Finalists named for Bowls Australia’s Awards Night
20 of the sport’s most outstanding athletes, administrators and media are finalists for the annual Awards Night. Bowls Australia has today named 20 of
the sport’s most outstanding athletes, administrators and media as finalists
for the annual Awards Night.
Testament to his exceptional consistency on the world stage, Ettalong
Memorial’s Aron Sherriff has again been recognised as a finalist in the
International Bowler of the Year category, his third consecutive nomination
after claiming back-to-back honours in 2012 and 2013.
Going head-to-head with Sherriff for the accolade is Ocean Grove’s Matthew
Flapper, who has emerged as an international star on the rise this year after a
scintillating tour with the Jackaroos in the Northern Hemisphere, despite only
boasting 12 international appearances to his name when 2013 began.
In the other major athlete awards, Club Helensvale’s Brett Wilkie has a chance
to scoop his first Male Bowler of the Year award, after a runner-up finish to
club teammate Mark Casey last year and at inaugural awards gala in 2011, while
Tuggeranong ace Andrew Howie is also in the running after his season highlight
of a Super 6 singles gold medal against representatives from each state and
territory.
In the women’s award, it’s a case of deja vu with Australian Jackaroos captain
Lynsey Clarke, from Club Helensvale, and vice-captain Karen Murphy, from
Cabramatta, both earning consecutive finalist recognition.
While Murphy took home the honours ahead of her national captain last year in
Bendigo, Clarke’s name is also eternally etched on to the silverware after
being awarded the accolade in 2011.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and current world champion Mark Casey added
another feather in his cap with today’s announcement, becoming the first
previous finalist, and winner, of an athlete award to be named as a finalist in
one of the individual administration categories.
Casey, who won last year’s Male Bowler and 2011’s Male Bowler and International
Bowler titles, is down to the final two in the Community Development Officer of
the Year award, a role which pitted him against 14 other Bowls Australia CDOs
who service bowls clubs in metro and regional areas across the nation.
Other awards to be announced on the night include Story of the Year, Official
of the Year, Coach of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
The 2014 Awards Night will be staged at Tasmania’s Burnie Arts and Function
Centre on Saturday, March 29 – coinciding with the traditionally coveted state
versus state warfare of the Australian Sides Championships and Super 6.
Tickets for the sport’s night of nights are open to the public from today,
priced at just $50 each and including a two course meal, and can be purchased
at bowlsaustralia.com.au or by phoning (03) 9480 7100.
The categories and finalists include:
• Australian Sports Commission International Bowler of the Year –
Aron Sherriff (NSW, Ettalong Memorial) and Matthew Flapper (VIC, Ocean Grove)
• City Club Male Bowler of the Year – Andrew Howie (ACT,
Tuggeranong) and Brett Wilkie (QLD, Club Helensvale)
• Female Bowler of the Year – Lynsey Clarke (QLD, Club Helensvale) and
Karen Murphy (NSW, Cabramatta)
• BCiB Under-18 Male Bowler of the Year – Michael Sims (TAS,
Trevallyn) and Braidan Leese (QLD, Coolangatta)
• Under-18 Female Bowler of the Year – Natasha Jones (QLD, Bribie
Island) and Chloe Stewart (VIC, Kyneton)
• Community Development Officer of the Year – Mark Casey (South East
Queensland region) and Peter Nixon (Western Victoria region)
• Aero Bowls Story of the Year – Mike Sexton (ABC 730 Adelaide)
and Matt Turner (Messenger Community News)
• Official of the Year – Pam Hockings (NSW) and John Roberts (Victoria)
• Melitta Coach of the Year – Graeme Clements (Australian Blind
Bowlers Association Coach) and Nicole Shortis (Victorian Physical Disabilities
Squad Coach)
• Volunteer of the Year – Robyn Lewis (NSW) and George Vayonitis
(Victoria)
Click here to purchase tickets to the
2014 Awards Night.
