Diggers Rest bowler Amanda Rayner captures 2022-2023 BHBR Women’s Novice Singles title
Emerging Diggers Rest bowler, Amanda Rayner, has captured the 2022/2023 BHBR Women’s Novice Singles title in the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region.
Amanda defeated Romsey’s Elizabeth Taylor 21-7 in a highly competitive match played on Sunday, 4th December 2022 at Webbcona Bowling Club.
No stranger to competitive sport, Amanda is a veteran state basketballer at the highest level who only took up lawn bowls due to a void in sports events following the recent pandemic.
In December 2021, Amanda and her partner, Phil Robinson, who also played the Men’s Novice Singles, were driving past the Diggers Rest Bowling Club and saw Barefoot Bowls being advertised, and it was there the pair’s love affair with lawn bowls began.
Under the watchful eyes and guidance of David and Tricia Odgers, both Amanda and Phil have made great strides in their short time since joining the club.
“I’ve been bitten by the bowls bug,” Amanda said excitedly.
“What started out as a bit of barefoot bowls fun has turned into a sporting passion where we both just want to get better and play bowls all the time.”
“Ever since we joined the Diggers Rest Bowls Club we’ve been made to feel very welcome and everyone is so warm and friendly and it’s a great club to be a part of.”
“David and Tricia Odgers have been fantastic helping to improve our bowling and David’s practice drills and bowling experience were a great help to my winning the Women’s Novice event at Webbcona.”
The Odgers name had more than a helping hand in Amanda’s success with David and Tricia’s well-known daughter, champion Australian bowler, Carla Krizanic, kindly loaning out her successful Under 18, Size 2 Dreamline XG bowls to Amanda to use.
And it might be a while before Carla gets her bowls back with the Women’s Novice Singles winner entered for all and sundry in coming weeks.
“Phil and I have entered tournaments all over the place in the next couple of weeks so I may have to keep the XG’s on loan just a little longer,” Amanda said amusingly.
“We can’t get enough bowls.”
The bowls bug has struck big time and congratulations to Amanda Rayner on becoming the first ever BHBR Women’s Novice Singles winner.
22-23 BHBR Women’s Novice Singles Finals
Played on Sunday, 4th December 2022 at Webbcona Bowling Club.
SEMI FINALS
SF1: A Rayner (Diggers Rest) 21-18 L Ritchie (Macedon Ranges)
SF2: D Twomey (Webbcona) 18-21 E Taylor (Romsey)
FINAL
A Rayner (Diggers Rest) 21-7 E Taylor (Romsey)