Murphy elected to World Bowls Board
Australia’s most decorated female bowler and current singles World Champion Karen Murphy has been elected to the Board of World Bowls as Regional Director – Asia and Oceania.
Murphy, 39, who added the coveted World Championship singles gold medal to her extensive collection of international titles in 2012, secured the position following the recent World Bowls Board election over fellow candidate and returning nominee John Carter from New Zealand.
The Cabramatta Bowling Club ace is now Australia’s only World Bowls Board representative following the election of England’s and World Bowls Regional Director – Europe John Bell to the post of President over incumbent chief, Australia’s Joe Aarons OAM.
A delighted Murphy said to be elected to the Board of World Bowls and to be able to contribute to the sport in this capacity is one of her major career highlights off the green.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be elected and to be able to serve on the Board of World Bowls,” Murphy said.
“With my experience in travelling around the world playing bowls, I have been exposed to how the sport is conducted in many countries which I believe will enable me to make a valuable contribution.
“I’ll be an active and approachable Director with the best interests and further growth and development of the sport at heart,” Murphy said.
Murphy, who leaves Australia for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 11 as a key member of the Australian bowls team, is arguably Australia’s most successful international bowler and is our most medalled Commonwealth Games athlete with three medals including a pairs gold medal in Melbourne in 2006.
Murphy is also approaching 500 representative caps for Australia which makes her the most capped Australian bowler ever.
Among Murphy’s national achievements include six Australian Indoor Championships and four Australian Open titles among 18 Grand Prix event successes.
Her international highlights include two gold medals in the singles and triples at the most recent World Championships in 2012 and Murphy is the current World Champion of Champion singles title-holder and boasts numerous Asia-Pacific Championships medals including three gold medals throughout her international career which now spans 18 years.
Bowls Australia Chief Executive Officer Neil Dalrymple acknowledged the achievements of Aarons as World Bowls President and welcomed the election of Murphy.
“Australia has been fortunate to have been well represented on the World Bowls Board over many years with Betty Collins and Joe Aarons making significant contributions during their time in office as President and I am sure Karen, who is held in such high regard across the world and has a wonderful understanding of the modern game will also continue to contribute greatly as the Asia and Oceania Director.
“I’d like to wish John Bell all the very best in the role of President of World Bowls and everyone at Bowls Australia looks forward to working closely with him and his Board as the sport of bowls around the world enters another exciting and important period in the sport’s growth and development,” Dalrymple said.
