Medal wins at the Commonwealth Youth Games
Australia’s Jono Davis and Ellen Ryan have both claimed medals at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa today. Australia has split the honours with New Zealand in the lawn bowls gold medal hunt at the 2015 Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games today.
The green and gold contingent won one gold and one silver apiece in the boys’ and girls’ singles bowls competition, with the Kiwi nation equaling the medal ledger after both countries capped off their opening day’s results with a fifth rubber before advancing to the semi-finals this morning.
Dubbo’s Jonothan Davis, dubbed ‘the little wizard’ by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association today after his scintillating performances on the tricky surfaces offered up at the international event, saw off Seamus Curtin 21-14 in his final decider to claim gold for his nation, one of 11 won by Australians across all sports after the completion of the competition’s second day.
“I played well throughout the tournament to be honest on greens I’m not used to,” Davis said after prevailing.
“It was good to have Craig Phillips (ACGA CEO) and Matt Cowdrey (Australian team Chef de Mission) come out to watch and support us – we were very grateful.
“I’ve got the nationals to come in Canberra shortly but the long-term goal has to be to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.”
Goulburn’s Ellen Ryan also helped Australia firm as early favourites by adding to the overall medal haul, but was relegated to silver after falling narrowly short on the final hurdle.
Ryan was also pitted against our neighbours from across the ditch in the gold medal final, but was upstaged by Ashley Jeffcoat 12-21.
Ryan, who claimed the biggest win of her short lived career just three months ago when she secured the $18,000 Australian Open women’s singles crown, has a further chance to finish on top of the dais this week, with the duo now uniting for the mixed pairs action.
Four round robin sessions will be staged tomorrow, from 4.45am, 7.30am, 10.15am and 12.45am AEST, with the fifth rubber and finals action set for Thursday.
Bowls Australia congratulate Jono and Ryan on their medal hauls and wish them well for the mixed pairs event.
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 junior players who have been identified as potential 2015 or 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and/or 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
Overall Medal Tally (after Day Two – top five)
1. Australia – 11 gold, 7 silver, 11 bronze, 29 medals in total
2. South Africa – 7 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze, 15 medals in total
3. England – 5 gold, 9 silver, 7 bronze, 21 medals in total
4. India – 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 8 medals in total
5. Malaysia – 4 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 7 medals in total
