NTC pathway paying dividends
Bowls Australia’s National Training Centre athletes have had a major breakthrough in Queensland with four players boosted into the Open State Side to contest Australia’s premier national state verse state event, the Australian Sides Championships at Yokine Districts in Western Australia.
Queensland selectors announced the selection of players from Australia’s pathway program the National Training Centre Squad, headed up by current Australian Jackaroo Brett Wilkie.
Sean Ingham, Des Cann, Kurt Brown and Kiani Anderson have all had successful junior careers and in making the transition to the senior ranks have been involved with Bowls Australia’s NTC program for a numbers of years.
After a disappointing series against New South Wales, defending Alley Shield Champions Queensland made drastic changes to their line-up for the forthcoming Australian Sides Championships with the inclusion of Ingham, Cann and Brown much to the delight of their coach (and now fellow Queensland team mate) Brett Wilkie.
“It is very pleasing that selectors have taken notice of the hard work and improvements the NTC players have made to their games and the dedication and patience they have shown whilst being on the fringe for some time,” Mr Wilkie said.
Ingham, Brown and Cann have all represented Queensland in previous test series’ however their selection in the Australian Sides team has come after a highly successful campaign for the QLD NTC side against NSW in their inaugural challenge at Broadbeach Bowling Club.
Kawana’s Kiani Anderson will make her Queensland debut in the most prestigious national event, though she will be surrounded by World Champions, Australian Jackaroos, Australian ‘A’ Squad members and six other NTC Squad members from all over Queensland.
Anderson was runner-up in QLD Champion of Champion Singles in 2013, she represented the QLD NTC team against the ACT/NSW NTC team in the inaugural challenge at Broadbeach late last year and will be a player to watch in her debut in Perth.
Established in October 2011, the NTC squads are overseen by National Coach Steve Glasson and five NTC Coaches who are charged with the responsibility of the identification of talent and the preparation, both on and off the green, of each state’s most promising players to achieve international representative honours throughout their careers while also preparing them as quality individuals and elite athletes are key components of their training programs.
Steve Glasson was extremely pleased when he saw that four new NTC Squad members had been selected in the QLD State team.
“These selections not only underline the skill, talent and potential these 4 players possess, also their outstanding development and dedication to the High Performance Program,” Mr Glasson said.
“Brett is doing a fantastic job with his QLD athletes and is extremely diligent in his role as QLD NTC Coach,” Mr Glasson said.
“This selection is also reward for Brett who puts so much time and effort into them individually; I’m sure Brett will be delighted to aim up in the maroon colours with them and continue to guide them to be the very best they can on and off the green.”
“I wish all 4 players every ounce of satisfaction, success and enjoyment ongoing and look forward to witnessing their contribution to the respective state’s chances at Yokine Districts along with so many other talented players from right across the nation.”
The Australian Sides Championships is just three days away with round one commencing at 9am on Thursday April 9.
Matches in round one include NSW v VIC, ACT v WA, TAS v NT, SA v QLD and you can find the team lists, conditions of play and full schedule by following this link to the events page on the Bowls Australia website.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in …
