Hi guys,

I don’t know if you would have seen it but Fit4Bowls is running a great promotion this month to coincide with the up-coming release of Disney Pixar’s Up movie.

If you're already a member of Fit4Bowls, simply complete or update your Wellness Record to go into the draw, or if you haven't joined yet, registering is easy.

I’ve even made it easy for you by providing the links below, so if you’re interested in winning one of 60 family-of-four in-season passes to see Disney Pixar's "Up", each valued at $80, the chance is yours.

See you on the greens.

Kelsey

Things are looking UP with Fit4Bowls

With the winter chill currently taking its toll, Fit4Bowls is offering “Up” an alternative to the cold that the whole family can enjoy.

Complete or update your “Wellness Record” on Fit4Bowls to WIN a family-of-four in-season pass to see Disney Pixar's "Up" this spring.

Bowls Australia and Fit4Bowls will be giving away family-of-four in-season passes to see Disney Pixar's "Up", each valued at $80 to 60 lucky participants who complete or update their Wellness Record between Friday, July 24 and Sunday, August 23, 2009.

The lucky winners will be drawn on Monday, August 24, 2009.

If you're already a member of Fit4Bowls, simply complete or update your Wellness Record to go into the draw.

If you haven't joined Fit4Bowls yet, registering is easy.

Simply click here for the registration form, fill it out, and you'll have access to the great range of health and wellbeing information and programs offered by Fit4Bowls.

Take a few extra minutes to complete your Wellness Record by Sunday, August 23, 2009, and you'll also be in the running to enjoy this great family experience.

Up, up and away at the movies

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios take moviegoers up, up and away on one of the funniest adventures of all time with their latest comedy-fantasy "Up", from Academy Award® nominated director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.").

Presented in Disney Digital 3D™, "Up" follows the uplifting tale of 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfils his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America.

But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell.

Their journey to a lost world, where they encounter some strange, exotic and surprising characters, is filled with hilarity, emotion and wildly imaginative adventure.

I'm not long back from the Australian Sides Championship, which took place in Canberra last month. It was a great lawn bowls competition and, of course, a great result for Queensland!

We played a test series against every other state, over the four days and we came up against our old rivals New South Wales on the final day. We already had the tournament wrapped up by then, but we still really wanted to beat them.

We overpowered our arch rivals 3-0 in the last game which, for me, was pretty much the highlight of the whole tournament. We had a couple of close games along the way, but we didn't drop a test by the end so that was a really good result for us.

My own form wasn't too bad. I was skipping so that added a little bit of pressure, having to bowl last all the time.

Another high point of the competition was having my Mum in the Queensland side as well. We were often just next door so we could keep an eye on each other and see how we were going. Another good thing about having Mum there with me was getting my uniform washed after each game. Thanks Mum!

The Perth International was just before the Australian Sides Championship. I really had a blast over in WA. It's always really good fun playing against the UK countries because the players and the fans are always yelling, cheering and generally getting right into the game. One player was down on all-fours at one point, calling in a bowl.

I played a bit indifferently at some stages, but I also had patches of good form during the tournament. It was my first international back since I took time off and I'd just come off the Australian Open, so I was still on a bit of a high.

At the end of the day, Australia won and that's the main thing!

Thanks again to all the myBowls fans for your messages of support.

More to come from me soon.
Kelsey

There are some matches in your career you remember for the great skills on display, some for a thrillingly close finish, others for the trophies and prize-money you win. But there are some you remember for different reasons...

It was great fun to be part of the Arch vs The Yapper lawn bowls challenge at Shepparton Park Bowls Club and nice to have a bit of a day off. Mucking around and having fun was a welcome change from the serious business of the Australian Open.

The toss of the coin decided the teams so it was Glenn and I against and Sam [Shannahan] and The Yapper.

Right from the start, there was one element of the game where the boys really out-did Sam and I: sledging!

As soon as we got on the green, those two were at each other, which provided a lot of entertainment for Sam and I.

They were very evenly matched in the sledging department, so I couldn't say who was the winner there.

Naturally, Sam and I followed the etiquette of lawn bowls to the letter and retained our composure throughout.

Well, on to the bowling... I was amazed how quickly they both picked it up, having not really played before. Lawn bowls can be tricky for beginners to pick up right away. I was impressed!

True to his AFL days, Glenn showed a natural gift for crashing through the pack and scattering bowls with a couple of impressive drives.

The Yapper was no slouch either. A couple of well-weighted shots from him showed some definite potential.

So I bet you’re wondering who won? That would be telling! You’ll have to wait and check out the fun and games on the next installment of Arch vs The Yapper.

Thank you to everybody on myBowls who left me a message on my website. It was lovely to read them all.

Best wishes.
Kelsey

It's been a while since my last Sports Log, but I have some great news to share with you all, so it's time for another update.

I'm absolutely elated to tell you - I won the Australian Open! It still hasn't completely sunk in yet.

It was a bit of a strange tournament for me. I didn't really play my best all the way through, but I managed to find a way to get over the line in each of those tough games. I guess I'm still in a bit of shock.

Saturday’s final against Kay Moran was a tricky match, as it was a pretty windy day, but strangely it wasn't windy at ground level, so it was difficult to adjust to the conditions.

Once I got the first set, I knew I just had to hang on. Kay played well and when she began pulling ahead in that second set, I just conceded that one and I started preparing myself for the tie-breaker. It was a real mental battle.

It was great to have the game covered live on ABC television. There must have been a bit of a delay, because I rang my brother as soon as I won and he was still watching me on TV. I guess I spoiled the ending for him, but in a good way.

In the triples I teamed up with my fellow myBowls Ambassador, Samantha Shannahan, and Lynsey Armitage and we made it as far as the semi-finals. We played the triples semi-final the same day as I played the singles semi, so I ended up going into the singles semi after a disappointing loss in the triples and just scraped over the line in that game.

I had a few very close calls in a few very tough matches on my way to the finals.

Thanks to the generous prize-money on offer, I'm now planning a bit of a shopping spree, but I'm going to put most of it towards a deposit on a house somewhere on the Gold Coast. I try to save nearly all the prize money I win.

There's not too much time to relax after the Australian Open. This Thursday I'm flying over to Western Australia for the Perth International, which runs from  3 - 8 March at Mosman Park Bowling Club.

It's going to be a great tournament, as we'll be lining up against three strong nations in England, Malaysia and Scotland. Any of the four teams could win it.

Check out the Perth International website for the latest news and results or check out my myBowls website.

Thanks to everyone on myBowls for your kind messages of support. I really appreciate it.
Kelsey

For those who don't know, Queensland recently selected its state team for next year's Australian Sides Championships in Canberra and there is a new face in the team. My mum! I've pasted a story from today's edition of the Noosa Journal.

COOLUM mum Marilyn Clayton was over-the-moon this week after hearing she will represent Queensland in a major Australian sports competition.

But the added bonus is that she will get to play alongside her superstar daughter, Kelsey Cottrell.

It was Coolum Beach bowler Marilyn who first introduced Kelsey to the sport as a young girl.

``The deal was that if I went to watch her play tennis, she would come and watch me play bowls,’’ said Marilyn.

``She soon got tired of standing on the sidelines and wanted to start playing.’’

That was in 2002 when Kelsey was 12. Just eight years later Kelsey is a World Championships medallist, a Queensland and NSW champion and the current Queensland Junior Sports Star of the Year. In between there have been numerous competitions played, and medals and titles won.

And now Marilyn will fulfil a long-held ambition next March when she steps out alongside Kelsey Cottrell for Queensland’s Australian Sides title defence.

Marilyn, who has racked up several club and district titles since taking up the sport in 2000, was this week named in a reshuffled women’s state squad.

The news came as a complete surprise to the 51-year-old, who impressed selectors with a solid performance at state trials earlier this month.

``I was a bit shocked to be honest, but it’s awesome. I’m really stoked,’’ said Marilyn.

``I trialled very well, but I suppose I still didn’t really expect to get it, so when I heard I’d been selected I was very happy.’’

Clayton comes in as second for the experienced outfit skipped by Aussie star Lynsey Armitage.

Beachmere’s Marilyn Peddell will play lead, while Clayton’s Coolum clubmate Julie Keegan steps in as third.

But more than anything the proud mum said she was looking forward to representing Queensland alongside her daughter.

``We are not on the same team but we are both representing Queensland and that’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,’’ Marilyn said.

Clayton is one of two newcomers set to make their debut at the event in ACT, with Caloundra RSL’s Jane Bush also getting the nod.

The 2009 Australian Sides Championships will be held at ACT’s Tuggeranong and Western Creek bowling clubs from March 23-26.

Hi guys,

The Travelex New South Wales Open commences on Monday and I thought I would post a story which featured on the BA website for those who haven’t seen it.

For up to date results on the NSW Open, log on to www.bowlsaustralia.com.au.

Good luck on the greens.

Joey

Cottrell returns to the fold

Defending Travelex New South Wales Open champion Kelsey Cottrell has hosed down suggestions of back-to-back titles less than a week out from the $30,000 event.

For the first time since February’s Australian Open, the teenage superstar will make a rare appearance on the grand prix singles circuit, having spent the past six months concentrating on her final year of high school.

During her self-imposed sabbatical, the 18-year-old has been replaced at the top of the national rankings by Australian teammate Karen Murphy, but the Coolum Beach bowler is refusing to buy into suggestions that she is the one to beat ahead of next week’s prestigious event at Taren Point.

"I just want to go out there and have some fun," Cottrell said earlier today (15/9).

"If I go in expecting too much, I’m just going to put too much pressure on myself, so I just want to go down there and try to get as much green time as possible.

"It was my favourite grand prix last year and I guess I do have some great memories, so we will see what happens."

During last year’s New South Wales Open final, Cottrell all but booked her ticket to the 2008 World Championships, where she ultimately won a silver and a bronze medal for Australia, by disposing of national teammate Ceri Ann Davies in a highly entertaining duel.

Next week, however, the competition should be on from the opening round, with Murphy to start as a slight favourite following her recent win at the Australian Indoor Championships and her ascendancy to the top of the national rankings.

In the men’s event, Australian number one Leif Selby will attempt to create history by becoming the first player to capture the elusive Grand Slam.

Selby is a perfect 17-0 on the grand prix circuit this year and will be full of confidence following his recent win at the World Champion of Champions in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The $30,000 Travelex New South Wales Open will feature singles, pairs and fours for both men and women, with qualifying to commence on Thursday, September 18.

The first round will be staged from 8am on Monday, September 22.

Hi guys,

It’s been a while since my last post, but I thought it was time to update my log and let you know what is going on in my world at the moment.

Since I last wrote, I have been the recipient of some great news, which I am extremely proud of.

Earlier this year, I was nominated for the young achiever of the year award at the Commonwealth Sports Awards and I was fortunate enough to win.

The ceremony was held in Glasgow, Scotland and a great night was had by all.

On the bowling front, the Queensland Open is just around the corner, but due to my school commitments, I can only play the triples and not the singles.

There will be some great players taking part, though, so I encourage anyone who lives near the Cleveland Bowls Club to come on down and have a look.

The event runs from July 27 to August 1 and entries are still open, so if you think you have what it takes, log onto the Bowls Australia website and put your name down.

Until next time, it’s bye for now and good luck on the greens.

Joey 

In the lead up to the 2008 World Championships, I was asked to dish the dirt on the Australia team for the BA website.

One of the reasons I love going away with the Australian team is because of the camaraderie that exists between the entire squad.

We have such a great time going away together, with the stupid jokes and incessant laughing, that it barely seems like hard work at all.

But I know you want to learn about the ins and outs of the Australian squad, so here's the inside mail.

I want to thank Aron Sherriff for his contribution and I hope you enjoy it.



Wayne Turley: “Turls” takes his position as team leader very seriously, he mothers the boys and thinks he is the responsible one. Turls loves shopping for the boys and taking care of their washing and ironing needs, he’ll make a great housewife one day. Turls is never short of a few words, he’s a bit of a social butterfly, because he’ll talk to anyone and everyone.

Mark Casey: “Hammer”, aka Mr Sleepy, aka Big Cards is known to get a little bit grumpy without enough sleep. Hammer is always misplacing his things, including his mobile and passport, and is the hot headed one of the men’s team.

Nathan Rice: “Lurch” is definitely a no dishes and no washing man. He is very relaxed and is known to leave things at home, like his bowls and bowls shoes. Lurch is Mr Lazy and is always making us laugh with his ability to speak before thinking.

Bill Cornehls: “Brown Boots” is Mr Responsible, not to mention the best bus driver ever. Billy has been given a few nicknames over the years, including Mr Drills and Billy Brown Boots. Like Turls, Billy has to mother Hammer, Lurch and myself.

Aron Sherriff: “Omar” can cut a rug (on the dance floor), Justin Timberlake has got nothing on me. I am the tenpin bowling champ on the Nintendo Wii and I’m the cheeky one, who is always putting the slack on the others.

Karen Murphy: “Kaz” is the leader of the gang and she is a compulsive cleaner. She’s one of those people who always has to have the labels facing forward in the pantry, and is the one who is always nominated to do all the talking.

Lynsey Armitage: Her nickname is “Snoozy” and it says it all really. But Lynsey also has this habit of talking with an American accent, which has caught on with the women’s side. Given the way we are going, there is a chance we could be mistaken for team USA! Lynsey is also a huge Robbie Williams fan and says the funniest things at times.

Julie Keegan: “Jules” is the mother of the team, and the only one with kids, so she looks after the rest of us. You may not realise that Jules is also on New Zealand’s ‘most wanted list’ for trying to smuggle a lemon across the Tasman. Jules is also the team member on ‘crease control’, she makes sure the young ones have done their ironing.