Victoria recognised at 2017 Bowls Australia Awards
Victoria has two guaranteed winners, plus five more finalists for the 2017 Bowls Australia Awards Night in October.
Mulgrave Country Club’s Barrie Lester and Sunbury’s Carla Krizanic are the only two confirmed winners, having secured their respective Cruiseabout Male and Female Bowler of the Year titles by virtue of winning the sport’s National Player Ranking points for 2016-17 and finishing as Australia’s No.1 bowlers.
But long-time Victorian-based bowler Aaron Wilson heads a strong list of other Victorian finalists shortlisted for awards where the sport’s most outstanding athletes, administrators and officials are recognised on the Gold Coast on October 26.
Wilson, from Bendigo, will vie for the International Bowler of Year along with world champion pairs teammate Brett Wilkie.
Australian Open men’s pairs winner Josh Thornton (East Shepparton) goes up against World Vision Impaired Championships dual gold medallist Lynne Seymour in the Bowlers with a Disability award.
Last year’s Club of the Year runner-up Torquay Bowls Club is again a finalist this year, for general excellence, up against Queensland’s Rockhampton Bowls Club.
Victoria’s Laureen Smith is a finalist in the Official of the Year category, while Western Victoria’s Regional Bowls Manager John Emerson is shortlisted for Regional Bowls Manager of the Year.
Full award finalists:
• Australian Sports Commission International Bowler of the Year finalists: Brett Wilkie (Club Helensvale, QLD) and Aaron Wilson (Cabramatta, NSW)
• Cruiseabout Male Bowler of the Year winner: Barrie Lester (Mulgrave Country Club, VIC)
• Cruiseabout Female Bowler of the Year winner: Carla Krizanic (Sunbury, VIC)
• BCiB Insurance Brokers Under-18 Male Bowler of the Year finalists: Jono Davis (Club Mount Lewis, NSW) and Lachlan Sims (Trevallyn, TAS)
• Tourism and Events Queensland Under-18 Female Bowler of the Year finalists: Kate Matthews (Raymond Terrace, NSW) and Jessica Srisamruaybai (Tweed Heads, QLD)
• Bowler with a Disability of the Year finalists: Lynne Seymour (Thuringowa, QLD) and Josh Thornton (East Shepparton, VIC)
• Stockland Retirement Living Club of the Year finalists: Rockhampton Bowls Club (QLD) and Torquay Bowls Club (VIC)
• CIty of Gold Coast Coach of the Year finalists: Chris Green (Taren Point, NSW) and Les Carter (Bowls SA)
• Volunteer of the Year finalists: John Luchetti (Yamba, NSW) and Barry O’Brien (Club Pine Rivers, QLD)
• Official of the Year finalists: Diane Milner (Walaroo, SA) and Laureen Smith (Mulwala, VIC)
• Bolton Clarke Regional Bowls Manager of the Year finalists: Andrew Howie (South East Queensland), John Emerson (Western Victoria) and David Inglis (Riverina and Western NSW)
Tickets for the 2017 Awards Night and Hall of Fame Dinner can be purchased online here, and includes a three-course meal and drink packages.
