Picton pair claim national bowls title

They began playing lawn bowls on the same day seven years ago. Now Nic Murrell and his niece, Eden Murrell-Manu, can call themselves national champions.

The pair put the Picton Bowling Club in the national spotlight in August last year when they represented their seaside club, and the wider Marlborough centre, in the mixed pairs at the New Zealand Champion of Champions tournament in Tauranga.

Two wins on day one were followed by a third the next morning, pushing them into post-section play. From there they were unstoppable, winning their quarterfinal and semifinal with superb draw bowls before meeting Otaki pair Paul and Jane Selby in the final.

After a scratchy start, the Picton duo settled, eventually racing away with a 16–8 victory, needing only 13 of the 14 ends to secure the title.

Nic recalls being very nervous early on, but says once they were able to control the length of the ends to suit their strengths, they began to rack up shots, limiting their opponents to singles while steadily taking command.

“I think the secret was our composure and communication,” Nic says. “It’s about not getting rattled when things don’t go your way and playing with confidence.”

“I was just so proud of the way Eden played, and elated for her,” he says. “The competition was tough and she played exceptionally well over the whole weekend. You have got to knuckle down, keep all the emotions in check and know that you deserve to be there.”

Both players said they were physically and mentally drained after the final. “Your focus point is so fine and keeping it up all day does drain you,” he says.

To reach the national event, Nic and Eden had to work their way through club and centre qualification, winning the Picton champion of champions title before taking out the Marlborough event. It was no small feat for two bowlers still relatively new to the sport.

Nic, 48, and Eden, 19, first headed to the Kent Street greens for a business house competition, encouraged by Nic’s grandfather, Mike Sextus, a life member of the Picton club.

“We were both addicted to the game after 15 minutes,” Eden says. At such a young age she is already a Marlborough senior women’s representative player as well as a national champion.

“I love playing in a team environment, and learning all the time from such experienced bowlers. You are always improving.”

As well as being an accomplished pairs performer, Eden also plays singles, a format she says she was once too shy to attempt.

“I have got used to singles now and have had to play it in some rep matches so I am getting familiar with the skills needed to play on your own.”

Nic says his philosophy is simple. “Although you are playing an opponent, you are actually playing yourself. You are trying to do better every time you get a turn to play a bowl.

“The sport has also allowed me to make so many friendships. I have met so many great people, people I never would have met outside of the club’s gates. It’s like being part of a wider family, the camaraderie that you build is just awesome.

“But bowls is one of those games that is very levelling. You never think you are on top because it only takes one bowl to change all that.”

Both Nic and Eden credit Picton treasurer Wayne Coley, whose behind-the-scenes work to arrange funding for the club’s players is “huge”, and “Grandad” Mike, who has been a major inspiration to them.

“Without him neither of us would have started playing. Now Grandad follows our progress all over the country. He was the driving force behind us and has told us how proud he was when we won up north.”

The duo are keen to chase another title but must navigate local qualifying again. If they succeed, they will be off to Dunedin later this year, and it would be a brave punter to bet against the Picton pair repeating their heroics.