Hall returns from national bowls championship with gold

The Seymour bowler has returned from the 2023 Australian National Bowls Championship in Perth, where she won gold as part of the Victorian team.

After a good season last year, Hall was ready to make her mark in the Victorian seniors side.

“First of all, you have to be invited to come and trial to play for a Victorian side,” Hall said.

“They invited 24 to 30 people to trial that they thought had played well that year, and they chose 12 (to compete in Perth).

“We played a couple of practice matches, and we also played earlier in the season in a test match against NSW, which we actually drew.

“This (the championships in Perth) was the major event.

“You play every other state and territory for the honour of winning the Australian national team championship.”

Experience was on Hall’s side, as in the previous year’s tournament on the Gold Coast, she was part of the undefeated Victorian senior women’s team that claimed gold.

This year, the Victorians got off to a rocky start, losing their first match to NSW.

Hall said the championship went right down to the wire.

“We kept playing in the hope that maybe someone would knock off NSW,” she said.

“We had to rely on South Australia to beat NSW in their last game, which they did.

“South Australia won on the last end with almost the last bowl.

“So we’ve done that (win gold) two years running, so it is an absolute honour. It is hard work.”

Hall said the tough conditions contributed to making the competition tiring.

“The wind was just unbelievable, like gale-force winds there every day,” she said.

“We played two test matches a day, so we were up at 6am and started play at 8am and played to 5pm in the afternoon.

“So, I’m going to say, us over-60 ladies are a fairly tough mob.”

The senior women were not the only Victorians to return home with a medal, as the senior men claimed silver in their championship.

Victoria also won the award for the best overall state.

Hall’s rink of four players did especially well as it drew its first match with NSW and won the other six.

It missed out on the title of best rink by half a point.

Hall is keen to return to the Victorian side in the future as it provides a rare opportunity for older players to compete at the top level.

“We often say that it’s not too often that you can be over 60 and be in a representative squad for your state,” she said.

“Lawn bowls is one sport that makes it possible.

“They were talking about maybe not having it, but I’m hoping that they do because it is a pathway for people as they get older to aim for.”