The Star: January 18, 2018

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Thursday January 18 2018
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Fire rages, homes at risk
Morel won’t be ‘giving up anytime soon’
•From page 19
What has kept you playing
bowls for so long?
I love the game, meeting people,
making friends and contacts.
I retired last year and you need
something to keep you occupied
and it has been a fantastic interest
for me. Keeps me out of the
housework. I have a wonderful
daughter that helps.
Where did you work?
I was a nurse’s assistant at Burwood
Hospital for the last 19 and
a half years. I loved every minute
of it. It was fantastic.
Tell me about your fitness regime
to stay in match condition?
I go to the gym three of four
days a week for about 40min a
time. I haven’t been since I got
back from nationals. But I will
get back into it. If you leave it too
long, you will feel it. I don’t put
as much practice in, I used to
practice every day. We are playing
three to four times a week
now so we don’t need to practice
too much. I take a week off before
nationals to get fresh and ready
to roll.
Tell me a bit about your
family?
Well, I am married to my
husband Peter and we have four
children – Darryl Morel, 50,
Susan Dickson, 54, Debbie Morel,
55, and Kevin Morel, 56. I have
five grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
There must be some talented
bowlers in that clan?
None of them play. Kevin
played for a few years before he
got married. He is playing golf
now. He played in the nationals
with Peter in the pairs and fours
in 2016. I have had one granddaughter
down the green when
she was 11 or 12 and she was a
natural. But they are not interested
in playing.
You won a national title in
Dunedin in 2006, but that
crown has a special meaning for
you doesn’t it?
My brother died while we were
at the tournament and he told us
to go down and win it for him.
So that will always have a special
meaning. It was just the best. I
will never forget it. We couldn’t
come home not winning that. I
missed his funeral but we won
the title.
Obviously you have your No 1
fan and husband Peter supporting
you, tell me about him?
He is absolutely amazing, especially
in Dunedin this year. He
drove us everywhere, looked after
us. He got soaked one day taking
our bowls to the car. We had just
finished playing and it rained
heavily and he got drenched. He
had to head back to the house
we were renting off a friend and
change his clothes. He has been
so supportive over the years and
we have played a lot together in
tournaments. It is a really special
relationship.
Is it true his legendary scrapbook
detailing your success over
the years started as a school
project by one of your nieces?
My granddaughter, April,
Debbie’s eldest daughter, started
PLAY TO
WIN: Bev
Morel in
action in
Dunedin.
PHOTO:
BOWLS NZ
it as a project for school at about
age 11. I had absolutely nothing
to do with it.
Well, you won the titles.
Well, that is right.
Bowls has a bit of a reputation
for some fairly decent gettogethers
after the matches,
have you ever been to a function
that got a bit too rowdy?
Rowdy, yes, out of control, no.
There have been a few drinks
over the years. In the younger
days probably a bit more. We
have slowed down on the drinking,
not on the greens, though.
Who is the best player you
have competed against?
Millie Khan, from Matamata.
She has passed on now but played
for New Zealand for a number
of years. Her daughter Jan Khan,
has also played for New Zealand.
They were a formidable pair. Jo
Edwards from Nelson, who now
lives in Australia, has played
for New Zealand and won a lot
of titles before. She is the top
bowler in New Zealand. We were
probably fortunate we didn’t have
to play her at nationals.
Are there any big rivalries in
bowls around Canterbury?
All the top bowlers know each
other, we have played together
a lot. There is a lot of good
friendship built through good
hard competitive bowls. Once it
is over, it is over. We are all good
mates. You know you are both
playing your heart out and who
wins, wins. It is disappointing
when you lose, but you pick
yourself up and go try again.
Finally, how much longer
are you planning on playing
competitively?
Probably until I stop enjoying
it. When I can no longer walk
properly and can’t bowl, I will
give up. So I have no plans of
giving up anytime soon.
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