11 minute read
Australian Open
Australian Open on the national stage
“We went inside and I told him that if we ever got the chance to play together at some stage that would be great, and it has all stemmed from there.”
In keeping with dynamic duos, after such an extended period of time out west, Krstic was finally able to reunite with her best friend and fellow Jackaroo Ellen Ryan for a fruitful fortnight consisting of two finals in the fours and pairs.
Since BPL11, the 27-year-old has been unable to travel outside of Western Australia and it was fair to say the joy was unparalleled to see Ryan and her other friends again.
“Ellen and I speak every day, whether it's messaging or a phone call and it was quite emotional seeing her,” she said.
“We both cried when we said goodbye at the airport because we didn’t know when we were going to see each other again.
The synergy between the pair was on show as they reached the decider in two disciplines, just falling short of a title on both occasions, but Krstic lauds the positivity and confidence that Ryan gave her.
“What helps is that we know each other so well, and it’s so easy.”
“There’s no animosity on the green, she just understands me. Sometimes I lack a little bit of belief in myself but she brings the belief out in me, whether it’s being able to draw a shot and she’ll just tell me that I will draw it and give me that confidence to nail my execution.”
Kristina also made it to the last 8 of the Women’s Singles whilst Lisa Featherby made it to the last 16. Other West Aussies men who were prominent during the Australian Open included Jonathon Davidson from Albany who made to the quarter finals and Blake Nairn from Cambridge who made the last 16 of the Men’s Singles. The Men’s Fours side of Scott Walker (South Perth), Jack East (Osborne Park), Beau Manton (Tweed Heads) and Glenn Pauling (South Perth) made it to the semi finals.
The Australian Open will once again see more new friendships made and old friends reunited when it returns to the Gold Coast from June 11 to 24, 2022, courtesy of support from Tourism and Events Queensland and City of Gold Coast.
• Cody Packer and Matt Johnstone.
• Cody Packer in action.
WA State Team announcement
The State Selection Panel have recently met for the final time to choose the Men’s and Women’s Open State Teams, Over 60’s State Teams and the Under 18’s State Team
Due to the Covid interruptions, it has been over two years since state teams have been away which left the new selection panel with a lot of form to keep an eye on.
A number of debutants have been selected in all the teams with the Men’s Open team having five players wearing the Black and Gold for the first time.
Bowler of the Year Blake Nairn makes his first appearance in the skip position, along with Glenn Pauling playing as a third, Warren Holt and Dale Marsland as seconds and Cameron Harris taking on a lead position.
The Women’s Open team has seen four players added to make their debuts. Donna Blackwell makes her first Side Series in the thirds position along with Country Bowler of the Year Chris Ace-Watson also as a third. Shaan Saunders will step into a second’s spot and Kaitlin Tyrrell makes her debut as a lead.
The Over 60’s Men has seen a number of players come of age in recent times while some have been added through the strength of results. Kevin Pickering, Neville Stevens and Alan Heal all come in as thirds, while Bruce Eagles and Neale Griffin debut as seconds. Jerome Clayton and Greg Taylor will step into the side as leads. The Women’s Over 60’s only made a couple of player changes as they look to take the title they have been so close to in the past. Irene Leahy will play third and Pam Chalmers gets her opportunity as a lead. The Under 18’s team changes quite often as players age out and this side is no exception. With a full compliment of boys but only one girl, we will look to complete the girls team with the help of Bowls Australia and other states. Bowls WA wishes all our representative teams the best of good bowling at the Nationals at Broadbeach Bowling Club from October 2nd to 11th 2021.
Western Australian Men's Open State Team
Open Team Selectors: Kerry Andersen (ch), Pieter Harris, Helen Stevens, Tony Hockey, Therese Hastings
Western Australian Under 18s State Team
Under 18 Selectors: KenPerks, Linda Warburton, Kerry Andersen In conjunction with Bowls Aust, States may combine to form a girls team or girls will be sort form the host state.
Western Australian Women's Open State Team Open Team Selectors: Kerry Andersen (ch), Pieter Harris, Helen Stevens, Tony Hockey, Therese Hastings Western Australian Men's O60s State Team Open Team Selectors: Kerry Andersen (ch), Pieter Harris, Helen Stevens, Tony Hockey, Therese Hastings
Western Australian Women's O60s State Team Open Team Selectors: Kerry Andersen (ch), Pieter Harris, Helen Stevens, Tony Hockey, Therese Hastings
Bowls Forum and AGM Wrap We all need to work more closely for the benefit of Bowls in WA
The Bowls WA Annual General Meeting was held Saturday 31st July at Osborne Park Bowling Club with 50 clubs in attendance. In the absence of Bowls WA President Larry Bandy who is recovery from an operation, the forum and AGM were chaired by Deputy President Doug Kelly. He thanked those in attendance and made a special mention of volunteers both at an Association and club level noting that during these unprecedented times an even greater administrative burden had been placed on the sport and society in general.
Preceding the meeting was a forum which included several important topics. The first of these was the announcement of a Bowls in WA Governance Review which had been commissioned by the Bowls WA Board and steered by appointed Director Brian Lucas. Consultant Peter Minchin and his company Purpose Driven Performance were appointed to conduct a full review of the governance structures and the operational activities of Bowls WA.
The purpose of the Governance Review was to ensure Bowls WA can continue to meet their compliance obligations under law plus enable the sport to continue to meet challenges around membership and the financial impacts of running the sport. In addition, was a focus on effective communication and decision-making processes, ensuring they are still relevant and meet the needs of all stakeholders in the sport.
The review which was the first of its kind since Bowls WA unified in 2004 was fully costed through the Department of Government, Sport and Cultural Industries via grant funding.
Regional Bowls Manager Clive Adams began the presentation with a simple statement… Bowls WA and you, our member clubs, need to work more closely for the benefit of Bowls in WA
Which of course received general agreement of those in attendance. Whilst specific details of the Consultant’s 21 recommendations from the review were not specifically discussed a process was noted that will have Bowls WA and club’s partner to consider the recommendations and agree on a way forward. Whilst some changes may be looked at in the short-term others will take extensive consultation and could occur over several years.
Also part of the forum were several issues raised by clubs. The first of which was the amalgamation of Premier league and 1st White for the Men’s Midweek competition, mainly due to the difficulties of travel required following matches.
A show of hands showed a clear majority towards this change which will now go through the required process with the relevant Bowls WA Committees.
Several notices from clubs also concerned mixed gender Pennants with several different requests bought to the forum. The general feeling amongst those who spoke was that Pennant Bowls in WA would benefit from the future planning of mixed gender competition.
Likewise, this notion is now with Bowls WA to explore further. Finally, there was discussion around the heat rule and how it applied in WA with Dalkeith-Nedlands in particular presenting the case for review.
After a short recess the Annual General Meeting was held with Deputy President Doug acknowledging the attendance of Past President Kerry Andersen, Vice Patron Norma Samuel and the fellow Board members in attendance.
A summation of President Larry Bandy’s report was tabled via Doug who thanked Larry for his diligent work in leading the Board over the past 12 months.
Finance Director Lisa Featherby then gave a detailed account of the finances of Bowls WA making note of several important financial outcomes, including an increase in state competition participation, sponsorship and grants whilst a decrease in several expenses including Bowls Australian affiliation fees and those relating to High Performance with the National Sides Series being cancelled due to Covid. A larger return on investments than expected was also noted in the report.
This led to an initial budget deficit being turned into the already announced $75,000 surplus. Lisa also noted the Auditors report which cited Bowls WA’s accounts to be a fair and true representation with the Association able to meet its obligations as required. Lisa noted that Bowls WA would meet with some financial challenges in the next 12 months having lost a major sponsor in Blooms The Chemist which have now progressed to a National sponsorship of the sport.
The currently predicted outcome for 2021/22 is for a $100,000 deficit, however, as is always the case this is a conservative figure which may improve especially if any new sponsorships take place. Fortunately, Bowls WA is in a very sound financial position with strongly performing assets.
• Retiring Director Debbie Capper and Doug Kelly.
• Continued page 16…
CEO Ken Pride as returning officer for Bowls WA also announced the outcome of the election following expired terms of several positions including the Vice President Doug Kelly and three directors Lisa Featherby, Lee Bunney and Debbie Capper.
Doug Kelly, Lisa Featherby and Lee Bunney all renominated and were elected unopposed along with new Board Director Judy Flanagan from Binningup Bowling Club.
CEO Ken Pride congratulated those four directors on their appointments and welcomed Judy Flanagan to the Board noting her extensive career within sport.
Judy had been the CEO for Volleyball Australia plus held senior management roles at the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport. Following those announcements, a presentation was made to outgoing Director Debbie Capper who was congratulated on her service to Bowls WA.
Debbie noted to those in attendance how rewarding being part of the Bowls WA team had been for her and encouraged others to nominate for roles within Bowls WA especially those at Committee level which are important for the continued success of the sport.
The positions of Patron and Vice Patron were confirmed pending notice from Government House on the continued patronage of the Governor the Honourable Kim Beazley AC. Vice Patron Norma Samuel who was in attendance confirmed her position saying she was very delighted to continue in the role.
No nominations for Life Membership were received by the board nor any Notices of Motion.
Items of General Business included one question from the floor regarding the promotion of the sport, which Chair Doug Kelly confirmed Bowls WA and Bowls Australia were both actively engaged in. Bowls WA had committed to further spending on radio and digital marketing for the Gotta Love the Bowlo Campaign, in peak bowls periods.
This has been strongly complemented by the Ambassadorship role of Brad Hogg who has been successful in helping shift the profile of the sport.
Likewise, Bowls Australia had recently confirmed a commitment of over $600,000 in WA to advertising its national Local Legends campaign.
It was hoped that clubs would be in a strong position to take advantage of these campaigns by supporting them locally to bolster membership and club patronage.
In closing Chairman Doug thanked all for their attendance and for their honest and open feedback and wished all clubs a very successful 2021/22 season.
Based on prestigous events over 3 years MEN
Rank Name Club Total
1 Packer, Cody Osborne Park 337 2 Nairn, Blake Cambridge 299 3 Trewhella, Daniel Scarborough 173 4 Slavich, John Doubleview 146 5 Mitchell, Thomas Manning 137 6 Holt, Warren Wagin 128 6 Marsland, Dale Mosman Park 128 8 Pauling, Glenn South Perth 123 9 Knott, Shane Manning 103 10 Butler, Blake Manning 101 11 Opie, Justin South Perth 99 12 Moyle, Ryan Doubleview 80 13 Bessant, Corey Mt Lawley 79 14 Mitchell, Matthew Emu Point 78 15 Gillingham, Brad North Beach 73 15 Rankin, Dave Kardinya 73 17 Biddle, Connor Osborne Park 71 18 Lander, Chris Sorrento 70 19 Masel, Mark Mt Lawley 67 19 Sinden, Paul Mt Lawley 67
WOMEN
Rank Name Club Total
1 Krstic, Kristina Manning
453 2 Merz, Laura Manning 294 3 Featherby, Lisa Mosman Park 266 4 Packer, Hailey Manning 260 5 Warburton, Linda Mosman Park 217 6 Heal, Helen Manning 192 7 Saunders, Shaan Osborne Park 177 8 Hastings, Therese Guilderton 151 9 Abe, Noelene Corrigin 145 10 O'Brien, Robyn Manning 141 11 Solly, Shari Osborne Park 121 12 Masters, Amanda Osborne Park 115 13 Ace-Watson, Chris Boulder 106 14 Andersen, Kerry Mosman Park 94 15 Chalmers, Pam Osborne Park 78 16 Morss, Helen South Perth 76 17 Poletti, Lee Mosman Park 75 18 Tyrrell, Kaitlin Osborne Park 71 19 Gobbart, Kathy Gingin 54 20 Madigan, Toni Osborne Park 52
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