By Mikayla Van Loon
For some of Lilydale Bowling Club’s best, taking on the club championships last week was no mean feat.
Despite having played in many before, the nerves were trickling in on the afternoon of Thursday 9 March for singles players Josh Sanders and Karen Morgan who were going for their fifth title each.
“I don’t really like singles, but I tend to go OK. I prefer to celebrate with my teammates, so I really prefer the team game,” Karen said.
“I’m actually quite nervous tonight. I’ve won a couple of club championships, hopefully I can get another one. Vicki [Smith], I know, is bowling really well, so it’s whoever bowls well on the day, each day is different and I just enjoy my bowls.”
Playing against one of his best friends in Rod Nicholson, Josh said out of all singles titles the one on Thursday would have meant the most.
“Funnily enough, this is probably the most nervous I’ve been in any of my singles titles. This one definitely would mean a hell of a lot,” he said.
Also taking on the quarter final in the pairs was longtime bowls legend and Commonwealth silver medalist John Snell who was taking to the green with his youngest son.
“We’re the title holders, the last two years actually so we’ve got a reputation,” he said.
At 88 years old, John is still enjoying his bowls and although not having the best season, he was able to make it through.
“The season for me hasn’t been so good, really, but I finished well, I thought, in the last few games. I’m a stayer more than a sprinter,” John said.
“I had the reputation of being a slow starter but I’d say concentration has been my great strength, which I found that comes from my mother actually. Mum won three club championships and my father won four. So I had a good pedigree.”
Being at Lilydale for 10 years now, John would like to think some of his skill and mindset has helped players continue throughout a game when perhaps falling behind.
For Josh, this was certainly the case over the course of the singles season, sometimes getting off to a slow start in games.
“I’ve had a topsy turvy year, actually doing quite a Snelly [John] thing by starting games very slow,” Josh said.
“I just got over the line in a couple of the games but that’s the main idea, it is a long game, the first to 25 and if you drop consistency for a couple of ends the players that are experienced in those high level games tend to put the foot down and get a few shots in a row which definitely helps.”
Preparing for their singles games, Josh and Karen both had individual routines to get them in the right mindset, Josh finding a quiet space to listen to one particular song and Karen finding the rhythm of the bowl.
As club coach, Josh said the entire Lilydale season was rather impressive, with a number of teams promoted to higher divisions.
“We had out of nine teams in the pennant across different days and nights, only one of them didn’t make finals,” he said.
As for John, seeing the firsts gain promotion was reward enough for the season.
“We’ve already achieved what we set out to do I feel and that is that they go into this new reserve, into premier,” he said.
“We don’t pay our players and that makes it that little bit harder for us but that’s where the strength of Lilydale and culture comes out.”
Making bowls part of his routine and structure, John said was his trick to consistency and longevity in the sport.
“I come down nearly every morning, just by myself, because it’s part of keeping fit. I’m 88 so I’m still able to play and I’m still competitive. It’s been very kind to me for 63 years.”
