Development and para-sport players named for internationals
Bowls Australia’s national selection panel have today confirmed the under-18, vision-impaired and athletes with a disability players chosen to don the green and gold uniforms at upcoming internationals. Bowls Australia’s national selection panel have today confirmed the under-18, vision-impaired and athletes with a disability players chosen to don the green and gold uniforms at upcoming internationals.
The junior players will compete as part of the development Trans Tasman test series team, while the para-sport bowlers will feature in the Kiwi clash and a Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games lead-in event, the 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations event.
The annual Trans Tasman contest will boast added impetus this year, with the three-day international to be staged on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games greens at Broadbeach, from May 31 to June 2, and selectors set to place increased significance on performances.
Four under-18 players have been named for the development event, with the remaining six positions to be confirmed after the Australia v England International from April 26 to 28, when the open Australian Jackaroos team will also be declared.
Reigning Junior Golden Nugget winner Kate Matthews, Australian Open under-18 singles runner-up Jessica Srisamruaybai, Tasmania’s Lachlan Sims and Dubbo’s Junior Sportsperson of the Year Jonathon Davis have earned selection in the development portion of the event, which will feature a further three men and three women.
Two para-sport teams have also been named for the event – the vision-impaired pairs and athletes with a disability triples – in line with the disciplines to be contested next year at the Commonwealth Games.
Those selected will also compete at the 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations, which will include teams from Australia (2), Canada, Hong Kong, Wales Scotland, Malaysia and New Zealand, from June 3 to 7.
The vision-impaired players chosen are fresh off their International Blind Bowls Association’s World Championships in South Africa, where the team collected six gold, one silver and one bronze.
B4 singles and mixed pairs dual gold medallist Lynne Seymour headlines the list, which also includes B3 women’s singles gold medallist Marian Morrison, B2 mixed pairs gold medallist Ralph Simpson and Jake Fehlberg.
Seven athletes with a disability have been selected, despite the intention to reduce the list to just six, given the consistency of all players.
Joshua Barry, Tony Bonnell, Eddie Gollan, Ken Hanson, Chris Flavel, James Reynolds, Joshua Thornton will all look to impress selectors at the two internationals in an attempt to secure a Commonwealth Games berth.
The ten-strong Australian Jackaroos capped contingent and remaining development players, and their playing positions, will be solidified after the Australia v England event.
Late last week, Bowls New Zealand announced their full contingent of open, development and vision-impaired players, which can be viewed here.
Bowls Australia congratulates the selected players, and acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the 2016 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program.
NextGEN AUSComGames was devised by the ACGA to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and/or 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
Development Trans Tasman players:
Kate Matthews (Raymond Terrace, NSW)
Jessica Srisamruaybai (Tweed Heads, NSW)
Jonathon Davis (Dubbo NSW)
Lachlan Sims (Trevallyn, TAS)
Vision-Impaired Trans Tasman and 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations players:
Marian Morrison (Aspley Memorial, QLD)
Lynne Seymour (Thuringowa, QLD)
Jake Fehlberg (Burleigh Heads, QLD)
Ralph Simpson (Sea Lake, VIC)
Athletes with a disability Trans Tasman and 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations players:
Joshua Barry Sebastopol, VIC
Tony Bonnell (Club Pine Rivers, QLD)
Eddie Gollan (Kardinya, WA)
Ken Hanson (City Bowls Club Colac, VIC)
Chris Flavel (Payneham, SA)
James Reynolds (Merimbula, NSW)
Joshua Thornton (East Shepparton, VIC)
