Shelby to state
Originally published in The Nyngan Weekly
Local junior bowler Shelby Powell have been selected for the NSW state under 18 bowls team. Shelby trialled for the team over the school holiday period and has been eagerly waiting to see if she qualified.
“I had to keep it confidential for like two days and everyone had asked me, and I had to say no,” she laughed. Shelby has played with or against some of her teammates before and said it was reassuring to see some familiar names in her first state team.
“I saw their names and I was like, ‘oh, okay thank goodness’. Right now, I’m feeling alright but I think when it starts to be close to the day I’ll be like oh my gosh and feel the pressure.”
The team has been selected from across the state, and won’t have an opportunity to train or play together before they head to Brisbane in August to compete against Queensland. Shelby said that she’ll be training at the
Nyngan Bowling Club every day until she leaves to help improve and perfect her game ahead of the competition.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll have roll-ups and stuff before the actual game but there’s not anytime in between when we train together. I’ve played against a girl called Chantel not long ago here in Dubbo so I know how we play together and the stuff we like. I played with Tom and Cooper before too, so I’ve played with most people which is pretty good.”
Shelby, also a netballer and horse rider, has been prioritising bowls over recent months, stopping other sports to ensure she doesn’t risk injury.
“I quit horses, which I am kind of sad because I love my horses too. I didn’t think I’d have to pick one because I love both.
“I’ve stopped riding for the next month because if I break my arm that’s sort of it for me. I won’t be able to go and retrain myself with my left arm in a month.” This isn’t the first time Shelby has prioritised bowls though, as she
hopes to bowl professionally soon. She sees the upcoming NSW v Queensland match as a turning point for her future in the sport. “It’d be a lot of work to go professional, and I think I’d have to really commit to it, quit everything else I do and just really focus on bowls if I want to do that as a profession.
“It just depends on how I go in Brisbane, so it’s a little bit of pressure.”
Members at the Nyngan Bowls Club are incredibly proud of the young bowler and have been happily lending their time and skills to help Shelby train for the competition. Shelby said she tries her best to focus on her own bowling and not get caught up in too many people’s opinions. That said, the one-on-one time she’s had with some bowlers to work on individual skills has been invaluable.
Looking to her state performance, if she impresses Shelby has the opportunity to move into national team selections.