MAY 2023

500 GAMES FOR AUSTRALIA KELSEY COTTRELL

CONTENTS

Victoria joins the annual QLD vs NSW Junior Test Series

5 UMPIRE

Joan Brotherton discusses laws in the new law book

26 DEVELOPMENT

Editor: Jo Grey

Editorial Assistant: Dee Ayre

Reporters/Photographers: Kelsey Cottrell, Nicole Lawson, Emma Boyd

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club news

30 Catch up on news from clubs across Queensland

34 COACHING

Coach Thorpy gives tips on how to reduce stress

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Bowls Queensland Patron: Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland

LCDR Kate Carriage & Bugler LS Darren Skaar at the 2023 ANZAC Test Series

STATE JUNIOR TRI-SERIES

The annual Junior Test Series between the NSW Junior Blues and Queensland will be contested as a tri-series this year, with Victoria set to compete in the event. The Series will take place at the home of the NSW Junior Blues –Cabra Bowls – from 3rd to the 5th July 2023. The tri-series is an opportunity for some of the best junior bowlers in Australia to go head-to-head and showcase their abilities in the lead up to the Australian U18 Championships held in October this year.

Bowls NSW CEO Tim Rowe is thrilled to see Victoria’s inclusion in the annual series. “It’s fantastic to have Victoria competing in the tri-series. Their inclusion is a welcome boost and will further improve what is already a highquality event.”

Bowls QLD CEO Brett Wilkie shared the same view, stating “Queensland and New South Wales have had some amazing battles over many years in our annual U18 Test Series, and we now welcome the Victorian juniors to this series which will enhance the contest.”

Sixteen players from each state, eight boys and eight girls, will compete in the multi-discipline event which will be live streamed by Bowls NSW. More information on the event, including selected players will be made available closer to the event dates.

Bowls Victoria CEO Tony Sherwill sees Victoria’s inclusion as a big win for all three States. “Bowls Victoria’s juniors are incredibly excited to join New South Wales and Queensland in making this event a tri-series. We see this as a great test for us, coming up against the depth and talent in both NSW and QLD. We look forward to this annual series for many years to come.”

Many players in the current Australian Jackaroos squad are products of the junior bowls system, which makes it even more exciting to see our next generation of bowling superstars take to the greens at Cabra Bowls.

From the President with BQ’s Peter Williamson

I thank all who had input into the decision making for my inclusion as a Life Member of Bowls Queensland. It was a very humbling experience and one I will hold dear in this honour being conferred; as one not expected.

I have been regularly asked questions on unification (amalgamation) and how they affect Constitutions.

Constitutions are important documents. Constitutions are the centre of district and clubs documents and provide their rules.

A good Constitution is paramount to successful outcomes for clubs and districts. They define who the members are and the process by which the organisation is run and elects its leadership.

Constitutions need to be clear about who the members are (surprisingly, this is not always the case) and specifically which members have voting rights. This is important that in an event the constitutional change is required, it should be clear who has the right to vote on such changes.

Members are key stakeholders and play a significant role in governance by receiving reports at the AGM.

At the heart of their role is electing or removing committees, appointing the auditor and maintaining or changing the Constitution.

At all times, legal advice should be sought to ensure the Constitution is acceptable to the Office of Fair Trading Qld.

State Juniors at U18 State Squad Training Camp held at Hamilton Bowls Club in April

Peter Williamson

CEO REPORT

with BQ’s Brett Wilkie

District Sides Championships

This event will be played on the Sunshine Coast from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 6 May. Thank you to host clubs Coolum Beach, Club Maroochy, Club Kawana, The Waves Caloundra and Tewantin Noosa Bowls Clubs.

Well done to all selected players on representing their respective districts. This event is the highlight of the year for many bowlers, where they represent their local district, catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Thank you to the Sunshine Coast Council and Australian Secure Capital Fund (ASCF) for sponsoring these Championships. ASCF is a Brisbane-based fund manager operating three pooled mortgage investment funds, which each offer different rates of return to investors. ASCF is also a new advertiser in the QLD Bowler Magazine (see page 7 alongside).

QLD State Championships

This event including Singles, Pairs, Mixed Pairs, Triples and Fours will run from Monday 8 to Sunday 21 May at various clubs in the Sunshine Coast District, with all finals held at the Coolum Beach Bowls Club. Thank you to the Sunshine Coast Council and Coolum Beach BC for their support of these championships. Winners of all events, except the Over 60 Pairs, will advance to the Australian Championships in Perth during October.

Thank you to our State Championship event sponsors, who all have returned this year after sponsoring last year’s events:

• Henselite: Men’s & Women’s Singles & Fours Henselite are long term supporters of bowls in Queensland and return to sponsor these events. Henselite is also sponsoring the State Champion of Champion Singles this year (2023).

• Nic Fisher/Harcourts Nundah: Men’s & Women’s Triples & Mixed Pairs

Nic returns for his third year sponsoring these events after recently joining forces with Harcourts Real Estate. Although based in Nundah, Nic is regularly on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts where he has many clients.

• Identified Services: Open & Over 60 Men’s & Women’s Pairs

Identified Services is a cleaning and maintenance service for hospitality venues and schools throughout Southeast QLD, including the

Broadbeach Bowls Club. It is managed by ex QLD Origin Rugby League star, Kevin Campion.

Live Streaming

Every day of the State District Sides and State Championships will be live streamed on the Bowls QLD Website, Facebook and YouTube.

Bowls QLD Committees

Expressions of interest to nominate for the following Bowls QLD Committees are open:

• Coaching

• Match

• Selection

• Umpire Committees

Nominations close on June 9. The term for these roles will be one year commencing on July 1. Thank you to our current committee members for their contribution to bowls in QLD.

ANZAC Test

Congratulations to our BQ President’s XII who defeated the Australian Defence Force Bowls Team in this series. This event was once again played in great spirits. Thank you to Capalaba Sports Club for hosting and the ADF Bowlers for another hard fought series.

QLD Representative Team Trials

This trial went well in April with players being considered for the Open, Under 25, 40-59 and Over 60 age groups to represent QLD in 2023. Thank you to Club Tweed for their support of this event.

QLD Junior Training Camp

Sixteen juniors were invited to attend a QLD training camp in April at the Hamilton Bowls Club. Well done to all juniors on the way they committed themselves. Thank you to Christina Pavlov, Alan Thorp and Lynsey Clarke for facilitating this camp, also to those who assisted and Hamilton for hosting.

Australian Indoor Singles Qualifying

The men’s qualifying will be held on May 27-28 and the women’s event will be held on June 3-4. This event will be held at Tweed Heads and Paradise Point Bowls Clubs.

World Bowls Championships and National Pathways Event

Well done to all selected to be involved in these events on the Gold Coast, especially our QLD stars.

Brett Wilkie

Proudly sponsored by

ANZAC TEST SERIES

Congratulations to the Bowls Queensland President’s XII on winning the eighth ANZAC Test Series against the Australian Defence Force played at Capalaba Sports Club on April 21-22. This series is a special event on the Bowls QLD calendar, showcasing the true spirit of mateship. It commenced with a Wreath Laying Ceremony on the Friday as a mark of respect to our service men and women, with bugler Leading Seaman (LS) Darren Skaar playing the haunting Last Post. Each side was comprised of 12 players.

The first test of the ‘best of three’ event commenced following the ceremony, with the second and third tests being played on the Saturday. The first test on the Friday saw BQ having a 15 point lead. However, the ADF team brought things back into line with a neck-and-neck score line of 56-all at the exciting finish of the second test. By the third test, the BQ team upped the ante and proved too strong against the competition and took home the shield.

THE TESTS

Test 1 was anyone’s guess after the first quarter of the game was looking like BQ had it in the bag with two of the three rinks ahead of the ADF. The skipping Nelson brothers were on fire with their two teams, both well ahead of their competitors, until the ADF responded and the tide of the game changed. Wilkie’s team was off to a slow start in the first half, but levelled out before the third quarter of the game, responding to the ADF’s climbing shots for the rest of the game, until it reached the crescendo of 16-16 in the 20th end. Wilkie’s team triumphed with rink score of 17-16, too close for comfort. Kane Nelson skipped his team to an 11-shot lead after 15 ends, while Jacob Nelson’s team was 7 shots ahead after the 17th end. The Nelson brothers kept the momentum going with each of their teams, staying ahead and closing with a 23-15 win for Kane Nelson’s team, while Jacob Nelson’s team ended with a 20-14 win.

The first six ends in Test 2 were in BQ’s favour, with Brett Wilkie and Jacob Nelson’s team ahead by two and four respectively, while LCDR Kate Carriage’s team were holding up the ADF’s flag right from the get go and were three ahead with an 8-5 lead. BQ lost it’s lead in all three rinks by the end of the first half, with the ADF leading 38-29. The ADF kept ahead until the 50th end after BQ crawled to an equal shot count of 44-all. It was a volley until the final end, with a total score of 56-all. Only Kane Nelson’s rink finished this test ahead for BQ, ending with 21-15 in BQ’s favour.

BQ claimed the lead early in Test 3, staying ahead throughout the match right from the start, determined to hang onto the title they have held each year except for when the ADF won the Test Series in 2015.

For BQ President, Peter Williamson, the event is one of split loyalties as he himself is ex-Navy. “This is a healthy, competitive event which brings the ADF into part of the Bowls Queensland community for a short time,” he said.

CPO Phil Black said the event started off as a little thing but has got bigger. “The biggest thing about this event is the camaraderie, which gets stronger and stronger every year,” said CPO Black. “We have new players this year who have blended in. The spirit on the green, it’s competitive but when you get out there after the game the camaraderie shown by everyone around you is just fantastic,” he said. “It’s a bonus for us in that we get another chance to commemorate those who haven’t come home, or those who have come home and aren’t quite right. This is an event that ADF bowls holds in the highest esteem and hopefully it continues for many years to come.”

PRESIDENT’S XII QLd Team

Amy Evans, Gail Crompton, John Hammond, Brett Wilkie (sk)

Kerry Flint, Pamela Rowe, Robert Hammond, Jacob Nelson (sk)

Olivia Rothwell, Don Currie, Ty Jesberg, Kane Nelson (sk)

ADFLB Team

PO Kaitlin Shaw, LS Anita Jenkins, CPO Steve Adams, CPO Phil Black (sk)

PO Jason Smith, WO2 Aleck McCloskey, PO Luke Piper, LCDR Kate Carriage (sk)

LTCOL Murray Lott, WO1 Mick Carley, FLGOFF Daniel Johnson, SGT Gerard Harkins (sk)

RESULTS

TEST 1 - Bowls QLD President’s XII 60 defeated Australian Defence Force 45

• PO Kaitlin Shaw, LS Anita Jenkins, CPO Steve Adams, CPO Phil Black 16 lost to Amy Evans, Gail Crompton, John Hammond, Brett Wilkie 17

• PO Jason Smith, WO2 Aleck McCloskey, PO Luke Piper, LCDR Kate Carriage 14 lost to Kerry Flint, Pamela Rowe, Robert Hammond, Jacob Nelson 20

• LTCOL Murray Lott, WO1 Mick Carley, FLGOFF Daniel Johnson, SGT Gerard Harkins 15 lost to Olivia Rothwell, Don Currie, Ty Jesberg, Kane Nelson 23

TEST 2 – Bowls QLD President’s XII 56 drew with Australian Defence Force 56

• Amy Evans, Gail Crompton, John Hammond, Brett Wilkie 20 lost to LTCOL Murray Lott, WO1 Mick Carley, FLGOFF Daniel Johnson, SGT Gerard Harkins 24

• Kerry Flint, Pamela Rowe, Robert Hammond, Jacob Nelson 15 lost to PO Kaitlin Shaw, LS Anita Jenkins, CPO Steve Adams, CPO Phil Black 17

• Olivia Rothwell, Don Currie, Ty Jesberg, Kane Nelson 21 def PO Jason Smith, WO2 Aleck McCloskey, PO Luke Piper, LCDR Kate Carriage 15

TEST 3 - Bowls QLD President’s XII 78 def Australian Defence Force 36

• Amy Evans, Gail Crompton, John Hammond, Brett Wilkie 23 def PO Jason Smith, WO2 Aleck McCloskey, PO Luke Piper, LCDR Kate Carriage 13

• Kerry Flint, Pamela Rowe, Robert Hammond, Jacob Nelson 26 def LTCOL Murray Lott, WO1 Mick Carley, FLGOFF Daniel Johnson, SGT Gerard Harkins 8

• Olivia Rothwell, Don Currie, Ty Jesberg, Kane Nelson 29 def PO Kaitlin Shaw, LS Anita Jenkins, CPO Steve Adams, CPO Phil Black 15

TOTAL TEST SERIES RESULT: Bowls QLD Presidents XII 2.5 Tests def Australian Defence Force 0.5 Tests

You can watch the live streams of each test on the BQ website. Thanks to Capalaba Sports Club for hosting this event.

BQ President Peter Williamson with CPO Phil Black

BQ’s Alan Thorp with CPO Phil Black Skips Brett Wilkie, Jacob Nelson & Kane Nelson

Skips Brett Wilkie, Jacob Nelson, Kane Nelson, CPO Phil Black, LCDR Kate Carriage & SGT Gerard Harkins

QUEENSLANDERS SHINE AT MULTI-NATIONS

March 25-31, Gold Coast

By Kelsey Cottrell

The Gold Coast Multi-Nations was geared up as a final chance for seven nations to come together and do battle on the very greens they will meet on again in August this year, when the sport’s pinnacle event, the World Bowls Championships, hits the Coast. With all the competing countries using the Gold Coast MultiNations as a selection tool, there was a lot riding on the results for players if they were to get the nod from their respective selection panels.

When there was a last-minute withdrawal by Malaysia, tournament officials were quick to ask Bowls Queensland if they would like the opportunity to field a 10-person side to take on the best players in the world. BQ jumped at the chance.

“Bowls Queensland felt it was a great opportunity for our up-and-coming players to have a strong hit out against players from various nations and a valuable experience for them all we just couldn’t pass up,” BQ CEO Brett Wilkie said. “The players we selected had all been performing well domestically and deserved the opportunity to represent Queensland, and we also felt this would provide valuable and memorable experience for them to advance their promising bowls’ futures.”

Tasked with the job of competing on the international stage was a wealth of young talent we have homegrown here in Queensland. Many of them already identified as future Australian Jackaroos as members of the National Emerging Squad or Pathways Squad.

The coveted singles positions were awarded to Kira Bourke (Tweed Heads) and Nick Cahill (Broadbeach), who both did a magnificent job.

Queensland medal winners L-R: Jacob Nelson, Kane Nelson, Kira Bourke, Nick Cahill, Chris Rosanes & Cohen Litfin

Kira Bourke took down some big scalps in sectional play including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen Ryan (Australia) and South African Colleen Piketh. Unfortunately, Ryan got her revenge in the semi-final but Bourke went on to win the bronze medal playoff against Norfolk Island’s Shae Wilson to cap off a great individual performance.

Nick Cahill went one step further, qualifying in top spot in the men’s section and defeating Commonwealth Games silver medallist Gary Kelly from Northern Ireland in the semi-final, setting up a juicy Australia versus Queensland encounter for gold.

Australian Jackaroo Aaron Teys was too good on this occasion, finding a way to beat our previously undefeated Queenslander in a match played in the greatest of sportsmanship, with a balcony full of Broadbeach locals cheering for their Bulls (both Teys and Cahill represent Broadbeach in the QLD Premier League).

Kane and Jacob Nelson (Belmont Services) are names we hear a lot of here in Queensland, and along with Chris Rosanes (Club Pine Rivers) and Cohen Litfin (Algester Sports), our men’s side was looking threatening in the competition.

Qualifying for a further three semi-finals, Queensland claimed another two silvers (pairs and triples), and a bronze medal (fours) to add to their impressive haul. A super effort for a non-international side.

The girls didn’t walk away with as much bling around their necks, but they certainly gained experience that will hold them in good stead the next time they wear our maroon colours. Isabella Lawson (Broadbeach), Amanda Haevecker (Club Helensvale), Jacinta Weier (Hamilton) and Pamela (Pam) Rowe (Hamilton) were gallant in defeat during the team events.

“It was an amazing experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to feel what it would be like to represent Australia at an international event,” said current Queensland representative Pam Rowe. “We went in open-minded knowing we just needed to give it all we had and enjoy the event; we were happy to be

competitive, but results didn’t always go the way we would have liked; we did have a draw with Australia Yellow in the triples, which I think showed us all we’re capable of matching it with the elite players,” she said.

“It was amazing to see our Queensland boys and Kira come away with medals, it was brilliant bowls. “The camaraderie and sportsmanship between the nations was great to see as well.”

The success of our Queensland Team shows us our sport in the Sunshine State is in great hands, but also demonstrates the amazing depth of talent the Australian selectors have to choose from when players outside of the Jackaroos Squad can be extremely competitive on the international stage.

A big congratulations to all 10 players and to our coaches/managers Alan Thorp, Christina Pavlov and Brad Harris who were behind the rinks for all their matches.

Kira Bourke with Phyllis Wong (Hong Kong)

Amanda Haevecker, Jacinta Weier, Isabella Lawson & Pamela Rowe

While the Queenslanders were busy claiming their titles, the Right at Home Jackaroos concluded the 2023 Multi-Nations by capturing a plethora of medals, including seven gold.

The blue-ribboned singles events were staged in the final session of the tournament, and Aaron Teys ensured that he would avenge his sectional defeat at the hands of Nick Cahill by storming to a 21-14 victory in the decider. Ellen Ryan‘s fine singles form continued in the women’s event, adding a Multi-Nations singles gold to her growing CV, besting fellow Australian Kelsey Cottrell 21-11 in the final.

It was an Australia vs Australia affair in the women’s fours final, with the Yellow team of Kylie Whitehead, Kristina Krstic, Lynsey Clarke and Natasha Van Eldik getting over the top of Green’s Jamie-Lee Worsnop, Bolivia Millerick, Chloe Stewart and Dawn Hayman in a last-bowl thriller of a final.

The morning session kickstarted the day in fine fashion for the Australians, as Jesse Noronha, Cody Packer, Carl Healey and Aron Sherriff overcame New Zealand’s Tony Grantham, Chris Le Lievre, Lance Pascoe and Ray Martin 20-11. Elsewhere, Australia Green’s Jamie Lee Worsnop and Dawn Hayman overcame Yellow’s Commonwealth Games winning pair in Kristina Krstic and Ellen Ryan 22-10 to don the bronze medal.

Women’s triples action saw another all Australian bronze playoff as Green’s Bolivia Millerick, Chloe Stewart and Kelsey Cottrell took down Yellow’s Kylie Whitehead, Lynsey Clarke and Natasha Van Eldik by eight shots for the final medal.

The second session saw more gold for the Jackaroos as Australian teams faced off once more in the men’s para pairs decider, with Green’s Tony Bonnell and Chris Flavel getting the better of Damien Delgado and James Reynolds 16-10.

The women’s para pairs saw Australia Green’s Commonwealth Games silver medallists in Cheryl Lindfield and Serena Bonnell secure the title with a 14-9 victory over New Zealand’s Julie O’Connell and Teri Blackbourn in the decider, while Louise Hoskins and Jo Hunter edged Hong Kong by a solitary shot to clinch bronze.

Men’s triples was next on the agenda as Australia Green’s Barrie Lester, Matt Lucas and Corey Wedlock edged Queensland’s Chris Rosanes, Jacob Nelson and Kane Nelson 18-16 in a closely fought encounter. Noronha, Healey and Sherriff would collect their second medal of the day, defeating South Africa 26-17 in the bronze medal playoff.

The vision impaired mixed pairs saw South Africa’s May Homer and Herman Scholtz defeat Australia Yellow’s Jaqueline Hudson and Jake Fehlberg 21-7 to take home the gold, while Green’s Helen Boardman and Fred McConnell claimed bronze with a 20-13 victory against Hong Kong’s Man Ka Chan and Iron Long Tsz Tang.

QUEENSLAND PLACINGS AT MULTI-NATIONS

WOMEN PLACE

SINGLES Kira Bourke Bronze medal

PAIRS Isabella Lawson Amanda Haevecker 5th

TRIPLES Kira Bourke Jacinta Weier Pamela Rowe 7th

FOURS Isabella Lawson Jacinta Weier Amanda Haevecker Pamela Rowe 5th

MEN

SINGLES Nick Cahill Silver medal

PAIRS Nick Cahill Cohen Litfin Silver medal

TRIPLES Chris Rosanes Jacob Nelson Kane Nelson Silver medal

FOURS Chris Rosanes Jacob Nelson Kane Nelson Cohen Litfin Bronze medal

AUSTRALIAN MEDAL TALLY

Men’s Singles:

Gold: Aaron Teys (Australia Yellow)

Silver: Nick Cahill (Queensland)

Women’s Singles:

Gold: Ellen Ryan (Australia Yellow)

Silver: Kelsey Cottrell (Australia Green)

Bronze: Kira Bourke (Queensland)

Men’s Pairs:

Silver: Nick Cahill & Cohen Litfin (Queensland)

Women’s Pairs:

Bronze: Jamie Lee Worsnop & Dawn Hayman (Australia Green)

Men’s Triples:

Gold: Barrie Lester, Matt Lucas & Corey Wedlock (Australia Green)

Silver: Chris Rosanes, Jacob Nelson & Kane Nelson (Queensland)

Bronze: Jesse Noronha, Carl Healey & Aron Sherriff (Australia Yellow)

Women’s Triples:

Bronze: Bolivia Millerick, Chloe Stewart & Kelsey Cottrell (Australia Green)

Men’s Fours:

Gold: Jesse Noronha, Cody Packer, Carl Healey & Aron Sherriff (Australia Yellow)

Bronze: Chris Rosanes, Jacob Nelson, Kane Nelson & Cohen Litfin (Queensland)

Women’s Fours:

Gold: Kylie Whitehead, Kristina Krstic, Lynsey Clarke & Natasha Van Eldik (Australia Yellow)

Silver: Jamie-Lee Worsnop, Bolivia Millerick, Chloe Stewart & Dawn Hayman (Australia Green)

Para Men’s Pairs

Gold: Tony Bonnell & Chris Flavel (Australia Green)

Silver: Damien Delgado & James Reynolds (Australia Yellow)

Para Women’s Pairs:

Gold: Cheryl Lindfield & Serena Bonnell (Australia Green)

Bronze: Louise Hoskins & Jo Hunter (Australia Yellow)

Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs:

Silver: Jaqueline Hudson & Jake Fehlberg (Australia Yellow)

Bronze: Helen Boardman & Fred McConnell (Australia Green)

Final medal tally

Australia Yellow 4 Gold; 2 Silver; 2 Bronze

Australia Green 3 Gold; 2 Silver; 3 Bronze

Queensland 3 Silver; 2 Bronze

500 Games for Australia Kelsey Cottrell

Kelsey Cottrell, now the second most capped player in Australian history, played her 500th game representing her country on April 4, 2023 at her home club, Club Helensvale.

Surpassing legends such as Kelvin Kerkow, Steve Glasson and Rex Johnson, Kelsey is second only to Karen Murphy’s 674 international appearances. Kelsey says she’s not concerned if she surpasses Karen Murphy as there’s always others on their way up the ladder. “I’m not concerned if I make it past Karen Murphy because I think there are so many talented young guns coming through the ranks,” she said. “With so many more opportunities to play for Australia these days, even if I did surpass Karen it would only be a matter of time before others chased me down!”

Representing Australia for her 500th international appearance was very special, and she was presented her cap at Club Helensvale in front of friends and family just before the game. “I didn’t think I’d make my 500th game due to a little thing called Covid and two precious little girls later!” she said. “It was fitting playing my 500th game at Helensvale as this is my club and will always be my home.”

Kelsey didn’t feel any more pressure than any other game wearing the green and gold; however, said she was probably more disappointed than normal to lose in a close game that could have gone either way.

“I’d normally move on quicker and focus on the next game but I did dwell for a quite a while!” she said.

Kelsey started playing bowls in 2001 with her mum, Marilyn Clayton, a former Queensland representative and State Champion. The pair started bowls at Tewantin Noosa Bowls Club and played regularly at Coolum Beach.

Marilyn has been Kelsey’s support and cheerleader from the beginning, getting her into bowls and driving her around to various events.

“I get really emotional talking about mum when it comes to bowls,” Kelsey said. “Bowls was my mum’s life; she loved playing the sport and she loved coming to watch me. Her holidays were my international bowls events! “

Kelsey with the Commonwealth Games Baton in 2022

Sadly, Marilyn suffered a brain aneurysm when Kelsey was 36 weeks pregnant with her first child.

“Mum was supposed to be my babysitter rink-side, but unfortunately life has changed dramatically for our family,” she said. “I know mum gets a lot of enjoyment watching me bowl on any live stream games so now that’s one of my main goals, to play events where there is live streaming and do well enough to actually feature at the pointy end! It’s a great way for her to still feel part of what I’m doing.”

Kelsey’s dual career has gone down a few different paths. With encouragement from her mum, her early start with bowls in 2001 as a junior on the Sunshine Coast gained her considerable media attention. This led her to want to be a sports journalist by the time she was in Year 11 at school.

the support crew

Kelsey with her mum, Marilyn Clayton, who is a former Queensland

State Representative and State Champion

Kelsey with her partner, Andrew Howie and their two young daughters

Sue Howie (pictured) and Graeme Howie (Andrew’s parents) help with looking after the children

The years 2007 and 2008 were big for Kelsey as she was in the Australian Squad, with selection in many international events, giving her a wonderful inroad to the world of sport.

It was exciting for a teenager to have the opportunity to win prize money at Grand Prix events all over the country. By nature, she was very studious and always loved school, even thinking she was going to be a school teacher for a while.

However, she also enjoyed bowls, travelling and had a taste for elite sporting events. She feels lucky to have people in her life who had been in similar situations and her school was very supportive.

Playing for Australia at the age of 15 is quite a feat. The Queensland Bowler asked Kelsey what she would say to her 15-year-old self if she had the chance.

“I think the 15-year-old me was pretty mature for my age and already telling myself all the right things at that point in my career. Like ‘enjoy these moments because there will be times when it won’t come this easily. Work harder and harder to be the best you can be’.”

“I was really lucky to have some great influences in my life back then who helped me deal with everything that was happening so quickly!” she said.

“I do wish I had known for sure how long I’d play for Australia, because I probably would have taken more time for me, the non-bowler me, over the years.

“I missed out on a lot to play for Australia and make bowls a career for a good 10 years.

“I’ve just come back from having three years off international competition; during that time I feared I’d lose my skills if I stepped away from the game for too long, but I’ve managed to prove myself wrong!

“So, I should have taken more holidays before I had kids, because holidays with kids are exhausting!” she laughed.

We asked Kelsey what was next for her, the next big thing, the holy grail?

“World Championships in August/September this year has been a dream for a long time,” she said. “This event was postponed due to COVID and was potentially going to be my swan song back then.

“I was pregnant with my second child and becoming more focussed on my career away from the greens.

“I won gold in 2012 in Adelaide and gold at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, both those events were extra special having so much support from the grandstands.

“Winning on home soil in front of family and friends would be so special.”

KELSEY COTTRELL’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYING ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2023 Multi-Nations – Silver – Singles

• 2023 Multi-Nations – Bronze – Triples

• 2020 Trans Tasman – Overall Team/Overall Women’s Champion

• 2019 Trans Tasman – Overall Team/Overall Women’s Champion

• 2019 Multi-Nations – Overall Team/Overall Women’s Champion

• 2019 Multi-Nations – Silver – Fours

• 2019 Multi-Nations – Bronze – Pairs

• 2019 Asia Pacific Championships – Overall Team/Overall Women’s Champion

• 2019 Asia Pacific Championships – Gold – Pairs

• 2018 Commonwealth Games – Gold – Fours

• 2018 10 Nations International – Bronze – Fours

• 2018 10 Nations International – Gold – Pairs

• 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations – Gold – Fours

• 2016 World Bowls Championships – Gold – Fours

• 2016 Six Nations International- Gold – Pairs

• 2015 Asia Pacific Championships – Gold – Pairs, Fours

• 2014 Hong Kong Classic – Silver – Pairs

• 2014 Commonwealth Games – Silver – Triples

• 2013 Hong Kong Invitational Classic – Gold – Pairs

• 2012 World Championships – Gold – Pairs

• 2012 SA International Series – Gold – Singles

• 2012 SA International Series – Silver – Pairs

• 2012 SA International Series – Overall Team Champion

• 2011 Asia Pacific Championships – Overall Women’s Champion

• 2011 Asia Pacific Championships – Gold – Triples

• 2011 Asia Pacific Championships – Silver – Singles

• 2010 Commonwealth Games – Bronze – Singles

• 2010 Eight-Nation Test Event – Silver – Singles

• 2009 Asia Pacific Championships – Silver – Triples

• 2009 Asia Pacific Championships – Bronze – Singles

• 2009 World Champion of Champions – Gold – Singles

• 2008 World Championships – Silver – Triples

• 2008 World Championships – Bronze – Singles

• 2008 Trans Tasman – Overall Team/Overall Women’s Champion

• 2007 Asia Pacific Championships – Silver – Triples

• 2007 Asia Pacific Championships – Bronze – Fours

NATIONAL PLAYING ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 2022 Australian Championships – Gold – Singles

• 2022 Australian Championships – Bronze – Mixed Pairs

• 2022 Bowls Australia Female Bowler of the Year

• 2022 Australian Sides Championships – Silver

• 2022 Australian Open MVP

• 2022 Australian Open – Gold – Singles

• 2022 Australian Open – Gold – Fours

• 2022 Bowls Premier League (BPL14) All Star team member

• 2021 Australian Championships – Gold – Pairs

• 2021 Australian Open MVP

• 2021 Australian Open – Gold – Fours

• 2021 Australian Open – Gold – Pairs

• 2019 Australian Open – Gold Fours

• 2018 Australian Championships – Gold – Pairs

• 2018 Bowls Premier League (BPL08) Champion (Brisbane Pirates)

• 2014 Australian Open – Gold – Fours

• 2013 Australian Open – Gold – Pairs

• 2013 Super 6 – Gold – Singles

• 2012 Australian Open – Gold – Triples

• 2011 Australian Open – Gold – Triples

• 2009 Australian Open – Gold – Singles

• 2007 Queensland Open – Gold – Singles

• 2007 NSW Open – Gold – Singles

• 2007 Australian Indoor Championships – Silver

squads for national pathways EVENT ANNOUNCED

By Val Febbo, Bowls Australia

The next generation of Australian bowls talent will be on full display at the National Pathways Event, with confirmation of the four squads of young stars set to battle it out on the Gold Coast in July.

Four teams will converge on the Sunshine State, with each consisting of seven players across the Right at Home Emerging, Pathways and Para Jackaroos squads. The event will simulate international formats in order to give the next generation of bowlers a chance to hone their skills in the same conditions that have seen the greats before them flourish.

Team One boasts an in-form line-up, with Queensland’s Kira Bourke one of the headlines after a magnificent Multi-Nations campaign where she would clinch a bronze medal in the women’s singles event. Joining Bourke is Victoria’s Sophie Kurzman, who recently claimed the women’s triples title at the Victorian Open with Kate Argent Bowden and Triss Doolan. Cohen Litfin will line up with the pair, also in ominous form following an exemplary opening three months of 2023 in which he and Nathan Black clinched the division one title at the Burnside Pairs before going on to take a silver and bronze at the Multi-Nations a fortnight ago. Victoria’s Tyson Cromie and South Australian Tyson Wilson have also been included in the team. The para contingent in the squad will be Western Australia’s Calvin Rodgers and Victoria’s Lucas Protopapas.

Team Two sees Litfin’s Burnside Pairs partner in Black named in the line-up alongside his fellow South Australian in Grace Moloney, who will also be participating in next month’s World Bowls Indoor Championships in Warilla. Emerging Jackaroos Jessie Cottell and Beau Prideaux will join the contingent, with Cottell herself no stranger to the national stage having helped the Melbourne eXtreme to the BPL15 final last year as a mid-tournament fill in and reaching the women’s pairs semifinal at the 2022 Australian Open. Western Australian Jack East is the final member of the open contingent, with the para duo of Victoria’s Alison East and Queensland’s Brett Sellars rounding out the lineup.

Team Three will boast the experience of ACT stalwart Chloe Morrison, who has represented her state at an abundance of tournaments on the national scale. Morrison will be joined in the squad by Queensland Pathways Jackaroo Kane Nelson, who was another dual medallist at the Multi-Nations with a silver in the men’s triples and a bronze in the fours. Tasmania’s Lauren Banks has been named in the team, with the

Kira Bourke

Cohen Litfin

Brett Sellars

Cooper Whitestyles

Nick Cahill

Jessie Cottell

Chris Rosanes

Kane Nelson

21-year-old bringing some significant national experience to the side having already won a silver medal at the Australian Championships.

In addition, Banks will be taking part in next month’s World Bowls Indoor Championships at Warilla. New South Wales’ Michael Phillips and Victorian Brendan Gallagher round out the open players, and will be joined by para bowlers Matt Barrie and Cooper Whitestyles. Whitestyles claimed the men’s para pairs title with Damien Delgado at the 2022 Australian Open and will bring an abundance of confidence to the event. Team Four consists of a star-studded line-up including an in-form Nick Cahill, who took home a silver medal in the men’s singles at the Multi-Nations, to Aaron Teys in the decider. Cahill also represented Australia at the World Bowls Under-25 Indoor Championships in December where he claimed a pair of silver medals, and joining him on that tour was Brianna Smith who herself secured the women’s singles title in the UK. Smith and Cahill will again be teammates on the Gold Coast, and joining them will be Queensland’s Chris Rosanes, who is no stranger to high level events having played in four Bowls Premier Leagues for the Moreton Bay Pirates. Rosanes, like Nelson and Litfin, was another dual medallist at the Multi-Nations with a silver in the triples and a bronze in the fours.

Former Australian Championships gold medallist Kate Matthews has also been included in the squad, as has Kyle Hansen to round out the open members of the team. 2022 Australian Multi-Disability Championships Clover Lester Encouragement Award recipient Jodie Nikolic has been named within the team, as has Victorian Josh Barry, to make up the para component of the lineup.

National Coach Gary Willis is looking forward to the event and the experience it will give to some of the future Australian stars of the sport. “This National Pathways Event is something we have looked forward to for a really long time – we can’t wait to give Australia’s next generation the chance to excel in conditions similar to the sport’s showpiece tournaments,” Willis said. “The teams are all evenly matched and it will be interesting to see how they all mix and gel together in their pursuit of success. When looking at the players selected, it is hard not to get excited for the future of the sport across the nation, with an abundance of talent scattered across the entire field.”

The National Pathways Event runs from July 11-13, 2023, on the Gold Coast. Full teams below:

Team One:

Kira Bourke (QLD)

Sophie Kurzman (VIC

Tyson Cromie (VIC)

Tyson Wilson (SA)

Cohen Litfin (QLD)

Calvin Rodgers (Para WA)

Lucas Protopapas (Para VIC)

Team Two:

Grace Moloney (SA)

Jessie Cottell (NSW)

Jack East (WA)

Beau Prideaux (NSW)

Nathan Black (SA)

Alison East (Para VIC)

Brett Sellars (Para QLD)

Team Three:

Chloe Morrison (ACT)

Lauren Banks (TAS)

Michael Phillips (NSW)

Kane Nelson (QLD)

Brendan Gallagher (VIC)

Matt Barrie (Para ACT)

Cooper Whitestyles (Para QLD)

Team Four:

Kate Matthews (NSW)

Brianna Smith (NSW)

Chris Rosanes (QLD)

Nick Cahill (QLD)

Kyle Hansen (NSW)

Jodie Nikolic (Para WA)

Josh Barry (Para VIC)

The Queensland Representative Team Trials were held in April at Club Tweed. Players were considered for the Open, Under 25, 40-59 and Over 60 age groups to represent QLD in 2023.

Thank you to Club Tweed for their support of this event.

QLD Representative Team Trials

Umpire with Joan Brotherton

Changes to the laws of bowls: New law book released

We have a busy month ahead with the State District Sides and State Championships being played on the Sunshine Coast as you receive the May Bowler. I wish you all the best and, most of all, enjoy your bowls.

As the new Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition will be used, I will continue to advise the various law changes or comments in future columns.

Last month, I covered Laws 37.1.3 and 37.1.5.3. These two laws involved a bowl in its original course deliberately displaced, or stopped, by a member of the team who delivered the bowl, and a player lifting a bowl at rest on their rink to allow their team’s bowl in its original course to pass.

The laws when you can stop a bowl legally are:

Law 37.6 – Bowl displacement by a bowl from a neighbouring rink:

37.6.1: If a bowl at rest on the rink is in danger of being moved by a bowl from a neighbouring rink, any player at the head must choose whether to:

37.6.1.1: lift the bowl at rest to allow the other bowl to pass and then replace it, as long as this action would not influence the outcome of the head; or

37.6.1.2: stop the bowl from the neighbouring rink. (This is the law I suggest you use).

37.6.2: If, during a Singles game, a bowl at rest on the rink is in danger of being moved by a bowl from a neighbouring rink, the marker must stop the bowl from the neighbouring rink.

37.6.3: If a bowl that has been stopped was in its original course and was delivered on a bias that would have taken it back into its rink of play, it must be replayed.

Two other new laws that many players would need to be aware of that can affect their games are:

Law 5 – Starting the game:

5.1: Trial ends:

5.1.1: Before the start of play in any game, or before continuing an unfinished game on another day, one trial end must be played in each direction. At the discretion of the Controlling Body, trial ends may also be permitted when an interrupted game has been moved between a vegetation surface and a synthetic or indoor surface.

Law 29.3 – Changing bowls:

29.3.1: If a player changes their set of bowls during an uninterrupted game, or during a game that has been stopped as described in law 33 and continued on the same day, the game must be forfeited to the opponent unless:

29.3.1.1: the player changes their set because a bowl has been damaged (see law 31); or

29.3.1.2: the game has been moved between a vegetation surface and a synthetic or indoor surface.

Law 37.6.1.2 - bowl from a neighbouring rink being stopped by player at the head.

New law book: Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition

Therefore, if a game is unfinished, interrupted and continued on the same day and moved to a vegetation surface, synthetic or indoor surface – two trial ends and change of bowls is now allowed. Another law that is important and needs to be observed is:

Law 13 – Possession of the rink:

13.1: Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played.

13.2: As soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink will transfer to the opposing player or

team after allowing for marking a toucher as soon as it comes to rest.

13.3: A player must not deliver a bowl before the previous bowl comes to rest and possession of the rink has transferred to the opposing player or team.

13.4: If the umpire, either by their own observation or an appeal by one of the skips or opponents in singles, decides that a player has delivered a bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest, or the players in possession of the rink are being interfered with, moved or distracted in any way by their opponents,

13.4.1: the first time this happens the umpire must:

13.4.1.1: warn the offending player, while the skip is present, and

13.4.1.2: tell the coach, if they are present, that the player has received a warning.

13.4.2: on each occasion after this, the umpire must have the bowl last played by the offending player or team declared dead. If that bowl has disturbed the head, the opposing skip or opponent in singles must choose whether to:

13.4.2.1: replace the head.

13.4.2.2: leave the head as altered, or declare the end dead.

I hope that the above new laws explain the changes and all members understand what is required. I will continue to update this column in Queensland Bowler magazine in the months ahead, so all members are aware and are updated on all the new laws. Please do not hesitate to contact the BQ Umpire Committee if there are any queries or issues with which you need assistance.

Law 13.3 - A player must not deliver a bowl before the previous bowl comes to rest and possession of the rink has transferred to the opposing player or team. Player should not even be on the mat as the other player has just finished her delivery.

Development with Nick Twining

The evolution of the world and how our sport fits into it

The world as we know it has evolved quite quickly in the years following the initial COVID lockdowns, where we found our clubs closed for the best part of three months. Some of these forced changes proved, not only to the outside world, but to bowlers afraid of change, that change is not necessarily a bad thing.

The world learned about QR codes during this time, which were used for “checking into” licensed premises, health care facilities and many other places during the aftermath of the pandemic. I have seen clubs using QR codes for some quite clever reasons since, like becoming paperless and maintaining privacy around sign in sheets for barefoot bowls events. Is your club using QR codes for simple tasks, or are we still living in the 80s?

Another evolving practice is the use of Tap and Go resources, instead of cash. I visited a club in a small town that complained people weren’t spending much money at Christmas barefoot bowls functions. The club has no ATM or EFTPOS, and at time of booking there was no discussion about the business being cash only. The closest ATM is 800m away, so it was much easier for the club to enter an agreement for a tap only integrated EFTPOS service. All of a sudden, no one was excluded and revenue during these events dramatically increased. Has your club evolved to enabling card based payments?

Facebook and Instagram are great ways of promoting your club. In a previous life when I ran pubs and clubs, it was always great hosting functions and hosting pop up

activations. By using a camera, you can easily promote function space over a few posts on either Facebook or Instagram.

Once you set up your function room, take a photo of the set up. It shows off your function skills and invites people to enquire about holding their event at your club. During the function, take a couple of tasteful, candid pics (with their permission). It shows people enjoying your function space. Take a photo of the bride and groom, this says it all. This can be used as a testimonial post!

Recently, there have been some club closures and clubs moving away from affiliation. There are many paths a club can take to remain viable. Juniors and younger members are where it starts. The club needs to have relationships with schools and needs to actively be speaking with schools. It is not your RBM’s sole responsibility to speak to schools.

Moving with the times and joining the 21st century can ultimately turn the whole scope of a club around.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to survive, it’s all about being appealing to people, becoming inclusive and allowing people to have a good time, with their friends and families.

If you need any support, your local RBM is only a phone call away (see contact details below) and we can and will assist.

Assessing Your Club’s Solvency and Reducing Future Risk

Are you finding it hard to keep your club financially afloat?

Determining whether your club is facing significant financial problems or just experiencing a temporary cash shortage can be challenging. If you suspect the warning signs suggest a more severe financial issue, it’s crucial to understand there are options to rectify the situation or reduce its impact.

In many cases, it’s necessary to look beyond your club’s financial statements and records to determine if it’s facing significant financial difficulties. Consider whether the club’s expected cash flow, both presently and in the future, will be enough to settle outstanding and upcoming debts. Alternatively, investigate if the club can sell assets or obtain loans to repay future debts when they become due. If neither of these scenarios are possible, seeking guidance to minimise further losses and exploring options for re-establishing your club’s financial stability might be necessary.

Seek Pre-Insolvency Advice

Recognising the early signs of financial difficulty, and responding promptly, can make a significant difference to the survival of your club. It’s crucial to take proactive measures to prevent insolvency or continuing to operate while insolvent. To ensure your club receives appropriate advice that caters to the club’s unique circumstances, we suggest consulting with an independent expert.

Engaging the services of a qualified accountant, an external preinsolvency or turnaround specialist can be immensely beneficial. They are well-equipped to offer guidance on restructuring strategies, suggest potential solutions to business challenges, and recommend changes to enhance your current business practices. With their wealth of knowledge and experience, they can help you navigate the complexities of financial distress and develop a plan to address the situation effectively. By seeking the advice of an independent expert early on, you can take the necessary steps to protect your club’s financial stability and prevent further issues arising.

Know Your Obligations Under The Acts

It is essential for directors or committee members of a club to be aware of their responsibilities under the acts and whether they could be held personally responsible for the club’s debts.

For clubs run by companies limited by guarantee, directors have a clear obligation to ensure that the club does not trade while insolvent. As a result, if directors fail to carry out their duties, they may be liable for debts incurred during the period of insolvency. The liability of directors in these circumstances extends beyond the debts owed to creditors and can include unpaid PAYG tax or superannuation entitlements. For clubs managed by incorporated associations, the liability of individual committee members has

been less well-defined historically. However, committee members, like company directors, now have a duty to prevent the association from trading while insolvent.

Breaching these duties or failing to disclose conflicts and benefits will incur a penalty and be administered by the Office of Fair Trading. There will be defences against an alleged breach of these duties in certain circumstances.

Assume An Active Role

If you believe that excuses about your lack of participation in the club’s management can serve as a defence against trading while insolvent, it’s time to reconsider. Directors or committee members cannot simply turn a blind eye to their club’s financial condition as they are bound by positive duties. As a result, ignorance is not an excuse for them.

To protect themselves from potential liability, directors and committee members must take an active role in their club’s operations by asking questions, participating in meetings, and considering issues. By doing so, they can demonstrate that they had a reasonable basis for believing that the club was solvent, thereby mitigating their risk of exposure. If you are concerned about your club’s financial situation but are not sure where to start with investigating this, or if you have any queries in

relation to these matters, please call me, Matt Bradford at 07 3224 0353.

Barry Cox (The Bowls Doctor) is the only qualified bowls tester in Queensland. Barry urges bowlers to get their bowls checked regularly, as often as every five years, as wear on the running surface of the bowl can straighten the run of the bowl over time, possibly causing the bias to become non-compliant simply through wear.

Barry said he initially took on bowls testing around 15 years ago. “I decided to keep doing the testing and re-biasing as a service to the bowling community as long as I am able to do so,” he said. “The other tester in Victoria and myself tested 388 sets of bowls between us for Bowls Australia approximately two-and-a-half years ago and over 50% failed. This is still the case today.”

The wearing of the bias, particularly in the modern narrow bowls, fails as there is little margin to the legal bias. Bowls also fail in the group test when all four bowls do not group in a 10 cm or 4” circle. On the short end, this relates to approximately 30cm to a foot difference on the green.

Paint is to be the same on all four bowls. I say to clients, “How many pairs of shoes do you wear out over five to 10 years?” This applies to bowls too, particularly on grass and sand-filled greens. I do the testing for Taylor Bowls in Australia and have their bowls for reference. I receive bowls from all over Australia and most people use Australia Post to send them to me. All bowls I sell are table tested.”

To the editor, Queensland Bowler magazine

I am 91 years of age and my mate has just turned 90 years of age.

We have both been bowling every Tuesday morning (Triples) for the last 10 years.

We are not showing any signs of easing up.

We both still bowl the old fashioned way (no sticks).

bowling.

It might be interesting to invite clubs to send in photos of ladies and gents aged 90 years and over and still actively

Alan Wilson Pialba Bowls Club

Age no barrier at Pialba Bowls Club

Alan Wilson recently contacted the editor of the Queensland Bowler and suggested we do a call out to clubs to send in photos and stories on active bowlers over the age of 90 (see page 28 alongside this one).

We think it’s a good idea, so if you have bowlers age 90+ who are still actively rolling up at your club, please let us know at media@bowlsqld.org

Alan Wilson and Bruce Woodrow are both over 90 years of age. Bruce turned 90 in February and Alan is turning 92 in August.

Both are still actively involved in bowls through the Pialba Bowls Club, where they have been members for the past 10 years.

They play Mufti each Tuesday morning and are competitive and competent bowlers. A comment from Alan is “we are still traditional bowlers” in other words, neither of them use bowling arms.

Bruce still drives to bowls and Alan arrives on his trusty mobility scooter.

Alan and Bruce are well respected and valued members of both the Mufti membership and Pialba Club, with many a laugh and sledging with their colleagues.

The Mufti bowlers reckon they are the perfect example of the terms “you cannot keep a good man down” and “keep on keeping on while you still can”.

Contributed by John Walker

L-R: Bruce Woodrow (90) & Alan Wilson (91) from Pialba Bowls Club are still actively bowling every week

WHAT’S YOUR CLUB BEEN DOING?

Atherton’s Under the Roof Classic

The Under the Roof Classic was started in 2003, when it was then called Atherton Ladies Classic. The event name was changed to Under the Roof Classic in 2007 after the roof was constructed in 2006.

The Classic was originally played on a Thursday and changed to a Saturday in 2010 and has been played on a Saturday since then. This year, 64 women attended the event, with players coming from Cooktown, Cairns, Silkwood and Mossman. All Tableland clubs were represented.

Ladies President, Kay Bagley, thanked all the members and volunteers who gave their time to assist on the day. Thank you to our major sponsor Coral Coast Financial, this being their fifth year as our sponsor. A thank you to Clive Leinster for sponsoring the touchers.

Winners L-R: Cornelia Smith, Andrea Lim, Liz Plowman & Terry McAlary

Runners-up L-R: Fiona Lloyd, Trish Mitchell, Corrine Stallan & Katrina Lewis

Third L-R: Melissa Webber, Kay Andersen, Janece McMillan & Meryl Hodgins

Contributed by Beth Johnstone

Souths Suburban Easter Open Challenge

Thirty-two teams contested the annual Easter Open at Souths Suburban, Mackay on April 8-9. Eight rounds of two bowl triples were played, with only two teams winning all games.

Local legends Ray Kurtz and Peter Balderson teamed with Mitchell Mears from Broadbeach to take out the top prize of $4,500. Second place went to Mitch Styles, Jesse Turnbull & Justin Cribbin, with a 20 less margin than the winners.

With a draw in round 6, Joel Downey, Tyler Pettigrew and Jake Rynne finished in third place. A total prize pool of $15,000 was shared between seven placegetters and eight round winners.

Two heavy downpours on Good Friday dented the speed of the grass green, but a hot and humid day on Saturday had the pace much improved for Sunday’s play. The undercover carpet green was much friendlier for the two days.

Visitors came from many parts of Queensland, with the Elliott family from Taralga in Southern NSW playing while up visiting local family. Former Souths Suburban member, Ray McKay, now based in Melbourne also competed this year.

The carnival has been going for many years and the club is very appreciative of the many visiting players who attend each time.

Contributed by John Palmer

Runners-up L-R: Jesse Turnbull, Justin Cribbin & Mitch Styles

Third L-R: Tyler Pettigrew, Jake Rynne & Joel Downey

Winners L-R: Peter Balderson, Ray Kurtz & Mitch Mears

Scottish John’s Gaelic Cup

Popular member, John Keating, was man of the day on April 2 when Scottish John’s Gaelic Cup was played at Scarborough Bowls Club.

When John found out two years ago he had cancer, his life was turned upside down. That’s when Scarborough bowlers stepped in and became his support team.

“Everybody here is so good. All of the guys got behind me and said: ‘we’re going to look after you’. I had nine weeks of radium treatment and the chef here brought me food every day to make sure I was fed. Other blokes organised lifts for me to get to the hospital.

“Last year, I had it in my mind that I wanted to put something on to give back to everybody here, and it will go on until I am not around anymore.”

That was the day before John went in for treatment last year and was the start of ‘Scottish John’s Day’ sponsored by John to thank his bowls support team.

Club volunteer, Karen Valentine, had organised Scottish pipers to surprise John. They made a grand entrance and played memorable Scottish tunes and John couldn’t believe it.

Triples Winners with Sponsor John Keating L-R: Kev Harriss, John Keating, Craig O’Keefe & Ian MacDonald (Macca)

L-R: Club Manager Rebecca Facey (Bec), Kev Harriss (Men’s President), Vince Anderson (Games Director) & John Keating with the Scottish pipers

The Scottish pipers organised by club volunteer, Karen Valentine

L-R: John Leonard, Vince Anderson, Jeff Ferguson, John Keating, Kev Harriss, Phil Tamme, Peter Kellar (PK) & Mike Bredhauer

Al Aplin (Men’s Vice President), Kev Harriss, Vince Anderson & John Keating with the Scottish pipers

“I was shell-shocked!” he said.

The ‘Scottish John’s Gaelic Cup Day’ tradition of three games of men’s two bowl triples continued again this year thanks to John’s sponsorship. Scottish drizzle had been forecast for the day, but instead blue skies shone on the 60 bowlers represented in 20 teams.

Bowlers came dressed up in Scottish gear and John had some shirts made up with a Scottish flag motif for the men who helped him organise the day. The Scottish flag was raised up the club’s flagpole for the day in John’s honour.

When John lived at Dayboro, he used to play bowls at the club there, but a severe neck injury ended his bowling days. However, he enjoys watching the game and being part of the camaraderie at the Scarborough club. He loves that bowlers are all mates.

“Out on the green they are playing against each other and either beat them or get beaten. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses, they come in, have a beer together and are best mates,” says John.

‘Lang may yer lum reek’, John! (Translation: Long may your chimney smoke, meaning ‘Long may you live’).

Clubs Queensland award winners

Congratulations to Club Pine Rivers as the club once again secured its place as the top bowls club in the State, winning Best Bowls Club award for the second year running at the recent Club Queensland’s Awards for Excellence. This award recognises a bowling club for the outstanding standard of grounds and facilities offered to members and guests, as well as a strong promotion of the game of bowls to the community and development programs to support this.

Club Pine Rivers CEO Steve Ratcliffe said the win was a team effort. “I’d just like to say a big thank you to our team and our board. We are so lucky to have such an amazing group of people here at Club Pine Rivers who all love this club and that really shows,” Steve said.

Bribie Island Bowls Club won the Heart of the Community award, which is for supporting the far reaching effects of education.

Scottish John Keating wearing his tam o’ shanter

The “Scottish John’s Gaelic Festival” trophy

Contributed by Kevin Harriss with photos by Al Aplin

Stress, stress and more stress. Why? Why?

By Alan Thorp

After visiting many clubs in many districts throughout Queensland over the past eight years, the most common question I get confronted with is: How do I control my stress and nerves whilst playing our wonderful game of bowls?

Without hesitation, the first thing I say is “forget about everything other than the moment and only concentrate on the things you can control”. After having made this statement, I generally get an occasional flutter of the eyes or a serious response along the lines of : Well, what do I do? How can I address this and control my body’s reaction to the feelings of butterflies in my stomach, the pounding of my heartbeat and an overall feeling of nausea?

I give the athlete a simple explanation of why the body is experiencing such emotions and sensations. I emphasise it’s natural to have such feelings, but what matters is how we deal with them during and after the game.

My next question is to find out if the individual has read the many articles that I have written for the Bowler l under the title Mental Aspects Of Bowls

These articles covered topics such as centering, mental imagery, visualisation and mindfulness. In most cases, to my delight, most bowlers have read these articles, and this enables me to briefly revisit one or two of the mentioned topics, all of which have an enormous impact on an athlete’s preparation prior to competing in any competition.

More often than not, I ask the person to revisit the articles on mindfulness that concentrate on the now (moment). I reemphasise the importance of breathing techniques, stating that breathing exercises take control of stress, promote relaxation and focus, which are all key elements of a bowler performing to their optimum. I soon gather that most develop a period during a game where they feel things are slipping away and, as a result, they generally become stressed about the situation and get more stressed about being stressed. Most athletes who have not had the opportunity to practise particular stress relief techniques will find the more they try to resist the sensations, the more they increase and the worse they feel and perform.

Having said that, let’s now observe a breathing technique I believe is the most valuable for quick stress relief during a game of bowls. I have covered this in a previous article however for those who may have forgotten it is referred to as the centering breath or in my article called Centering.

1. Sit or stand in a relaxed position, ensuring your back is straight, your feet are shoulder width apart and flat on the ground, legs slightly bent at the knees (if standing).

2. Always breathe through your nose, inhale making sure that your belly expands and you don’t raise your shoulders. To check you are doing it right, place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. When breathing in, the hand on your belly

should move out and when you exhale this same hand should move in.

3. Now breathe out through your mouth.

You have now successfully completed the breathing technique referred to as the centering breath. Some tips to remember:

• Think of the air going into your lungs, meaning that you are not concentrating on things around you or worrying about distracting thoughts, only concentrating on your belly expanding whilst breathing in due to the muscles expanding in your stomach.

• As you breathe out, tighten the throat so a slight noise is heard while at the same time experiencing at the end of the exhalation the calmness and stillness of the sensation.

• Remember to practice this breathing technique several times a day and you will soon start to automatically take a deep breath in stressful situations as they occur during a game, which I can guarantee will relax you and contribute significantly to your overall performance.

I hope this article helps all those bowlers who experience stressful situations on the green.

I encourage all to get copies of my previous articles on Mental Aspects of Bowls. You can find past issues of the Queensland Bowler on the BQ website.

UPCOMING COURSES

• May 27-28: Club Coach

Beenleigh Bowls Club

• May 27-28: Club Coach

The Albert Bowls Club

• May 29: Skills & Bowling Arm

The Albert Bowls Club

Six Sunshine Coast District coaches & two umpires at Pelican Waters on April 16 for the Fundamentals of Bowls. There were 32 bowlers in attendance and, from all the feedback received, they enjoyed every part of the day.