Three-time world champion Natasha Scott hopes it will be a case of third time lucky when she lines up for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next year.
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The 27 year old lawn bowler from Raymond Terrace was officially selected for Australia’s Jackaroos squad last week.
“I’m super excited,” Scott said.
“All you can really do is play your best, do everything possible and wait for selection.
“I know I put everything in to being selected, a lot of hard work.”
Scott, who debuted in Delhi in 2010 and also went to Glasgow in 2014, was named in the 10-person Australian squad for the 2018 Games on Tuesday, December 5.
Also read: Scott’s historic state title slam
She will be joined in the Jackaroos team by Hunter product and four-time Bowls Australia international player of the year Aron Sherriff, who last week announced a 2018 move from Ettalong on the Central Coast to Gold Coast club Helensvale.
Australia’s bowls team for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games features a mix of youth and experience.
Among those selected for maiden Games campaigns are two reigning world champions in the open category – Aaron Wilson, 26, (Cabramatta, NSW) and recently crowned Tasmanian Athlete of the Year award winner Rebecca Van Asch, 29.
Reigning world singles champion Karen Murphy, 42, (Cabramatta), who clinched a 2006 Games gold medal in the pairs in addition to silver medals in 1998 (fours), 2002 (singles) and 2014 (triples), has been selected for her fifth Games.
Scott and Murphy are joined on the women’s team by Australia’s number one female bowler Carla Krizanic, 27 (Sunbury, VIC) and international stalwart Kelsey Cottrell, 27 (St Johns Park, NSW).
Joining Wilson and Sherrif on the men’s squad is Australia’s number one male bowler Barrie Lester, 35 (Mulgrave Country Club, VIC), Brett Wilkie, 44, and Nathan Rice, 38 (both from Club Helensvale, QLD).
Last weekend Scott wrapped up her Australian Championships campaign with one gold and three silver medals. It comes after her October feat where she clinched a historic clean sweep of all four women’s state titles in one season.
The “grand slam” saw Scott win the singles of the 2017 Women’s Bowls NSW Championships plus the pairs, triples and fours with her Raymond Terrace Bowling Club teammates.
Despite a strong year on the green, Scott said “the hard work starts now”.
The Jackaroos team will go into a camp at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, where bowls events for the April Games will be staged, between December 18 and 21.
There, the team will learn what events they will be bowling in.
Scott will aim to claim her first Commonwealth Games medal in what will be her third appearance at the international tournament.