Black Jacks Squad Announced

The 2012 Black Jacks squad has been named.

The squad is bustling with experience as most return to the squad after last year, with the only change being the addition of Blake Signal who takes the place of the unavailable Richard Collett. “Blake is a player who has been in our system for five years and we are delighted to see the hard work he has put in pay dividends” says National Coach Dave Edwards.

Edwards says that the remainder of the squad, both men and women deserve to retain their spots and that the selectors are “feeling confident that we will be able to select a team from this squad for the World Bowls Championships 2012 that will do us proud”

The squad is comprised of Val Smith (United, Nelson), Jan Khan (Beckenham, Canterbury), Jo Edwards (United, Nelson), Leanne Curry (Frankton Railway, Waikato), Mandy Boyd (Johnsonville, Wellington), Genevieve Baildon (Hillcrest, Waikato), Clare McCaul (Silverstream, Wellington), and Jan Shirley (Canterbury, Canterbury), Richard Girvan (Onehunga, Auckland and Nelsen Bay, N.S.W), Ali Forsyth (Havelock, Marlborough and Taren Point, Sydney), Dan Delany (Onehunga, Auckland), Tony Grantham (Onehunga, Auckland), Shaun Scott (North East Valley, Dunedin), Matt Gallop (Cabramatta, Sydney), Greg Ruaporo (Hillsboro, Auckland), Andrew Kelly (Canterbury, Canterbury), Shannon McIlroy (Stoke, Nelson), and Blake Signal (Stokes Valley, Wellington).

Even with the squads experience Edwards says “there will be a lot of hard work needed between now and the World Championships at the end of the year to get us in medal contention; however with the buildup we have planned, we are confident of success”

A team selected from the squad will play in a 6 Nation Invitation event in Adelaide in May. This event will see teams from some of the world’s best bowling nations including Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Malaysia and Fiji come together for the test series leading up to the World Championships at the end of the year.

The team to compete at the 2012 World Championships will be selected following the 6 Nation event.

2012 Black Jacks Squad;

Women;

Val Smith

Jan Khan

Jo Edwards

Leanne Curry

Mandy Boyd

Genevieve Baildon

Clare McCaul

Jan Shirley

Men;