Murphy puts Australia on top of the world…again
For the second time in just over 12 months, world number two Karen Murphy has won a world singles title For the second time in just over 12 months, world number two Karen Murphy has won a world singles title and in so doing affirmed Australia as the dominant nation in world bowls.
In November 2012, Murphy spearheaded the Australian Jackaroos at the World Championships in Adelaide winning two of Australia’s five gold medals including the women’s singles and also as a member of the women’s triples combination (with Lynsey Clarke and Natasha Van Eldik) and earlier today captured the coveted World Champion of Champions title in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Australia’s male representative at the singles event, Melbourne’s 19-year-old rising star Dylan Fisher dominated his section of the draw throughout dropping only one match before falling agonisingly short of making the men’s final by two shots after being beaten in his semi-final on Saturday by Scotland’s Alastair White 7-8, 5-6 in what shapes to be a career-defining tournament for the teenager.
Murphy has had a stellar year on the green which included winning her sixth Australian Indoor title at Tweed Heads and bookended her year by winning the World Championships gold medal last November and now the World Champion of Champions gold medal both of which had eluded Australia’s number one female bowler throughout her career.
“To win both titles in the space of about 12 months is an incredible feeling and I feel somewhat rewarded for the extensive training and travel I’ve had to do to get here,” Murphy said after her victory.
“This is such a prestigious event and has been won in the past by some wonderful players so I am just honoured and privileged to now be able to hold the title amongst some great names in bowls. “The path to simply qualify for the event is such a long one given the number of club, district, state and national titles you need to win over a long period of time just to earn your ticket so that makes it even more special.”
Murphy becomes only the second Australian female to win the World Champion of Champions title after Kelsey Cottrell’s 2009 success in Ayr, Scotland. Fisher was attempting to emulate the feats of former Australian winners Leif Selby, Brett Wilkie and Aron Sherriff who claimed the champions trophy in three consecutive years from 2008-2010.
National Coach Steve Glasson was rink side in New Zealand for the duration of the event and leaves proud and full of praise for his national representatives. “Karen’s performance was outstanding against some quality opposition from all parts of the world. “She has embarked on a hectic schedule this year and particularly recently so to be in such solid and dominant form and ready for this event, and her 14 matches in a week, is a credit to her,”
Glasson said. “She has now got the chance to play the World Cup at Warilla in April and that presents her with an opportunity to hold all three major world singles titles in the one year which would be incredible for not only her but for the sport of bowls in this country.”
“The performance of Dylan Fisher to play like he did in an internationally acclaimed event such as the World Champion of Champions cannot go without acknowledgement either as he dropped only one match en-route to making the semi-final which is a superb effort,”
Glasson added. “He is a young lad with a very bright future and someone who we expect to represent our country with class and professionalism both on and off the green for a very long time.”
For full results from the 2013 World Champion of Champions, click here
