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! “

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

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