2023 Right at Home Para-Jackaroos squad announced
The sport’s National Selection Panel have taken yet another step towards determining next year’s 2023 World Bowls Championships’ team, with confirmation of the Right at Home Australian Para-Jackaroo squads for the next 12 months.
The panel, which comprises of selectors Therese Hastings, Dave Stockham, Assistant National Coach Karen Murphy AM and National Coach Gary Willis, have included some new faces to the squads, as well as the medallists from the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Next year’s historic World Bowls Championships on the Gold Coast will include para disciplines for the first time in tournament history and will provide the Para Jackaroos with unprecedented opportunity to showcase their skills on the sport’s biggest stage.
In the vision-impaired squad, Birmingham representatives Jake Fehlberg and Helen Boardman remain in the setup, while Fred McConnell, Calvin Rodgers and Jacky Hudson round out the quintet.
The women’s multi-disability squad features Commonwealth Games silver medallists Cheryl Lindfield and Serena Bonnell , with Jo Hunter and Louise Hoskins also named following strong showings at the inaugural Nationals last month.
In the men’s multi-disability team, Chris Flavel and Damien Delgado will have the opportunity to don the green and gold regalia once again, and are joined by Tony Bonnell, James Reynolds, Brett Sellars and David Minns.
Josh Barry also remains in the squad for the 12 months, but will not take part in the World Bowls Championships trials in January/February 2023.
Crucially, the pathway to the podium for Para athletes has been further developed, with a newly introduced Emerging Para Jackaroos category including Cooper Whitestyles, Matthew Barrie and Alison East, while Western Australia’s Jodie Nikolic is joined by Victoria’s Lucas Protopapas in a new Pathways Jackaroos squad.
A notable omission from selection is 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Josh Thornton, who has taken a sabbatical from the high performance program to spend more time with his young family.
National Coach Willis is buoyed by the pool of talent across the country and looks forward to developing the team ahead of the World Bowls Championships.
“Following a sensational year domestically and internationally for our Para bowlers, we feel that we have the best squad to lead us to success at next year’s historic World Bowls Championships,” he said.
“This will be a ‘home’ event on the Gold Coast, so there will be plenty of planning and preparation put into our team throughout this campaign to represent Australia to the highest possible standards.
“Our Right at Home Para Jackaroos were sensational in Birmingham, bringing back two silver medals on conditions which we have traditionally struggled with, and we’re confident that if we continue to build on this platform, we’ll exceed expectations on the Gold Coast.”
