England duo Ellen Falkner and Katherine Rednall have both been selected to represent the ‘Rest of the World’ at the inaugural World Bowls Challenge later this year.
The event will take place at the Moama Bowling Club in Australia on 29th and 30th November and will see an Australian select team featuring world and Commonwealth medallists against the Rest of the World.
Managed by John Bell, Falkner and Rednall will be joined by New Zealand’s Jo Edwards MNZN, South Africa’s Colleen Piketh and Canada’s Kelly McKerihen as part of the star-studded line-up.
Falkner, who has three Commonwealth Games gold medals, four world indoor titles and a world fours gold medal to her name, secured a bronze medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games with Rednall, who, at the age of 23, has also struck gold in the world indoor singles championship three times, plus a mixed pairs gold with Darren Burnett in 2016.
Edwards, the reigning Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist and world singles champion of champion is also a six-time World Cup winner. Piketh, a former Commonwealth Games pairs gold medallist and Canada’s top lady McKerihen, who has featured in several podium finishes at recent world championships, will make up the female representatives.
The team will be captained by six-times Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alex Marshall MBE, who will enjoy the company of his Scottish compatriot Darren Burnett, New Zealand’s Shannon McIlroy, Canada’s Ryan Bester and Ireland’s Gary Kelly as part of the 10-a-side event.
Burnett, a gold medallist at last year’s Gold Coast Games, former singles gold medallist and world indoor singles champion will join the reigning world singles and champion of champions titleholder McIlroy in the Rest of the World line-up.
Canadian great Ryan Bester will be no stranger to the Australian surface, and as a former world pairs champion and rated in the world’s top five over the past few years will be a vital member of the ‘overseas’ team.
Ireland’s Kelly, who won the recent World Cup at Warilla, was also a key team member that secured the recent Ultimate Bowls Championship at the same venue, and will also look to topple the Aussies later this year.
Following the selection, Bell said: “It’s a very good all-round group of players who know how to get the job done. My guys and gals will give a very good account of themselves at Moama.”
The selected ‘Rest of the World’ team is:
Men: Alex Marshall MBE (Scotland – captain), Darren Burnett (Scotland), Shannon McIlroy (New Zealand), Ryan Bester (Canada), Gary Kelly (Ireland).
Women: Jo Edwards MNZM (New Zealand), Colleen Piketh (South Africa), Kelly McKerihen (Canada), Ellen Falkner (England), Katherine Rednall (England).
Team Manager – John Bell (England)