Star Rebecca Van Asch has once again struck the kitty.
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In the same year that Van Asch had embraced motherhood - giving birth to a baby girl Alexis a month earlier in December - he 31-year-old was awarded the Commonwealth Games International Female Bowler of the Year in a Bowls Australia ceremony held on the Gold Coast.
The pride of Invermay had edged out Queenslander Lynsey Clarke on Wednesday night after spearheading the nation's gold medal-winning women's pairs at the 2019 Asia Pacific Championships.
The balancing act of bowls and family that has led to a hectic life made the honour quite remarkable for a woman who still remained on the greens late into pregnancy.
"What made this more special was having my little girl 10 months ago," she said.
"It's been a challenging year having a little bub now and playing for Australia. So it makes it quite special too."
Bowls Australia's decision to split up the international bowler of the year award into separate gender categories ensured that Van Asch was the inaugural female winner.
"It's not something I have thought of a huge amount, but I can say it's certainly a very humbling experience as everything we have done, we have done as a team.
"The Jackaroos have had some amazing results over the last few years. So to be singled out is amazing.
"It's an award voted on by your peers, coaches and selectors on tour so really that makes it even more special.
"For them to hold me in that regard is just an honour."
Van Asch still took quite the pragmatic approach on where the award sat next to winning titles.
Even to the point that the grassroots bowler got great joy out of snatching a late one-shot win for Invermay on her last end against Trevallyn in the Bowls North clash.
"I'm still very much a team player. I just love being out with my teammates and winning with them," she said.
"It feels very different because I do see this award as the Jackaroos having such wonderful performances.
"It is still very special and no doubt something in the future I will look back on and look at it very fondly."
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
