Bowls’ best shortlisted for Awards Night honours
The sport’s top contributors have been shortlisted for honours at Bowls Australia’s 2022 Hall of Fame and Awards Night.
Players, officials, administrators and clubs from across the country have been unveiled as finalists in 12 award categories, with winners set to be recognised at the gala dinner on October 10, the first in-person staging in three years.
Right at Home Australian Jackaroos stalwarts Natasha Van Eldik (NSW) and Lynsey Clarke (QLD) are in the mix for the prestigious Commonwealth Games Australia International Female Bowler of the Year award, while fellow teammates Aaron Wilson (NSW) and Ben Twist (NSW) will vie for the Sport Australia International Male Bowler of the Year accolade, after a crammed event period that included the UK Tour’s Multi-Nations and 3-Nations events, Trans Tasman Test Series and the recent Commonwealth Games.
At least two Gold Coast residents will take home silverware on the night, with Kelsey Cottrell (QLD) and Nick Cahill (QLD) already confirmed as winners for the night, having secured their respective Major Events Gold Coast Female Bowler of the Year and Tourism and Events Queensland Male Bowler of the Year titles by virtue of winning the sport’s National Player Rankings for 2021/22, decided at the end of June.
Cottrell and Cahill, who finished as Australia’s number one bowlers, will be bestowed their prize of $3,000 each during the function.
In the junior ranks, Bowls SA’s under-18 player of the year Anda Panchawat and NSW’s Australian Open under-18 girls’ singles finalist Taylor de Greenlaw will contest the MakMax Under-18 Female Bowler of the Year award, while dual Australian Open under-18 boys’ singles champion Joseph Clarke (NSW) and Bowls NSW’s Open State Pairs and Fours winner Jack McShane (NSW) have been named as finalists for the Specsavers Under-18 Male Bowler of the Year.
After stellar years on the green, it will be difficult to split 2022 Commonwealth Games women’s para pairs silver medal winning teammates Cheryl Lindfield (QLD) and Serena Bonnell (QLD) in the BCiB Bowler with a Disability of the Year award.
NSW’s Club Merrylands and Western Australia’s Mt Lawley Bowling Club have been identfied as finalists for the DrinkWise Club of the Year award, while NSW’s Forster Bowling Club and Victoria’s Chirnside Park Bowls Club have been recognised as going above and beyond as Audika Community Service Award finalists.
Western Regional Academy coach John Rodis (NSW) and Zone 15 and Central Coast coach John Roberts (NSW) are up for the coveted Apia Coach of the Year gong.
Bowls NSW State Umpires Committee member and Presenter and Assessor Alan Clarke (NSW) and Sorrento’s International Technical Official Ann Walsh (VIC) are in the running for the Blooms the Chemist Official of the Year.
Narre Warren’s Eric Sydenham (VIC) and Freeling’s Karen Swanson (SA) have have been recognised for their tireless efforts at respective clubs, listed as finalists for the Right at Home Volunteer of the Year.
The awards evening will boast added impetus for some in attendance, with several members of Australian bowls royalty to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and others to be given elevation to Legend status.
Hall of Fame and Legend inductions occur every second year, with five new Hall of Famers and three Legends set to be inducted this year.
Tickets for the 2022 Hall of Fame and Awards Night, to occur at Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise on October 10, are now available to be purchased online, priced at $135.00 per person (plus processing fees), and includes a three-course meal and drinks packages.
Bowls Australia encourage anyone wishing to support the Award finalists and Hall of Fame recipients to attend.
Bowls Australia congratulates all award finalists, acknowledges the work of the selection committees and thanks the event partners for their invaluable contribution.
• Purchase Hall of Fame and Awards Night tickets.
2022 Bowls Australia award finalists:
- Sport Australia International Male Bowler of the Year finalists: Aaron Wilson (NSW) and Ben Twist (NSW)
- Commonwealth Games Australia International Female Bowler of the Year finalists: Natasha Van Eldik (NSW) and Lynsey Clarke (QLD)
- Major Events Gold Coast Female Bowler of the Year winner: Kelsey Cottrell (QLD)
- Tourism and Events Queensland Male Bowler of the Year winner: Nick Cahill (QLD)
- MakMax Under-18 Female Bowler of the Year finalists: Taylor de Greenlaw (NSW) and Anda Panchawat (SA)
- Specsavers Under-18 Male Bowler of the Year finalists: Joseph Clarke (NSW) and Jack McShane (NSW)
- BCiB Bowler with a Disability of the Year finalists: Cheryl Lindfield (QLD) and Serena Bonnell (QLD)
- Apia Coach of the Year finalists: John Rodis (NSW) and John Roberts (NSW)
- Blooms the Chemist Official of the Year finalists: Alan Clarke (NSW) and Ann Walsh (VIC)
- Right at Home Volunteer of the Year finalists: Eric Sydenham (VIC) and Karen Swanson (SA)
- DrinkWise Club of the Year finalists: Club Merrylands (NSW) and Mt Lawley BC (WA)
- Audika Community Service Award finalists: Forster Bowling Club (NSW) and Chirnside Park Bowls Club (VIC)
