Mum, baby bowl ’em over
Mandy Boyd gave birth to a daughter 11 weeks ago then bowled back to win the national lawn bowls women’s fours title this week in Wellington.
The former New Zealand representative skipped her composite four, featuring older sister Angela, best mate Kirsten Edwards and Edwards’ mum Leigh Griffin, to a 20-13 win over Margaret O’Connor.
‘‘It’s been a bit of a mission, but the help I’ve got from everyone has been really good,’’ Boyd said. ‘‘Angela has made my breakfast every morning and mum is back home with Isla right now…watching on the livestream.
‘‘Being so close with Kirsten and Leigh as well, they’re very understanding when I’m every now and then checking my phone…making sure everything is all good.’’
The 27-year-old from Christchurch is a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, has won six national titles and was awarded the National Gold Star at just 24.
During the time Stuff spent with Boyd on day one of the nationals, there were a couple of small interruptions – the nice kind, where Isla screamed for her mother’s attention.
Boyd doesn’t blink an eyelid, jiggles her newborn, answers politely to any demands we have, knowing well she has only 10 minutes to be back on the bowling green for the afternoon round.
‘‘She’s pretty cruisy. With having a two-year-old big sister she sort of fits in you know.’’
Boyd feeds Isla between matches and has emergency milk in the fridge at the clubrooms.
Club members in Christchurch often pitch in and Boyd’s mother Linda made competing at the national tournament happen.
The 68-year-old grandmother travelled down from Napier help out.
‘‘Every now and then I’ll hear a wee squawk from the clubrooms, but I know mum has it under control. Mum sort of watches the bowls out the window while cuddling Isla and playing with her on the floor or taking her for a wee walk."
‘‘When I get on the green I know I can just go into bowls mode and everything is alright in the club house.’’
Boyd’s partner Lance Pascoe, also a leading bowler, is at home in Christchurch looking after their firstborn Maycie.
When Boyd had Maycie in February 2017 the nationals had been wrapped up, so she had more time to rest between competitions. This time around she never questioned whether she would compete.
For nationals preparation, Boyd played some interclub matches and tried to keep her fitness levels up. But she admits come the end of nationals she’s going to be ready to put her feet up. She and Pascoe have juggled their sporting calendars around each other and their two daughters, just like any other partnership she says.
‘ Boyd won her first national title in 2011 and has collected a further five national titles. She was a silver medallist at World Bowls in 2012.
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