Cottell chosen in elite squad
HAVING picked up her first bowl at the age of 12, Jessie Cottell dreams of one day wearing the green and gold for Australia.
The 17-year-old is on the right path and was yesterday named in the Emerging Jackaroos squad.
Cottell heads into the Junior Golden Nugget tournament at Tweed Heads this month as the nation’s best junior female bowler.
The Helensvale competitor claimed the Australian Open under-18s girls singles title on the Gold Coast last month.
Cottell could not believe what it felt like after an amazing win.
“It was still sinking in a few days after,” she said.
Cottell was pushed into the sport by her father David and brother Jayden and has not looked back since.
It was a tough start, with other kids her age not interested in her sport.
“My friends never supported me when they first found out that I played lawn bowls,” Cottell said.
However, that’s all changed now as she’s made friends with fellow bowlers.
“Today they all support me and most of my friends are bowlers themselves,” she said.
She is found on the bowling green an average of eight hours a week, but when big tournaments have been on, has played up to 30 hours.
Previously, most of Cottell’s career has been junior tournaments and nationals but is now moving towards open events.
Having been selected in the Queensland women’s side and now the Emerging Jackaroos squad, she is looking to step up and has a goal in her sights.
“My ultimate goal in lawn bowls is to wear the green and gold uniform,” she said.
“It would be a bonus if it were at the Commonwealth Games.”
In the meantime, Cottell will look to claim another title at the Junior Golden Nugget at Tweed Heads on July 28-29.
Cottell was one of four Gold Coast and Tweed bowlers named in the Emerging Jackaroos squad.
The others are her Helensvale clubmate Jayden Christie, Tweed’s Jessica Srisamruaybai and Broadbeach’s Sean Ingham.