Julie’ s just happy to be back playing as she attempts to bag her bowls hat-trick
Hawick’s Julie Forrest will embark on the quest for her “biggest achievement ever” when she returns to Potters Leisure Resort this month to defend her Women’s Singles crown at the World Indoor Championships, which will be played behind closed doors at the five-star Norfolk venue.
The popular 52-year-old has claimed back-to-back titles indoors, after also winning in 2019, and she will join England’s Carol Ashby as only the second woman to notch three-successive victories in the event if she emerges triumphant.
“I’ve just got to take it as it comes and hope they come out OK,” said Julie. “If I do make it three titlesin-a-row, then it will be my biggest achievement ever. I’m just happy to be playing bowls again.”
This year’s tournament sees seven invited players from the UK join Forrest in the field, with no overseas representation due to Covid-19.
It is also a similar scenario in the blue riband event, the Open Singles, with 16 UK players being chosen to face the world’s top-16, although some of the World Bowls Tour selections – and non-selections – have caused controversy, with no women being invited to appear.
As a two-time winner of the Women’s Singles, Forrest – plus one or two other leading ladies – looks to have been snubbed from the main event, although she was rather philosophical about the situation.
“I’m not disappointed as they have obviously chosen stronger players to play. You just have to go along with what the WBT want to do,” she remarked.
“I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t been invited to the Women’s World Matchplay, given I’m the defending champion.”
It has been a terrible year, with most bowling clubs having to close their doors for most of 2020.
Despite her status in the sport, Forrest has barely delivered a wood in anger for months.
“I have had two indoor games since March,” she explained. “I am going there very cold, with no competition behind me whatsoever. I will not have played a match against anybody.”
Arbroath’s Darren Burnett, winner of the Open Singles in 2014, has been ruled out after breaking his arm and shoulder while on duty as a policeman in mid-december.
He was due to meet debutant Jason Banks, from Garioch, in the first round, but the 44-year-old will now miss out.
He said: “My road back is going to be a long one, with full recovery unlikely given the seriousness of the break.”
Ahead of his debut appearance at Potters, Banks was excited at following in the footsteps of his dad, Colin, who played last year.
“I was quite a nice surprise to be invited along,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all, and it is really good to have something to play for through everything else that is going on. I am really looking forward to it.”