Laid-back Ellems Just Doing It Easy

Illawarra Mercury

Monday December 29, 2008

By JOEL RITCHIE

DON'T accuse Tom Ellem of being a dour, win-at-all-costs competitor at the South Pacific Bowls Carnival.

Ellem, who with brother Dan, father Eric and uncle Peter is defending the fours title, didn't know who his family foursome were up against until he showed up at Wiseman Park Wollongong City Bowling Club on Saturday.

The mystery didn't hinder the Ellem's collective performance, as they won all three of their matches to advance to post-sectional play at Albion Park tomorrow.

The defending champions defeated a team skipped by Gary Purdey 17-12, backed that up with a 19-5 win over Scarborough-Wombarra's Jack Forbes before capping their sectional campaign with a 15-10 win over a side skipped by Wollongong RSL's Bill Fisk.

"I haven't been on the bowls scene, I just turned up and played," Ellem said.

"I haven't really had a look at the sections, a lot of the teams could win it because it's such a big tournament."

Saturday's matches were Ellem's first for 10 weeks after he left a job with Towradgi Park Bowling Club to work at Westcliff Colliery four months ago.

"I don't know how many kilometres underground I am when I'm working, but I enjoy it," Ellem said.

"It's a family thing, I get my weekends to myself."

Ellem's schedule at the South Pacific is more relaxed than most - he didn't enter the singles or pairs, meaning his next game won't be until the post-sectional.

"I have to work on Monday and Tuesday, but I think I have less pressure on me and I'm going to enjoy my bowls," Ellem said.

"I'm happy with the way we have started - Dan and myself have played at state level but its great to play with my dad and uncle.

"Winning the fours last year was a thrill - I have won an Australian singles title, but winning the fours with my dad and uncle meant more to me.

"Dad really doesn't play competitive bowls, so to help him win something like that was great."

Ellem confirmed he would play pennants for Towradgi Park in 2009, but wouldn't appear in representative matches.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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