Local bowler, Jacqui Janse van Rensburg, was selected to be part of the national squad representing South Africa at the 2023 Multi-Nations Tournament in Australia.
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Held from March 25 to 31, eight teams – New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Hong Kong China, Norfolk Island, Queensland, Aus Green and Aus Yellow – took to the Gold Coast for a week of competition.
South Africa’s triple team received a silver.
Jacqui has been bowling for 19 years.
She has been a member of the Bedfordview Bowls Club from 2011 to 2019 and re-joined the club in 2022.
“There are many things I love about this game.
“I love meeting new people and the diversity the game allows for. I enjoy the competitive aspect as well,” stated Jacqui.
In September she won the district (Johannesburg Bowling Association) Women’s Masters.
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In 2019, she was part of a fours team that won silver in the Atlantic Rim tournament in Wales.
“My trip to Australia was nothing short of incredible and a definite eye-opener to the standard of bowls on an international platform.
“Australian bowlers are the best in the world and I learnt a lot from them, New Zealand and our other opponents.
“Our ladies’ triples managed a silver against the experienced and respected Val Smith and her team from New Zealand.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and being a part of an amazing team and representing my country,” she said.
The SA para and partially sighted bowlers won a bronze and a gold medal, respectively.
“I know I have room for improvement performance-wise. It’s an entirely different ball game (excuse the pun) playing on Australian surfaces. It requires a different mindset and consistency is so crucial,” she added.
She is looking forward to the upcoming South African Bowls Nationals, which will take place from May 6 until 14 in Pretoria.
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“Upcoming South African tournaments this year is the African States in Namibia in June and the biggie in August/September is World Bowls, which will be played at the Gold Coast again.
“Teams for the latter two will be announced after the nationals. I am holding thumbs!” concluded Jacqui.