Lynsey Clarke announces international retirement
Lynsey Clarke, one of Australia’s most successful and longest serving Right at Home Australian Jackaroos, has announced that she will be retiring from international bowls at the conclusion of this year’s World Bowls Championships in her home town of the Gold Coast.
The decision comes as the Queenslander highlights that the timing is right, with family taking priority. Clarke has two children under the age of eight that she looks to spend more time with as her travelling duties and the high-level demands of an athlete become less rigorous.
In addition, the 39-year-old aims to focus on her blossoming coaching career, having been employed by Bowls Australia (BA) as her state’s Pathways Coach, mentoring and guiding the next generation of bowlers on their journeys to success.
A stalwart of the national team, Clarke debuted in 2003, amassing 440 international caps, a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2006 and a pair of World Bowls Championships golds in 2008 and 2012, as well as being one of the most highly respected leaders within the Australian squad – and inaugural captain from 2011 until 2018.
In addition, Australia has hoisted the Taylor Trophy as the best performing women’s team on both occasions that the Club Tweed member has participated in the World Bowls Championships.
Clarke was planning on calling time on her glittering international career after the scheduled tournament in 2020, but its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic made the 39-year-old’s decision to continue donning the green and gold regalia an easy one, as she strived to conclude her time on the international arena in front of family and friends.
Following a difficult period where she missed selection for Gold Coast 2018 and being unaware if or how international bowls would return in amidst travel bans and lockdowns, the Queensland native is proud that she has managed to maintain her form and fulfil her dream of retiring on home soil.
“I missed the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and it was pretty shattering at the time, so it made me re-evaluate what I wanted to do,” Clarke said.
“But there was still something burning inside me and I thought I was good enough, and if not then the person that came in ahead of me had to be better, so I decided that I would put my hat back in the ring.
“I had some really good chats with National Assistant coach Gary Willis, who’s now our coach, just whether I really wanted it and if I wanted to put the work in and sacrifice for a bit longer and I thought that a home World Championships in 2020 was a huge carrot to try and get back into the team for.
“I put my best foot forward and made it; then the pandemic hit and I wasn’t sure if international bowls would get going again so I was content that it was over, but the world got back to normal so my husband Brad and I discussed it and i put my hand in the ring for Birmingham with an end goal of Gold Coast.
“The fact that I knew this was my last ditch effort, I really gave it everything and if it wasn’t good enough so be it, I was happy to put everything out there and see how I went and I feel like I’m playing as well as I’ve ever been.”
Making her debut at the 2003 Asia Pacific Championships as the 62nd female Jackaroo, she reveals she was plucked by Robbie Dobbins from relative obscurity having outside the Australian squad.
Since then, she has gone on to represent the nation with high distinction at all of the sport’s pinnacle events with one result in particular being the standout, that being her 2006 Commonwealth Games pairs gold with Karen Murphy AM.
“In my debut in 2003 I wasn’t in the Australian squad, I kind of came out of nowhere and I’d won a few things just prior and he must’ve just thought I had something, I don’t know what he saw but it must not have been too bad,” Clarke said.
“I have so many amazing memories, and I feel very lucky that I have had so many opportunities but if I had to choose one it would have to be the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
“That was when I felt that I was worthy, that I’d made it and that I could contribute.
“I was playing with my idol in my home country and we had put so much work and time into preparing for that event, the celebrations we had after were amazing.
“The team we had was unbelievable and at the time it was our most successful games, it’s such a special memory.”
When it comes to what comes next, Clarke will continue to play for her state and is enjoying a blossoming coaching career within the national pathways program, as well as dabbling in media commitments at the Bowls Premier League, Australian Open and on BA’s official podcast ‘The Right Line’.
“It’s all I’ve known for 20 years, being a Jackaroo, so it’s going to be different but I’m excited for this next little chapter to finish and whatever comes after that,” she said.
“I’ll always be involved in the sport of bowls, I love the fact that through my international career I have been able to get so many opportunities.
“I’ve been able to travel the world, finish my uni degree, be accepted into the National Gen 32 Coaching Apprenticeship Program through the Australian Institute of Sport, and I’m a coach in the national pathways system which is aiming to help the next generation – it is something that I’m really passionate about.
“I’m studying elite athlete wellbeing which is also one of my passion projects, that entails making sure our athletes are looked after holistically in terms of making sure their career and family lives are in order.
“Finally, just supporting my kids and being home to take them to Auskick, swimming and singing lessons or yoga and everything else they’re doing these days.”
Clarke notes that her international longevity would not be possible if not for the support of family and clubs along the journey, and dedicates much of her success to them, especially her husband, children and parents.
“My husband Brad is an absolute saint, I don’t know how he’s done it. There has been a lot of testing times through the disappointments but a huge thanks to him for letting me chase my dreams and I’m so excited that we’re not going to be half way across the world and that he can be there for this,” she said.
“Mum, who before Brad came along was the only support network I had, along with my dad who was still with us then. I’ve had huge support from my parents.
“To my two kids, Kenz and Harvey. I hope I’ve made you proud!
“I would also like to extend my gratitude to my major clubs who have impacted my Aussie career in the Helensvale Hawks and Club Tweed.”
Bowls Australia congratulates and applauds Lynsey Clarke on a magnificent international career, which will conclude at the World Bowls Championships on the Gold Coast commencing August 29, 2023.
Lynsey Clarke major honours:
2006 – Commonwealth Games – pairs gold
2014 – Commonwealth Games – triples silver
2008 – World Bowls Championships – fours gold
2008 – World Bowls Championships – pairs bronze
2008 – World Bowls Championships – Taylor Trophy
2012 – World Bowls Championships – triples gold
2012 – World Bowls Championships – Taylor Trophy
Jackaroos captain – 2011-2018
