BOWLS WA REPORTS - HIGH PERFORMANCE
Once again, the National Side Series for Under 18’s, Over 60’s and the Open Team were cancelled due to Covid restrictions.
Pieter Harris
This season it was even more devastating than the previous year as teams had been selected with a number of players being selected for the first time or in the Under 18’s case becoming too old. Although extremely disappointing, Bowls Australia in conjunction with the State Associations had no other course of action under the circumstances. At the end of October, all the members of the state selection panels came to the end of their term of appointment. However, due to the circumstances the Bowls WA Board offered all those who wished to continue a one-year extension to their term. Therefore Kerry Andersen (chair of the selection panel), Therese Hastings (women’s coach and open team selector), Tony Hockey (men’s coach and open team selector), Helen Stevens (open team selector), Lindsay Thorn (Over 60’s selector) and Linda Warburton (academy coach and under 18’s selector)) were all reappointed. Ken Perks (under 18’s coach and selector), Jaewyn Norton (over 60’s selector) and Pieter Harris (open team selector) all decided not to take up the extension for various reasons. As with all volunteer positions, being a dedicated coach and selector does take a lot of time and Bowls WA thanks those retiring members very much for their contribution over the years. To fill the positions, advertisements were made, and it was very satisfying to be able
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to appoint dedicated and experienced replacements. Blake Butler (under 18’s coach and selector), Margaret Anderson (over 60’s selector) and Kyle Mcilroy (open team selector) all came with renewed enthusiasm and have made wonderful contributions this season. As it was only a one-year appointment to bring them in line with all the High-Performance positions, all coaching and selection positions will be readvertised in November 2022. After a successful inaugural Bowls Blitz concluding in August 2021, a second bowls blitz began and will run for a three-week period during July 2022. Blooms The Chemist Stars were the inaugural winners with a team makeup of Kristina Krstic (captain), Blake Nairn, Blake Butler, Lisa Brannan, Matthew Whitely, Ryan Brown, Joel Leeson, Segan Pasalich, Therese Hastings (manager). All players and high-performance managers enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their skills and push for either state team selection or future state squad selection.
