Schraner calls time on Jackaroos career
The sun has set on Lee Schraner’s international bowling career, after the one-time BCiB Australian Jackaroo today signalled his immediate resignation from further representation.
Schraner, 37, whose sole capped appearance for the green and gold contingent came in 2010, was reinstated to the sport’s second-tier squad, the Emerging Jackaroos, in 2018 following a sublime period across all levels, but declared his hand after being overlooked for this year’s contingent.
Schaner, who is Australia’s 132nd capped male representative, will honour his commitment to compete uncapped at this year’s World Champion of Champions event at Adelaide Bowling Club, where he will attempt to better the bronze medal secured in 2018, but conceded that his decorated career at the top level is all but over.
“After my recent omission from the Emerging Jackaroos Squad, I have decided to announce my retirement from National representation,” Schraner informed Bowls Australia today.
“This call has not come lightly, but I feel it is the graceful thing to do when you personally believe your time is up.
“I want to congratulate the Jackaroos on their awesome performances over the past few years and wish them all the very best for the future; they are our elite performers and the work they put in to continually win medals is simply incredible.
“I enjoyed the Jackaroo family environment and my past year in the program; I learnt a lot about discipline, high performance and team culture, which will only assist my own personal coaching endeavours moving forward.”
According to Schraner, despite briefly retiring from all levels of the sport in 2011, he intended this to be a permanent conclusion to his national representation but would still pursue other formats including further state representation.
“Unlike my temporary retirement in 2011, this one is definite; another 8 years have gone by and the hunger for National representation motivated me to win a number of big titles,” Schraner said.
“While I will continue to strive for Victorian State Representation moving forward, as well as trying to win some more big events, I must be realistic about my National chances.
“It is a great thing to pursue your dreams, but life is too short to pursue them forever.
“Later this year I have earned the opportunity to play in the green and gold again at the World Champion of Champions in Adelaide.
“After Bronze last year, I am hoping to go one or two better this time around. It seems like the perfect platform to finish on (unless of course I somehow do it again in the future).
“Considering my battles with mental illness over the past 17 years, I believe I have succeeded well beyond what would have been expected of me; times can be tough, but my motivation and desire to achieve in bowls has pulled me through some tricky times.”
Boasting an impressive resume, Schraner has accumulated 61 club titles, 40 group tiles, 18 state titles, 14 national titles, one international title and represented Victoria and Tasmania a combined 297 times.
Bowls Australia wish Lee well with his future endeavours, both on and off the green.
