Helmore eyes quarter-century at state level

BY MICHELLE TAIT

THE ‘Old Boiler’ Cherril Helmore was one of the Golden Girls who bought home a top prize in the Ladies Fours at this year’s Australian Indoor Bias Bowls National Championships in Mount Gambier.

A successful bowler Helmore started playing in 1990 at Creswick Bowling Club after watching a friend’s husband. She’s played 24 consecutive years in the Victorian State Squad, from 1996 in Wollongong.

Helmore won her first state medal in Adelaide in 1999, a gold in Ladies Fours. Since then she’s captured fourteen state medals, seven gold, six silver and one bronze, and she has been picked in predominantly the Mixed Fours and Ladies Fours.

The main highlight for Helmore was this year’s win however she also values the gold medal she won as part of the Mixed Fours, also in Mount Gambier, five years ago playing with Rhonda Spence, Ian Lake and Andy Macauley.

From a Ballarat Indoor Bias Bowls Association level Helmore has won six pennant flags and medals in all fields. She’s also been an umpire since 1995, has been a club delegate and served on match committee.

Helmore has had many health issues since 1995 and believes that playing bowls helps keep her active, both physically and mentally. Her goal is to make the Victorian State Squad next year to chalk up 25 consecutive years, then Helmore says she may retire from state level competition.