Kiwi-born Australian ace win NZ women’s bowls title
Australian Jackaroo Kelsey Cottrell has claimed the NZ National Singles title just weeks after winning two gold medals at the Asia Pacific Championships, both at Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch NZ. An Australian international may have won the national open women’s bowls singles title, but the trophy still belongs to a Kiwi.
Kelsey Cottrell, a world champion pairs gold medallist, has racked up 284 caps for her adopted Australia, but she was quick to insist she was “born in Auckland” after beating hometown favourite Tayla Bruce 21-15 in Monday’s final in Christchurch.
Cottrell, 25, quipped she grew up following the All Blacks and the Silver Ferns, but the 2014 Commonwealth Games triples silver medallist has been an Australian representative since her debut in 2005 as a 15-year-old old.
Part of her motivation for entering the New Zealand tournament was to catch up with “family in Christchurch”.
“I’m definitely happy with the decision to come over here,” she said. “It’s that time of year when you probably don’t want to be bowling, you want to have a bit of time off.
“But when I saw these championships were in Christchurch, I thought it would tie in nicely leading up to international events coming up this year, and also get a chance to catch up with family.”
But 20-year-old Bruce – bidding to become the youngest New Zealand champion – definitely had more backers in the crowd at Burnside, her home club.
“I knew I was in for a big game today,” Cottrell said. “She had a lot of support. She’s a good young kid and I’m very confident she will play many games for New Zealand.”
Cottrell stormed out to a 12-5 lead but Bruce showed her tenacity to fight back to 12-12 after prospering on a series of short ends to throw the Australian off her rhythm.
Bruce said by keeping it short, she thought she “might have a chance of scoring some points” and getting back into the game.
“I’m glad I never gave up. I brought myself back into the game after being down by a few.”
Bruce said she was buoyed by “so much support” from the stands “when I had a good end”. She said the final was “a good opportunity to play against someone of [Cottrell’s] calibre”.
Cottrell became the third overseas-registered bowler to win the New Zealand open title in the last 35 years, after Malaysians Nor Fidrah Noh (2007) and Siti Zalina (2008) when the tournament was last held in Christchurch.
Christchurch is proving a happy hunting ground for Cottrell, an aspiring journalist who plays out of the St John’s Park club in New South Wales.
She won gold medals in the pairs and the fours at the Asia Pacific Championships in Christchurch last November.
“I hope [the Christchurch success] sticks around for a wee bit longer. We’ve got a few more things coming up here. I’m back here three or four days after I get home for the Burnside pairs and then hopefully the Trans Tasman [series at Burnside in March].”
Cottrell beat defending champion Leigh Griffin in the quarterfinals and Australian compatriot Chloe Stewart in the semifinals but said she was always wary of Bruce, who she had played in last year’s Trans Tasman series.
“She’s a really good young player. I couldn’t help but notice in the quarters and semis how well she had played. I knew I was in for a big game.”
Cottrell was surprised to struggle in the middle stages because she felt she “played the short ends quite well in the quarters and semis”.
“But the green was a little bit quicker today. I think it helped that Tayla got to the jack before I did. I was forced to play a bit more weight and if you miss, you leave yourself in a wee bit of trouble.
“She definitely outplayed me on the short ends. It was just lucky that I was able to win one and go long again and break away.”
