Lester and Krizanic to take on the Proteas
Barrie Lester and Carla Krizanic have been selected to compete in the South African Masters early next year. Australian Jackaroos Barrie Lester and Carla Krizanic have stamped their boarding passes for South Africa, with the duo chosen to compete against the Proteas’ premier players.
The Victorian duo, from Mulgrave Country and Sunbury respectively, will don the green and gold uniforms early in the new year, when they take to the greens some 10,500 kilometres away from home in the South African Masters.
The pair have been selected to add international flair to the open men’s and women’s masters disciplines, with each event boasting two sections of eight players, to be staged at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg from February 10 to 12, 2017.
Lester has been drawn into section one of the men’s tournament, which boasts a number of South African internationals, including 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games triples gold medallist Prince Neluonde, and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games triples gold medalists Wayne Perry and Gidion Vermeulen.
Krizanic will slot into section two of the women’s open masters, with the likes of 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games pairs gold medallist skip Colleen Piketh and dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Susan Nel among her opponents.
The addition of Australian competitors in the event isn’t a new undertaking, with National Coach Steve Glasson and Australia’s most-capped Jackaroo Karen Murphy both having made the journey across the Indian Ocean to compete in the event in years gone by.
Glasson was a runner-up in 1999 to South African stalwart Gerry Baker, who is still contesting the event in section two this year, while Murphy has gone one better and topped the dais.
National Coach Steve Glasson said he was enormously appreciative of Bowls South Africa for affording the opportunity to two fellow Australians.
“On behalf of Bowls Australia, I’d like to express our appreciation to Bowls South Africa for allowing us the great privilege in having two of our stars participate in the South African Masters event,” Glasson said.
“Karen and I enjoyed the honour a number of years ago and I can speak from experience when I say that it is a fantastic opportunity to compete against some of the sport’s best in a territory that we don’t often get to experience.
“I know both players will be up against it with quality men’s and women’s fields on their home tracks but will also enjoy a marvelous experience.”
The South African Masters boasts men’s and women’s disciplines of open, junior and senior events.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the 2015-18 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program.
NextGEN AUSComGames was devised by the ACGA to provide assistance to players who have been identified as potential 2015 or 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and/or 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
