Johns desires more green and gold
The commencement of the Burnside Pairs in Christchurch New Zealand on Friday 16 is the last opportunity for Australia’s brightest stars to impress selectors before the Trans-Tasman team will be announced.
Current Australian Open singles and fours champion Anne Johns has her best foot forward and a strong performance at the Burnside Pairs alongside World U’25 singles champion Chloe Stewart could be all Johns needs for a maiden Trans-Tasman appearance.
Whilst Johns has represented Australia on 28 occasions her short term goal is to be selected for the Trans-Tasman and her main focus for 2015 is to represent Australia at the Asia Pacific Championships in New Zealand in November.
A stellar 2014 saw Johns claim Australia’s most lucrative prize, the $18,000 Australian Open along with international success at the Asia Pacific Merdeka Indoor where she was a silver medallist in the singles.
Johns was also a semi-finalist at the prestigious Golden Nugget, a member of the NSW team that won the Marj Morris trophy at the Australian Sides Championships for the third year in a row and was part of the Australian Squad trialling for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Whilst Johns is making a name for herself as a singles prospect, her task this week is to skip one of Australia’s most promising rising star Chloe Stewart against some of New Zealand’s finest male and female bowlers.
“I’m very excited to be selected, I haven’t been to the Burnside Pairs for a few years so I look forward to a great tournament with an awesome bunch of people,” Mrs Johns said.
“Obviously I picked my partner very well with Chloe being a current Junior World Champion.”
Johns joked by quoting #armchairride, appreciating the selectors teaming her up with the talented Victorian.
The squad are accompanied by NSW/ACT NTC Coach Gary Willis, SA/NT NTC Coach Faye Luke, National Coach Steve Glasson who joins the team on Friday and Australian Selectors Beth Quinlan and David Stockham.
The 16 Australian’s competing in the Burnside Pairs have training today and tomorrow are set to take on a New Zealand composite side in a friendly leading into the event which kicks off on Friday.
For more information visit the Burnside Bowling Club website or continue to check the Bowls Australia website and Bowls Australia facebook page for results as they come through.
