Ellen’s big year
Young Goulburn lawn bowler Ellen Ryan is continuing to impress selectors with her consistent performances both as an individual and a team player, recently being named the NSW junior female bowler for 2014, Darryl Fernance reports for the Goulburn Post .
She is a representative in the NSW Open Women’s Squad, playing test matches against the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, winning all but the QLD test.
Ellen represented Australia in the development team at the Trans Tasman match against New Zealand in Christchurch.
She won the Lansdowne District pairs with Claire Turley from Cabramatta.
While she still lives in Goulburn, attending Goulburn High School and working casually at the Lilac City Cinemas, Ellen plays for Cabramatta Bowling Club because of the opportunities it presents her on a development and competitive level.
Ellen is a member of the Cabramatta Pennant number one side which has won the district competition and will progress through to the NSW finals later this year.
Next week she will be contesting the District Triples with Claire Turley and Karen Murphy at Ingleburn and the following week the District Fours at Cabramatta with Claire, Karen and Kay Moran.
Ellen’s representative duties took her with the NSW Open Women’s team to the Australian Sides Championships in Perth, where NSW won the Marj Morris Trophy and the overall trophy.
Ellen played in the Best Performed Rink at that competition, unbeaten against all states.
In two weeks she heads to Broadbeach for a two week Australian selection camp for the 2015-16 Australian Open Squad.
There is a prospect of Ellen being selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games as she is one of the members of the Next Generation Australian Commonwealth Games Squad 2015.
If all these commitments are not enough the now 18 year-old has qualified along with fellow Goulburn bowler Jodie Marshall for the Australian Indoor Championships at Tweed Heads in August.
Ellen’s mum Cathie said that it is a huge year for her Ellen, “the biggest since she started playing bowls at the age of 9.”
“We are grateful to her employer Lilac City Cinemas who have been so supportive of her sporting aspirations also her school,” Cathie said.
“It is exciting for us to see Ellen representing NSW, her hometown and her bowling club and along with the other young representative bowlers showing that bowls is a game for young people.”
