Her second national championship, Katie came home with three gold medals and a silver.
Playing in his first nationals, Tom won two gold and a silver medal.
Both were also part of the NSW side which won the Overall Trophy, with Katie receiving another gold medal as part of the Best Girls Side, both won gold in the Fours, with Tom getting silver in the Triples and Katie getting silver in the Pairs.
Merrylands Bowling Club’s Development Coordinator Gavin Holburn said the results were very impressive when you consider that NSW were dominated on home turf by Victoria and Queensland in June.
“Both Merrylands players learned from that experience and practised intently ahead of Western Australia,” he said.
“They had major successes in the lead up with Katie winning the Women’s Major Singles title at the club a week prior, and Tom winning two Open Men’s Zone titles recently.”
Club Merrylands had five other players competing at the nationals – Tom’s 14-year-old brother, Sam, was selected as part of a composite NSW/VIC side to replace the Northern Territory.
He was very close to having to compete against his brother in the Fours Final, before finishing fourth. Michael Clarke competed as part of the NSW Senior (Over 60s) Side which suffered two narrow defeats on day one after arriving in Perth at 3am after flight delays.
A Merrylands Men’s Triples side will represent NSW in the upcoming Australian Triples Championships.
To find out more or register to join the club, call 9682 8018.
Raining gold at U18 bowls national titles
IT was raining gold for two young Club Merrylands bowlers in Western Australia last week, with Tom Rich and Katie Astley competing and performing amazingly in the Australian U18 Bowls Championships.
