TRIPLE THREE AT KIWI GOLDEN GIRLS

Tayla Bruce, Teri Blackbourn and Julie O'Connell are three of New Zealand's leading ladies in lawn bowls, snapping up gold at this year's World Championships

- Cloe Willetts

Tayla: 'I HAD A SENSE OF DISBELIEF'

When Tayla Bruce returned to primary school relief teaching after winning the Women’s Singles event at the World Bowls Championships last month, she was an instant star!

The Christchurch athlete signed around 50 autographs for excited students, who couldn’t believe they were in the presence of a gold medal-winning sportswoman.

“It was really sweet and I said, ‘I bet I’ll see them in the rubbish bin by the end of the day,’ but I didn’t see one – they must’ve taken them home to bin them!” jokes Tayla, 28, who debuted for New Zealand’s top lawn bowling squad, the Blackjacks, in 2015. “It’s cool to show the kids that if you put your mind to something, work hard and persevere through challenges, you can achieve what you want.”

Tayla was 13 when she fell in love with lawn bowls after walking into the gates of the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, where she and parents Richard and Kerrie-watched the World Bowls Championships. The then teen was mesmerised by the different flags from around the world, stalls selling bowling merchandise and players of all ages wearing bright shirts representing their countries.

“It had a buzzing atmosphere, and people were excited to watch and play,” recalls Tayla, who was also the 2022 World Singles Champion of Champion. “I became a fan of the sport that day. Australian lawn bowler Kelsey Cottrell, who was 17, was playing for her country. I thought she was incredible and only four years older than me! It ignited something.”