Rosenthal Medal – Warren Holt
Men’s Outstanding Bowler of the Year The 2018 Lindsay Rosenthal Medalist as the best male player this season is Wagin’s Warren Holt.
He accepted the medal along with his two other awards at the Bowls WA Awards Night at Crown in May.
Holt breaks a four-year stranglehold on the medal that was held by Clive Adams and Tom Mitchell and is the first new winner since 2013.
He also becomes just the sixth member of a country bowling club to win the medal joining Ron Taylor, Jack Osmetti, Geoff Ellis, Keith Doncon and Gary Caffell. The most recent country winner was Caffell who won his medal with Tammin in 2005.
Holt won the award by becoming the first player since Hall of Famer Harry Snook in 1946 to win the State Singles and Champion of Champions Singles in the same season.
He again broke significant country droughts in both events in winning the title. First in winning the State Singles he was the first country winner since Bill Upton in 1987 and then became the first country Champion of Champions winner since John Cowin in 1999.
Holt described some of the difficulties he and other country players face to play in these events.
“It’s sort of a two and half, three hour drive from Wagin to Perth to play in most metro clubs so that’s always a bit of a challenge,” he said.
When presented with his award Holt thanked his club, his family and the WA bowls community for their support of him.
He also hinted that the medal may have solved a long-time family argument.
“One last thank you is Dad,” he said.
“He still thinks he can beat me but I think I’ve got him covered now.”
Holt is keeping his head on his shoulders and had relatively modest ambitions when asked what he’s looking at next.
“Just keep playing for Wagin and if I can replicate a year like this it’ll be great,” he said.
