A member of Bushey Bowling Club is celebrating after she won a prestigious international event in Hong Kong earlier this month.
Jess Eley was one of only four women selected to play for England in the 21st Tiger Bowls in March and she, along with teammates Emma Cooper, Donna Knight and Rebecca Wigfield saw off all competition to win the trophy.
Jess was still in the Far East at time of writing.
In addition to her bowling skills, she is the reigning Ladies Singles Champion for Hertfordshire, Jess is in the process of completing her doctorate and has become a professional scientist.
Before she left for Hong Kong, Jess spoke to the Bowls England website.
She said: “I started bowling at the age of six in Newcastle upon Tyne with the encouragement of my grandparents who were active members of our local club. I was encouraged to keep playing throughout my childhood and teens, and when I moved to London for university I joined Bushey Bowling Club as I knew some of the other junior members and had heard good things about the club.
“Through Bushey I have been very fortunate to have been included in lots of friendly and competitive matches and have gone on to represent Hertfordshire and England as a junior international. In March this year I will be representing Bowls England at the Tiger Bowls Invitation in Hong Kong and the China Open in Shenzhen, China which I am very excited about.”
Jess was full of praise for Bushey Bowling Club.
She commemented: “Bushey have been very supportive of my studies throughout the completion of my PhD in cellular and molecular biology at University College London – many of our matches are played in the evenings at the weekends providing a work life balance and a hobby to enjoy in my spare time. Now aged 27, I look forward to continuing being a member now that I have taken up a permanent job as a scientist in Hertfordshire.”
Cathy Newman is a member of Bushey Bowls Club and the lady vice president of Hertfordshire Bowls.
She said: “We’re absolutely delighted for Jess to have this success. She’s always been a promising bowler and now she’s world class.”
Picture Courtesy of Joseph Dawson
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