Liv’s world: Olivia Cartwright (right) tasted Australian Open success with victory in the women’s fours. Photo: Bowls Australia/Paul A. Broben
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Paul A. Broben
Clad in gold on finals day at the Australian Open last Thursday, Moama duo Cassandra Millerick and Olivia Cartwright registered gold medal performances to claim a remarkable title double.
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Nineteen-year-old Cartwright teamed up with international representatives Chloe Stewart, Katelyn Inch, and Western Australian Laura Butler to take out the women’s fours final 15-9, etching her name into the Australian Open honour board alongside clubmate Cassandra Millerick.
Almost a week later, Cartwright can still scarcely believe her achievement.
“Honestly, it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Cartwright said.
“I do get little bursts and will just be sitting in silence and start fist-pumping the air. Five minutes later, it’s just another game of bowls.
“To win with such an amazing bunch of girls was just an experience I’ll forever cherish.
“Like I said to Mum and a few other people, I never would have thought when I started in the sport I would be winning an AO title with Chloe Stewart, who is an Australian representative, and Katelyn Inch, who’s a New Zealand representative.
“Obviously you get nervous but we weren’t too nervous.
“The final was a pure four-bowler effort which highlighted our run in the tournament.”
It’s been a stellar year for the rising bowls star, adding the prestigious fours title next to a state women’s singles bowls championship and Campaspe pennant title in 2023.
Winners are grinners: Moama’s Cassandra Millerick is an Australian Open champion. Photo: Bowls Australia/Paul A. Broben
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“It’s been really good and that’s all thanks to Moama and the opportunities they’ve provided me,” Cartwright said
“Their support and belief in me to represent the club has allowed me to reach my goals and achieve what I have achieved.
“I’m excited to see what the rest of the year and the rest of my career brings.”
Hailing from a prominent bowls family, including father David and brothers Josh and Jacob, Cartwright’s career has progressed in leaps and bounds since taking up the sport as a 12-year-old.
“Dad got me into the sport,” she said.
“This is my seventh year. Back at the start, I would just be observing.
“I got the call-up when one of our local teams was short. I remember that moment, I was an excited kid in a candy store, running around going ‘I’m playing bowls, I’m playing bowls’.
“Ever since then, Mum and Dad and the rest of the family have been my biggest supporters, helping me get to where I am.”
Before Cartwright’s magnificent victory, Millerick celebrated a historic women’s singles title with a 21-19 victory over Australian Jackaroo star Kelsey Cottrell.
Millerick’s victory was made more impressive given her 7-0 deficit to Cottrell early in the final after breezing through the sectional and knockout stages.
“I was pretty nervous on the inside,” Millerick said.
“I’ve never got that far at an Australian Open so I was pretty proud. I couldn’t be any happier.
“To be honest, I thought ‘Oh no, I can’t lose 21-0,’ so I had to get myself on the board.
“Once I got myself on the board, the nerves started drifting away and then I came back right at the end.”
Four shots on the eighth end saw Millerick snatch the lead. From there, it was shot-for-shot until the second-last end, where the Steamers star took a one-shot lead into the final end.
With 21 shots required for victory, Millerick’s second bowl of the end sealed the deal, confirming a second victory for a Moama Bowling Club member.
“It was a dream come true, a tick off the bucket list,” she said.
“It was good to have the family there, it was great.”
