can apply for do not include bowling on their list of applicable sports, her mum said.

Rachelle said when she inquired about these grants, representatives responded with: “Is that a sport?”

Accessible grants would “open the door” and help bowlers of all ages compete, Rachelle said.

She said Jade could potentially receive scholarships to American colleges – but this comes with hurdles too. “A few New Zealanders have gained scholarships over there, and they’ve had to fundraise just to cover costs such as travelling to America and setting themselves up.

“We’ve got no funding, no sponsors,” said Rachelle, who believed the community could “support a young girl’s dream, her passion, and her dedication” by donating via Jade’s Givealittle page at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/jadelang