Gold and glory for our Ariarne

TASMANIA’S Queen of the Pool Ariarne has exploded onto the world stage with a stunning Commonwealth gold in the 800m — blitzing the field with the fourth-quickest swim in the world in the past 15 months. “It’s amazing,” said the Launceston-raised Titmus, whose gold capped off another successful day for Team Tasmania. Earlier, Rebecca Van Asch was part of the gold-medal winning lawn bowls women’s fours team — and then Hobart’s Kaity Fassina took a weightlifting silver medal.

INVERMAY bowler Rebecca Van Asch helped claim Australia’s first bowls medal at a Commonwealth Games in 12 years.

Four years after she was devastated by missing selection to the Games in Glasgow, Van Asch was able to add a Commonwealth title to her three world crowns.

“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in. It was a pretty exciting game and to get over the line is just unreal,” she said.

Van Asch, who turned 30 a month ago, joined her world championships-winning women’s four teammates Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic and Natasha Scott to defeat South Africa 18-16 in a fluctuating contest at Broadbeach Bowls Club.

Trailing early, the Jackaroos powered to a six-shot lead after six ends before reigning Commonwealth champion South Africa claimed four shots on the seventh and took the lead on the ninth.

Australia responded by taking three shots on the next end and three more on the 14th so could even afford to concede four on the last to still claim the win.

“It’s fantastic for the sport,” said Van Asch, who is Bowls Tasmania chief executive. “We’ve all become great friends through lawn bowls and anything to lift the profile of the sport like this is fantastic.”

Born in Wales, Van Asch grew up in Launceston attending St Finn Barr’s School and St Patrick’s College.

She won world championships in the pairs in 2012 and triples and fours in 2016 with the same team going on to claim Australia’s first women’s four Commonwealth crown since 1990.

“It’s awesome that it was the same four that won the worlds together 18 months ago could do this again.

“It’s such an amazing feat and something we’re very proud of and quite unique.

“There’s been a lot of motivation for me after missing out on Glasgow, so this does make it quite sweet when you work so hard and not only get to a Commonwealth Games but win gold.”

The quartet had previously edged past Malaysia 14-13 in the quarter-final and Canada 10-9 in the semi.

But there was little time to celebrate with Van Asch, Krizanic and Scott beginning their triples campaign about three hours later with a 28-8 victory over Papua New Guinea.

The trio are next in action against India at 4pm today.

Across town at the Carrara Sports Centre, Kaity Fassina won silver in the women’s 90kg weightlifting.

In front of a partisan home crowd, the Hobart 27-year-old rode a rollercoaster of emotions.

In the snatch, Fassina was initially given a clean lift at 103kg only to see the decision overruled and the lift declared invalid. Undeterred, she then recorded a 104kg lift before completing successful clean and jerks at 120, 124 and 128kg for a total of 232kg.

Fijian veteran Eileen Cikamatana was sitting second with a 103kg snatch and waited until she knew what was required to beat Fassina and delivered a 130kg clean and jerk at her first attempt to win the gold with a 233kg total.

“It was amazing. The nerves were unreal but it was an amazing feeling and I’m super happy that this is the outcome,” said Fassina.

“I’m very happy with silver. I’m just happy to be here. I just wanted to get on the podium. Everyone was asking if I wanted gold but I said if I’m on the podium I’ll be happy.”

Reflecting on an eventful four years, which saw her fall pregnant when preparing for the Rio Olympic trials, the Weightlifting Academy of Glenorchy athlete said she would not change anything and was delighted to have her two-year-old son Gabe watching her compete.

“It just shows that the last four years, everything that’s happened, it was all worth it,’’ she said.

The Friends School teacher was proud to boost Tasmania’s medal haul.

“Go Tassie,” she said. “I love Tasmania, Hobart’s my city, even when I moved to Melbourne to study for four years, Hobart was my home and I’ll always be a proud Hobart person.

“Tassie is getting some really good quality athletes now which is amazing.”