Howie pins his hopes on male bowler of the year
Andrew Howie’s Male Bowler of the Year finalist nod has him looking towards the future, as David Polkinghorne reports for the Canberra Times. Selection for this year’s Commonwealth Games might be out of reach, but ACT skipper Andrew Howie hopes his nomination for Bowls Australia male bowler of the year kicks his career towards a berth in four years’ time. Howie’s Super Sixes singles win at last year’s national championships helped the Weston Creek bowler into the final two for the gong, up against former world number two Brett Wilkie. The winner will be announced at the Bowls Australia awards night in Tasmania on March 29. Trials are being held in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which do not include Howie. But he is part of the Australian development squad and hopes to retain his place in that when it is announced next week. Last year treated Howie well. Not only did he claim the Super Sixes singles crown but he also made the semi-finals of the Australian indoor semi-finals of the Australian Indoor Championships, won the ACT state pairs and champion-of-champions singles titles, and was runner-up in the state triples. His focus is on getting ready for the southern hemisphere’s biggest tournament, the Australian Open, where a good showing will further boost his stocks. “I think it’ll definitely kick my career along, but I think just being nominated is an achievement in itself even if I don’t end up winning on the night,” he said. “But hopefully it will lead to bigger and better things.” Then he will look to help the ACT men put in an improved showing at the Australian Sides Championships in Tasmania at the end of next month. Plus defend his Super Sixes singles title. The ACT men won’t be going in with the best form, having lost all three games in the recent quadrangle series against Newcastle, Central Coast and Illawarra. The women performed better, winning one Test in a three-Test series against Central Coast. series against Central Coast. series against Central Coast.