Val Smith
Personal information
NationalityNew Zealander
Born (1965-07-29) 29 July 1965
Sport
SportLawn bowls
ClubUnited, Nelson and
Merrylands, Sydney
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
World Outdoor Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Leamington Spa triples
Gold medal – first place 2008 Christchurch singles
Gold medal – first place 2008 Christchurch pairs
Silver medal – second place 2008 Christchurch team
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Christchurch fours
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Gold Coast fours
Silver medal – second place 2023 Gold Coast triples
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 DelhiSingles
Bronze medal – third place2014 Glasgow fours
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birminghamtriples
Bronze medal – third place2022 Birminghamfours
Asia Pacific Bowls Championships
Gold medal – first place2003 Brisbanefours
Bronze medal – third place2005 Melbournepairs
Gold medal – first place2007 Christchurchsingles
Silver medal – second place2007 Christchurchpairs
Gold medal – first place2011 Adelaidepairs
Bronze medal – third place2015 Christchurchfours
Gold medal – first place2019 Gold Coastfours

Valerie Christine Smith (born 29 July 1965) is an international lawn bowler from New Zealand.[1]

Bowls career

World Championships

Smith won a bronze medal at the 2004 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Leamington Spa before winning three medals four years later at the 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in the singles and pairs gold medal and team event (silver medal) in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 2016, she won a bronze medal in the fours at the 2016 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Christchurch with Angela Boyd, Katelyn Inch and Kirsten Edwards.[2]

In 2020, she was selected for the 2020 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Australia but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] In 2023, she was selected as part of the team to represent New Zealand at the 2023 World Outdoor Bowls Championship.[4] She participated in the women's triples and the women's fours events.[5][6] In the fours, her team won the bronze medal. One week later in the triples (partnering Tayla Bruce and Leeane Poulson), the team won the group undefeated before winning a tense quarter final against Malaysia and a semi final against Canada. In the final they met Australia, losing 16–9 but claiming the silver medal.

Commonwealth Games

Smith competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the women's triples competition and at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where she won a silver medal in the women's singles competition.[7] She competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as part of the women's pairs and women's fours teams. She won a bronze medal in the women's fours events alongside teammates Mandy Boyd, Selina Goddard and Amy McIlroy.[8]

She was selected as part of the New Zealand team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Queensland.[9] In 2022, she competed in the women's triples and the Women's fours at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.[10] In both the triples and the fours she secured a bronze medal.[11]

Asia Pacific

Smith has won seven medals at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championships including four golds, the latest gold being at the 2019 Asia Pacific Bowls Championships in the Gold Coast, Queensland.[12][13]

National

In addition to her international successes Smith has won seven titles at the New Zealand National Bowls Championships. She won the pairs four times in 2004 and 2011 (with Jo Edwards) and 2019 and 2021 (with Lisa Prideaux) and the fours in 2010, 2017 and 2023.[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Athletes and Results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  2. ↑ "2016 World Bowls Championship Finals". Burnside Bowling Club.
  3. ↑ "Blackjacks Selected for World Championships 2020". Bowls New Zealand.
  4. ↑ "COMPETITORS CONFIRMED: WORLD BOWLS OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023". Bowls International. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Events and Results, World Championships 2023 Gold Coast, Australia". World Bowls. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "SCHEDULE & DRAWS". Bowls Australia. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALLISTS - BOWLS". GRB Athletics.
  8. ↑ Richens, Matt (28 July 2014). "Women's four claims bowls bronze in Glasgow". Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Bowls: New Zealand team named for Commonwealth Games". New Zealand Herald.
  10. ↑ "Official Games profile". 2022 Commonwealth Games. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "England beat Malaysia to win women's triple lawn bowls gold". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Results Portal". Bowls Australia.
  13. ↑ "Asia Pacific Championships – Gold Coast, Australia – Day 10". World Bowls.
  14. ↑ "New Zealand Championships". Bowls Tawa.
  15. ↑ "Women's pairs draw & results" (PDF). Bowls New Zealand. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
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