Van Der Merwe bowls his way to Champion of Champions title

Heidelberg Bowling Club’s Joe van der Merwe produced a superb performance at the 2026 Champion of Champions competition, securing the Men’s Novice Division title after an unbeaten campaign.

Van der Merwe entered the competition as Heidelberg Bowling Club’s Men’s Novice champion and faced the best novice players from bowling clubs across the Ekurhuleni District.

The Champion of Champions competition brings together club winners in the Open, Veterans and Novice divisions, with separate competitions for men and ladies.

Players are drawn into sections and compete against one another, with the section winners advancing to the semi-finals and ultimately the final.

Heidelberg Bowling Club was represented by four players in this year’s competition: Herman van der Merwe in the Men’s Open Division, Christelle Pringle in the Ladies’ Veterans Division, Jaco van Niekerk in the Men’s Veterans Division and Joe van der Merwe in the Men’s Novice Division.

Van der Merwe made an impressive start on September 5, winning all his sectional matches to finish at the top of his section and book his place in the semi-finals. He maintained his momentum on September 6, producing two more composed performances to defeat his opponents in both the semi-final and final.

The victories saw Van der Merwe crowned the 2026 Champion of Champions in the Men’s Novice Division, bringing the prestigious district title back to Heidelberg.

Liesl Jacobs, media manager of Heidelberg Bowling Club, praised Van der Merwe for his consistency and determination throughout the tournament.

“Joe’s performance was exceptional from start to finish. Winning every game on Saturday and then staying focused enough to win both his semi-final and final on Sunday is a remarkable achievement.

“We are incredibly proud of him and what this victory means for Heidelberg Bowling Club. He represented our club with great determination, composure and sportsmanship,” she said.