Jayden Christie is ready for a big year on the greens for Werribee. 88512_03 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By LIAM TWOMEY
THE greens of a Premier Bowls Pennant match on a Saturday afternoon can be a pretty stressful environment.
But for Werribee young gun Jayden Christie, there isn’t anywhere else he would rather be.
At just 14 years of age, Christie has stepped up to be a permanent member of the Bees’ Premier side and was an integral part in the club securing its first win in round one of the new season against Bundoora.
Having made his pennant debut when he was just seven, Christie said he was looking forward to another successful season with Werribee.
“I enjoy it heaps. Every Saturday I really enjoy going down and playing bowls and just getting out there,” Christie said.
“Hopefully I can play well and help our team win a few games.”
Jayden isn’t the only Christie lining up for the Bees though, with his father Darren also playing in the club’s Premier pennant side.
Darren said his son had become used to playing on the big stage after making the finals of the Victorian Under 18 pairs, singles and triples and winning the club pairs in 2011.
“We go down of a Tuesday and a Thursday and practice and I give him a bit of coaching but on the day it is all up to him,” Darren said.
“The pressure really doesn’t get to him at all. At his age he is just out there and all he wants to do is have fun.
“He played Premier last year. They decided to give him a go when Brett Dodd was the coach back then. Brett was actually going to put him back in for the finals in Premier last year but they ended up leaving the side the way it was.”
It isn’t just in the Pennant competition where Christie is making a name for himself.
The Williamstown High School student was selected in the Bowls Victoria Under 18 Silver Squad for outstanding junior players.
He is also on track to be named in the Victorian Under 18 state side having already beaten three of the five members of last year’s team.
Throughout the pennant season, Christie will continue to lead for Ben Major’s rink on a Saturday afternoon but he also has a number of other goals he is looking to achieve.
“Getting in the Gold Squad for the Under 18’s and trying to get to the Nationals would be my main goals,” he said.
“I’d also like to make the senior squad for Victoria and play for Australia one day.”
It was a tough weekend for bowls clubs from the western suburbs with both Werribee and Altona losing their Premier Division matches.
