We were thrilled when our three Pulse team members each found their way into the Commonwealth Games team, but a haul of two silver and two gold medals was more than anyone could hope for.
Coming off a recent thrilling victory in BPL 15, Ellen Ryan, Barrie Lester and Gary Kelly went to Birmingham with hopes and a winner’s attitude.
Barrie Lester was the first of the medal winners with a silver. His triples team let England out to a ten-shot lead. They grabbed that back and some more, only to miss out on the last two ends. It was a super fight back and a silver medal to be justifiably proud to win.
Then Ellen stormed onto the scene with a brilliant come-from-behind victory and
Gold in the singles. A first for Australian women in any Commonwealth games. The encore was the pairs; she teamed with her great friend Kristina Kristic from WA. Ellen is a Goulburn girl. They come from opposite sides of the country with bowls the common connection. Both were on Commonwealth games debut at Birmingham.
At 18 all and one shot down, they found a way to take out the English bowl for victory and another gold for the Goulburn girl.
Gary played for the last available gold medal. After doing everything asked of him for Northern Ireland, during the lead-up games and finals, he met a rampaging Australian Aaron Wilson for the Gold. It was not the result he would have preferred but non the less a silver medal for Northern Ireland and some big scalps along the way.
