PHOTOS: BRAYDEN LINDSAY
Ōtorohanga’s Elizabeth (Liz) Morrow knows a thing or two about indoor bowls.
She’s been playing the sport for more than 50 years and has won her fair share of medals and trophies over that time.
At the recent New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui, Morrow picked up three gold medals for her efforts.
“We had a very good weekend down there.”
The team she represented was a north Taranaki side.
“It was a very hot few days but great fun. We had a blast.”
All up there were a few games of bowls, so that kept her busy as she lined up in the pairs, triples and fours.
Overall she played 18 games and won 17 of them, across the three days with the only blemish coming in the triples.
In the pairs she played alongside Alister Wilson, the triples was Wilson and Ivan Phipps, while for the fours Michelle Watt joined in.
“In the pairs we Alister and I actually defeated Ivan and Michelle in the final, so that was exciting and exciting to play each other.
“They are all good fun. I enjoy playing all of the disciplines with the team, they’re a great bunch.”
In the triples they knocked over a team from Masterton, while in the fours they outclassed a north Wellington side.
Her success in Whanganui was the opening weekend of the indoor bowls calendar.
She had been to several New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui and taking home a swag of medals over the years.
Morrow got into indoor bowls as a family sport playing alongside her brother and parents.
“Mum and dad carried on right through until they passed away and I have just carried it on. I absolutely love it.”
“I love the camaraderie after the game. You are competitive on the mats but as soon as the whistle goes for the games to end, you share a drink and a laugh off it. You can really enjoy yourself.”
Morrow has covered all aspects of New Zealand playing from Invercargill to Northland, Napier to New Plymouth and even the West Coast to Christchurch, so she’s got the entire country covered.
“I have played everywhere from top to bottom.”
Her highlight on the indoor mats is winning the national indoor pairs in 2021.
“We have the New Zealand nationals in New Plymouth in June, the club ladies’ nationals in July, they are my two major tournaments.”
Her home base is at the Ōtorohanga Club and she loves turning up each Thursday, sharing stories and playing alongside her mates.
“I won the singles here last year and then won the King Country singles, so they were a nice reward.”
Morrow has probably rolled over 100,000 bowls in her time having played for more than 50 years.
Three years ago she picked up outdoor bowls for the first time through giving it a go at Twilight Bowls in summer and hasn’t looked back joining the club in Ōtorohanga.
“When I am not playing indoor, I usually play outdoor.”
Morrow a right-handed bowler won’t be giving up the game she loves anytime soon.
