Dickson and Ryan paving the way for female bowlers
Breeana Dickson and Ellen Ryan talk about their experience so far in BPL04 and how they hope to change young females’ perception of bowls The fourth instalment of the Bowls Premier League has stepped up another notch this year, with the addition of one female competitor to each franchise to add to the revolutionary competition at Club Pine Rivers in Brisbane.
Spearheaded by the past involvement of national players including Australian Jackaroos captain Lynsey Clarke, Australia’s most capped international player Karen Murphy, as well as the world number one, New Zealand’s Jo Edwards; the calibre of talent is only rising at this year’s $100,000 competition.
21-year-old Breeanna Dickson is the most recent recruit to the Messenger Press Adelaide Endurance with an extensive resume including the title of being the first female South Australian to represent Australia at the Development Trans-Tasman series in 2014.
Another player making her BPL debut is the former Australian Open Singles Champion and current Australian Jackaroo, 19-year-old Ellen Ryan who is the young gun bowler from Cabramatta joining the BPL02 Champions, the Murray Steamers.
“It’s a really tough competition, and obviously it’s the best in Australia,” said Dickson.
“It’s great to be a part of the best competition in Australia,” said Ryan.
With televised matches every night of the competition on Fox Sports 3 and Sky Sports NZ, the electric atmosphere of live television will provide the stage for these young ladies, who will be front and centre on screens across Australia and New Zealand; competing to win the coveted BPL trophy.
“I think it’s good to showcase both men and women in lawn bowls; it’s great to have the girls out there playing with the men,” said Dickson.
In line with the changing face of the sport, #BPL04 hopes to inspire the next generation of lawn bowlers with the fast-paced, energetic and inclusive game, presenting where a future career in lawn bowls could lead to.
“It shows that girls are just as good as the guys, and it’s good to be able to prove that to the bowls community and the non-bowls community,” said Ryan.
“It’s good that females are involved, as well as young people like myself to show that the sport is not just an old person sport.”
“Hopefully it will encourage a few more females to come down to their nearest bowling club and have a bit of a roll,” said Dickson.
Follow BPL04 live score updates on Bowls Australia’s Facebook page during the day games, and live on Fox Sports 3 in Australia and Sky Sports in New Zealand during the evenings from 5:00pm AEST.
Caption- Breeana Dickson and Ellen Ryan. along with the other six BPL04 female competitors are paving the way for females in bowls
