GRANGEBURN Bowling Club members, Alison East and Robyn Thomassen, enjoyed their time at the seniors national championships on the Gold Coast recently, as both returned with medals for their efforts.

Both players are very experienced at this level, and they enjoyed great success in their chosen events.

Thomassen claimed the gold medal for the Over 60s Fours, while East grabbed the bronze medal in the B7-B8 section of the multi-disabilities singles competition.

East also took home the award for best Victorian Female Bowler for the championships, earning her a place in the camp for the Para-Jumbucks to be held back on the Gold Coast next month.

This is the first time East has been invited to such a high-performance camp and she said she was excited for what may lay ahead.

The World Bowls Championships are staged every four years but were postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and will finally be held on the Gold Coast next year.

The event is the big carrot driving East to perform at the camp.

“The first time I represented Victoria was in 2019 before Covid and now to be able to represent the state and gain an invitation to the Jackaroo camp is a thrill,” East said.

“I’ve asked Robyn to coach me in preparation for the camp and that is my immediate goal, besides getting prepared for the Victorian Open in Shepparton.”

Thomassen has represented Victoria over 200 times (first selection was back during the 2004-05 season) and has won Champion of Champions titles at a local level along with a state singles title and an Over-60s state singles title to her credit, but this gold medal winning performance holds special meaning for her.

A health scare only a couple of months ago shook the champion bowler, and to be able to not only compete at this level again but also win makes the performance extra special.

Both ladies are going to continue playing the sport they love for as long as possible.

“I will play until my body allows too,” East said, while Thomassen echoed these words.

“I just love playing bowls and it doesn’t matter what format I’m playing, although to play singles does give you four bowls at each end, while the other formats only allow for two or three,” Thomassen said.