Madi Hazell Junee’s very own star lawn bowler has been at it again, winning a Silver medal at the Bowls Australia Nationals.
Madi has been excelling in her chosen sport for a number of years and her star continues to be on the rise.
She told the Independent, “I represented NSW in the Under 18s in the NSW/Qld Composite side. I played with Shakiya Murray from Griffith. I bowl with her a lot in Riverina and Zone comps.
“I played with her in the Pairs competition and we ended up winning two out of three of our sectional games and going through to the gold medal match where we unfortunately went down to two fantastic bowlers from NSW.
“We got the silver medal, which we are really really grateful for.
“I made the bronze medal match in the singles discipline as well, but ended up losing that one too.“I’m in the top four Under 18s players in the country and I’m really pleased with that. I didn’t expect to go anywhere near it. I didn’t even expect to make the competition. I’m 18 in May next year and they don’t normally pick players who are 18 in the next year, so I was really grateful to get that opportunity in my last year of junior bowls. Madi has just commenced her year 12 subjects while the year ahead of her commences their year 12 exams this week.
“I’ve just started Year 12 at Junee High School.“I have been a bit busier with school going into my final year and the past month and a bit I had my Year 11 preliminary exams going on so I didn’t get out on the green as much as I wanted to which probably affected my performance going into the Nationals.
“Now I’m getting back into the swing of things and a routine and I will be able to get out on the green a little bit more which will be fantastic.
“I won’t be able to go into it again next year because I’m 18 in May and they don’t let people over 18 participate in this competition specifically and because it’s held at the end of the year I do miss out.
“There were six from NSW that aged out this year in our top sides which is really unfortunate to lose so many good bowlers, but it’s really good to see new talent coming through in the younger ones. I think we had two14-year-olds represent this year as well which was fantastic.
“It’s a sport that you can take on at any age and play until any age.
“My love of the game has increased over the last couple of years. Being with family and playing across the country I have made so many new connections and improving my bowls has got me to new competitions and being able to meet more people and play with not only my friends but my family as well. Both my parents play and my Nan used to play and being able to play with them in Club competitions and having them come with me to see me represent my State and my Zone is such an experience, it’s unbelievable.
“All of Juniors has pretty much finished now that Nationals is over and that was the most major competition for the junior year, so from here I won’t participate in the CHS competition for my Year 12 year as I will be focussing on my studies and won’t represent for Riverina, but I will be able to play for the State Championships for 2025 as they are in April and that will be my last major Junior event and that isn’t optional, it is one I have to trial for and I am considering going away for the Junior South Pacific at Warilla in January for my last junior tournament which is a voluntary entry.
Madi described how she felt after competing. “It was completely surreal. I didn’t expect to get anywhere near where I did. To be representing the State and coming away with a medal is so insane. I didn’t think I would make post sectional with the amount of talent that goes up to those competitions, but knowing that the effort I have put in has paid off.
“I play for the Junee Jokers Bowling Club, the Junee Jokers greens are what I call home and I will be there for the pennant season which starts up again in late January for home games and around the Riverina at Narrandera, Wagga and places like that would be fantastic.
“I will still definitely be playing. Studying is going to be hard to get around but I will make it work. I am always going to make time for bowls.
“The Jokers Club is only very small. There’s only about 50 members. Not many people even know it’s there. It’s near the Fire Station, but I love it.