Dual sports star Kate Argent-Bowden becomes youngest to win state women’s lawn bowls final
Just days away from her 16th birthday, this rising dual-sport star has made lawn bowls history in a performance well beyond her years.
Kate Argent-Bowden after winning the 2021 Bowls SA women’s title. Picture: Jess Alvaro, Bowls SA
Kate Argent-Bowden is still in shock about etching her name in Bowls SA’s history books.
The rising star became the youngest to claim the state women’s singles title at Holdfast Bay on Friday night.
Argent-Bowden beat veteran and Goolwa Bowling Club star Renata Callisto in the final just three days before she turned 16.
Callisto’s experience shone during the first half of the match, before the Angaston Bowling Club youngster levelled the scores at 24 all before claiming the last shot to take home the trophy, winning 25-24.
Argent-Bowden, a dual-sport star who was named as one to watch in the Barossa, Light and Gawler girls football competition last year, said she was proud to have won the state title.
Young lawn bowler and keen footballer Kate Argent-Bowden last year. Picture: Supplied, Judy Argent
“It’s really weird as I obviously didn’t think about that (creating history) coming into the tournament or before the final,” Argent-Bowden said.
“It’s an added bonus, now, though.
“I was excited coming into the finals because it was the first year I had made it through my sectional games, so I was happy to get further than I have before.
“Then winning the whole thing was insane.
“When we were driving home from the game, I kept saying to my mum every 30 minutes ‘that’s so weird that this has happened’.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Argent-Bowden has enjoyed a rapid rise in the sport.
She took up lawn bowls five years ago after watching her mother Judy and father Brian play for Angaston.
Then, last year when she was still 14, she became the second youngest ever to debut in the SA women’s team.
Argent-Bowden then began her Australian rules career a year after starting lawn bowls with Angaston’s junior girls side and she is also involved in Central District’s development squads.
“I have no idea what sport I would rather,” she said.
“I love my footy and I love my bowls but they are obviously completely opposite sides of the sporting spectrum.
“I am just seeing how I go at the moment.”
February 2, 2021 – 2:49PM
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