Bowls Canada Boulingrin and Commonwealth Games Canada announced the Lawn Bowls athletes and coaches who will join Team Canada for the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India from October 3 - 14.
Veteran international competitor, Keith Roney (Regina, SK), is headed for his third straight Commonwealth Games, having competed in Manchester, England (2002) and Melbourne, Australia (2006). Roney is joined by two of the world's outstanding international bowlers, Ryan Bester (Cabramatta, Australia) and Hiren Bhartu (Nanaimo, BC), along with other experienced Canadian champions and international-level athletes. On the women's side, Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong (Winnipeg, MB), a silver medalist at the 2002 Games in Manchester, is part of a squad that combines experience and youth.
"This is a group of athletes that we expect will perform extremely well in Delhi," stated Chef de Mission, Martha Deacon. "I'm really looking forward to watching them compete in the Canadian Championships coming up in August in Edmonton."
Shirley Lenarduzzi, Co-Chair of Bowls Canada Boulingrin's High Performance Committee, added there is great excitement and anticipation among the team members who are preparing for the Delhi Games. "I have a really good feeling about this group," she added, "with such a solid mixture of experienced international athletes and young, rising stars, we're looking forward to some great podium performances in October."
The team will be coached for the first time by an Australian, David Millard (Cardiff, Australia). Prior to being named to the position, David coached in the Australian Premier League. He made his first international coaching appearance -- and his first as coach of Canada's national bowls team -- at the 2009 Atlantic Championships in South Africa in May, 2009.
The team was chosen after two selection camps: one in Arizona in January, with the final cut being made at a selection camp at White Rock, B.C. in May. The athletes include:
Women
Amanda Berg, 23, (Edmonton, AB). Her first major international competition.
Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong, 39, (Winnipeg, MB). Silver medalist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2009 Canadian Pairs Champion.
Rachel Larson, 53, (Saskatoon, SK). 2009 Canadian Pairs silver medalist.
Josephine Lee, 61, (Burnaby, BC). 2009 National Singles Champion and won silver at the Hong Kong Classic in December 2009.
Harriette Pituley, 52, (Regina, SK). 1997 Canadian gold medalist in Pairs and was a member of the National Team at the 2007 Asia Pacific Championships and the 2009 Atlantic Championships.
Men
Ryan Bester, 26, (Cabramatta, Australia. Hometown: Hanover, ON). 2004 World Champion in Pairs with fellow National Team member, Keith Roney. Currently ranked #16 in the world in Singles.
Hiren Bhartu, 52, (Nanaimo, BC). 2008 Canadian Singles Champion and currently ranked 6th in the world in Singles.
Michel Larue, 44, (Longueuil, QC). Gold medalist in Pairs and bronze medalist in Fours at the 2003 Asia Pacific Championships.
Steve McKerihen, 53, (Toronto, ON). National Team member since 2004, silver medalist in Triples and bronze medalist in Fours at 2007 Asia Pacific Championships.
Keith Roney, 62, (Regina, SK). Member of Bowls Canada's National Team for 23 years. Former Pairs World Champion (2004) with Ryan Bester.
Fred Wallbank, 58, (Toronto, ON). Four-time gold medalist in Fours at the Canadian Championships.
Veteran international competitor, Keith Roney (Regina, SK), is headed for his third straight Commonwealth Games, having competed in Manchester, England (2002) and Melbourne, Australia (2006). Roney is joined by two of the world's outstanding international bowlers, Ryan Bester (Cabramatta, Australia) and Hiren Bhartu (Nanaimo, BC), along with other experienced Canadian champions and international-level athletes. On the women's side, Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong (Winnipeg, MB), a silver medalist at the 2002 Games in Manchester, is part of a squad that combines experience and youth.
"This is a group of athletes that we expect will perform extremely well in Delhi," stated Chef de Mission, Martha Deacon. "I'm really looking forward to watching them compete in the Canadian Championships coming up in August in Edmonton."
Shirley Lenarduzzi, Co-Chair of Bowls Canada Boulingrin's High Performance Committee, added there is great excitement and anticipation among the team members who are preparing for the Delhi Games. "I have a really good feeling about this group," she added, "with such a solid mixture of experienced international athletes and young, rising stars, we're looking forward to some great podium performances in October."
The team will be coached for the first time by an Australian, David Millard (Cardiff, Australia). Prior to being named to the position, David coached in the Australian Premier League. He made his first international coaching appearance -- and his first as coach of Canada's national bowls team -- at the 2009 Atlantic Championships in South Africa in May, 2009.
The team was chosen after two selection camps: one in Arizona in January, with the final cut being made at a selection camp at White Rock, B.C. in May. The athletes include:
Women
Amanda Berg, 23, (Edmonton, AB). Her first major international competition.
Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong, 39, (Winnipeg, MB). Silver medalist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2009 Canadian Pairs Champion.
Rachel Larson, 53, (Saskatoon, SK). 2009 Canadian Pairs silver medalist.
Josephine Lee, 61, (Burnaby, BC). 2009 National Singles Champion and won silver at the Hong Kong Classic in December 2009.
Harriette Pituley, 52, (Regina, SK). 1997 Canadian gold medalist in Pairs and was a member of the National Team at the 2007 Asia Pacific Championships and the 2009 Atlantic Championships.
Men
Ryan Bester, 26, (Cabramatta, Australia. Hometown: Hanover, ON). 2004 World Champion in Pairs with fellow National Team member, Keith Roney. Currently ranked #16 in the world in Singles.
Hiren Bhartu, 52, (Nanaimo, BC). 2008 Canadian Singles Champion and currently ranked 6th in the world in Singles.
Michel Larue, 44, (Longueuil, QC). Gold medalist in Pairs and bronze medalist in Fours at the 2003 Asia Pacific Championships.
Steve McKerihen, 53, (Toronto, ON). National Team member since 2004, silver medalist in Triples and bronze medalist in Fours at 2007 Asia Pacific Championships.
Keith Roney, 62, (Regina, SK). Member of Bowls Canada's National Team for 23 years. Former Pairs World Champion (2004) with Ryan Bester.
Fred Wallbank, 58, (Toronto, ON). Four-time gold medalist in Fours at the Canadian Championships.
0 comments:
Post a Comment