Blue award for lawn bowler

Gunnedah-based teen Jake Martin earned a Blue award through the NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) Sports Association for his achievements in lawn bowls.

Jake and other NSWCHS award winners were presented their awards at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday of last week, during a Sheffield Shield cricket contest involving NSW and Tasmania.

The presentation took place in the dining room of the MA Noble Stand, as Jake was among 66 award recipients across a range of sports through the NSWCHS Sports Association.

Jake, who is coming to the end of year 8 at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, earned a Blue award for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and making great contributions to his school and sporting communities.

A member of Club Gunnedah, Jake has skippered the Farrer and Northwest School Sport Australia (SSA) bowls teams and was also chosen in the NSWCHS SA team.

Jake won gold in the triples, silver in the fours and overall event at the SSA bowls championships, and he was also named in the all-Australian merit team.

Jake said it was definitely a surprise to be one of 66 award winners, as there were about 320,000 candidates around NSW.

“(It felt) pretty good,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the highest school sporting award you can get.”

Jake’s achievement comes after previous award winners from Gunnedah included Maree Eveleigh in 1975 (gymnastics), Nicole Downes in 1991 (gymnastics), James Gallimore in 1994 (athletics), and Gabby O’Gorman in 2014 (tennis).