Sherriff and Cottrell singled out for Glasgow
Aron Sherriff and Kelsey Cottrell have secured the coveted singles berths in the Australian bowls team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow commencing on July 23. In March, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association announced the full team of 17 to compete in Scotland and today, Bowls Australia National Coach Steve Glasson put the finishing touches to the team selection by announcing the disciplines and respective positions each bowler will play. In making the announcement, Glasson emphasised that the decision was a tough one due to the overall strength, ability and flexibility of the team where many players could play a number of disciplines and positions which he says is a positive. “We have just completed our second last training camp in Melbourne before we head to the UK so we have had a great opportunity to look at the entire team in a number of simulated matches in different disciplines and positions,” Glasson said. “The selectors believe the final decision on the positions each player has been selected in to represent their country augers well for a strong performance by our Aussie bowlers at the Commonwealth Games and we have the utmost confidence in the group to compete strongly for medals. “Both Aron and Kelsey deserve their opportunity to represent Australia in the singles competition which is both prestigious but also challenging and we expect no match to be an easy encounter at this level.” Sherriff will be trying emulate the heroic feats of Robert Parrella (Auckland, 1990) and Kelvin Kerkow (Melbourne, 2006) and become Australia’s third Commonwealth Games men’s singles gold medallist while Cottrell, if successful, will become the Australia’s first female singles gold medal champion. Victoria’s Carla Odgers (lead) joins NSW’s Natasha Scott (skip) in the women’s pairs while Cottrell will skip the triples alongside Australian captain Lynsey Clarke who will lead and Cabramatta’s Karen Murphy. Clarke and Murphy combined in 2006 to win gold in the women’s pairs in Melbourne. Odgers, Scott, Clarke and Murphy form the Australian fours combination in Glasgow. Sherriff will partner Club Helensvale’s Brett Wilkie who will lead in the pairs, striving to become Australia’s fourth pairs duo to claim gold after Ian Schuback and Trevor Morris achieved it in 1990, Cameron Curtis and Rex Johnson in 1994 and Brett Duprez and Mark Jacobsen in 1998 over three consecutive Games. Commonwealth Games debutante Wayne Ruediger will lead for Nathan Rice and another debutante Matthew Flapper will skip in the men’s triples. Ruediger, Wilkie, Rice and Flapper make up the men’s fours combination. Australia’s para-sport team positions have also been announced with Queensland’s Joy Forster leading Victoria’s Tony Scott in the Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs while Tim Slater (VIC) leads Tony Bonnell (QLD) and NSW’s James Reynolds in the Bowlers with a Disability Triples. Australia’s first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal was won courtesy of the men’s fours combination of Herbert Sharp, Robert Dobbins, Donald Sherman and Keith Poole at the 1982 Games held in Brisbane. Women Singles – Kelsey Cottrell Pairs – Carla Odgers and Natasha Scott Triples – Lynsey Clarke, Karen Murphy and Kelsey Cottrell Fours – Carla Odgers, Natasha Scott, Lynsey Clarke and Karen Murphy Men Singles – Aron Sherriff Pairs – Brett Wilkie and Aron Sherriff Triples – Wayne Ruediger, Nathan Rice and Matthew Flapper Fours – Wayne Ruediger, Brett Wilkie, Nathan Rice and Matthew Flapper Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs Joy Forster (Bruce Jones – Director) Tony Scott (Peter Scott – Director) Bowlers with a Disability Triples Tim Slater Tony (Anthony) Bonnell James Reynolds BOWLS’ COMMONWEALTH GAMES GOLD MEDALS OVER HISTORY 1982 – MEN’S FOURS (Brisbane, Australia) Herbert Sharp, Robert Dobbins, Donald Sherman & Keith Poole 1990 – MEN’S SINGLES (Auckland, New Zealand) Robert Parrella 1990 – MEN’S PAIRS (Auckland, New Zealand) Ian Schuback & Trevor Morris 1990 – WOMEN’S FOURS …
