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World Cup Indoor Singles in
Australia. How did that go?
TB:
I was grateful to play singles
against some of the world’s best
and have learnt so much from
the experience. I had a great
run considering that it was my
first tournament on an indoor
surface. I was rather intimidated
by the draw because the World
#1 and World #2 were in my
section. I started off losing my
first game to Ireland who really
was an incredible bowler but
managed to snatch the next 2
games the following day which
helped build my confidence.
I was really nervous facing
the world #2 Alison Merrien
(Guernsey) because I had
watched her play numerous
times and I knew I had to lift
my game if I wanted to win. I
managed to win the first set
which was a great achievement
on its own. I was holding game
on the last end in the second
set until she delivered her last
bowl, forcing a tie-break which
she won. I was not disappointed
with the end result since I felt
that I had given a brilliant bowler
a great run.
I was in 4th position at the time
and needed to win my next
2 games to hold a spot in the
play-offs. I had to face world
#1 Jo Edwards from NZ. I had
lost the first set but came back
really well to win the second
set to force the tie-break.
Unfortunately I lost the tie-break
once again and my spot in the
play-offs. I still had one game
to go and focused on finishing
4th in the section which was the
best I could do at that time. I
faced Malaysia the next morning
where I managed to pull off a
straight set win. At the end of
the tournament I finished in 8th
position of 22 participants on
my first attempt on indoor turf.
TL:
Where is South Africa
ranked in the world?
TB:
South Africa is ranked in the
top 5 countries and we have
really redeemed ourselves
over the last couple of years,
especially at theCommonwealth
Games in Delhi when our squad
snatched 3 gold medals of a
possible 6.
I really think that the talent of
bowls in our country is great,
especially in the ladies sections.
We used to struggle to get the
young ladies to play and now
we are able to enter a whole
section of ladies teams into
the U25 provincial tournament
which I think is outstanding.
TL:
Where do you draw your
inspiration from?
TB:
My family are my biggest
supporters and they are the
ones that inspire me to achieve.
I don’t think it is ever possible to
make it so far without that great
love and support.
TL:
What are your next
goals?
TB:
I made my first long term
goal 3 years ago where I wanted
to make the Gold Squad before
I turned 21 years old which I
did with 4 months to spare! My
second goal was to be selected
to play in the Commonwealth
Games in New Delhi and
achieved that with a gold medal.
My next goal at this stage would
be to represent South Africa in
theWorldBowlsChampionships
held in Adelaide in November
this year. After that I will focus
on a long term goal of winning
the World Cup Championships
one day.
SA BOWLERS WARM UP FOR
WORLD BOWLS
Two fully representative lawn bowls sides have
been announced by Bowls South Africa for a Six
Nation International in Adelaide, Australia from May
15-20 Taking part are: Australia, Fiji, Malaysia, New
Zealand, Scotland and South Africa. The event is
seen as a precursor event for World Bowls to be
held at the same venue later this year.
Several of the players are former or contemporary
world champions, while Tracy-Lee Botha
(Johannesburg) and Pierre Breitenbach (North
West) are among the top four juniors (Under-25)
bowlers in the world in their gender groups.
The Sides:
Women:
Tracy-Lee Botha (Johannesburg Bowling
Association), Helen Grundlingh (Port Natal) Sylvia
Burns (WP) Colleen Piketh (JBA) Esmé Steyn
(JBA) Santjie Steyn (Boland).
Men:
Gerry Baker (JBA), Pierre Breitenbach (NW),
Bobby Donnelly (JBA), Wayne Perry ( S Free
State) Clinton Roets (S Free State), Gidion
Vermeulen (Port Natal) Manager: Ron Weddell
(Bowls SA); Coaches: Theuns Fraser, Jessica
Henderson.
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