Chloe Stewart announces international retirement
Chloe Stewart has announced her retirement from international bowls effective immediately, having represented the Right at Home Jackaroos on 149 occasions.
The 29-year-old made her debut a decade ago at the 2015 Trans Tasman and fittingly the same event will be marked as her final appearance for Australia, having played an integral part in the nation’s 4-1 victory over New Zealand in the recent series in Naenae.
Stewart’s decision has not come easily, but the news of the slimmed down programme of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and her recent promotion to General Manager of SParms has convinced her that the timing is right.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy decision; but the uncertainty around Commonwealth Games and starting my new role as GM, it feels like the right thing to do now.
“There’s obviously a fair bit of time that goes into trying to make the Commonwealth Games with selection trials, events and hours of training. There are a lot of sacrifices that go into playing for your country, and this is something I have been doing for over ten years.”
“But now I’m really looking forward to growing my work career with SParms as I’ve been given an amazing opportunity with my recent promotion. It’s super exciting and who knows where it could lead to.”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time being involved in the Jackaroos and I will certainly miss being a part of the team. It’s been an honour and privilege to represent Australia and I’m extremely grateful for the journey.”
Across her time in the green and gold regalia, she has amassed a plethora of medals including multiple Trans Tasman titles and a Multi Nations gold medal.
However, Stewart regards the highlight however was just being able to put on the Australian kit, considering it one of the highest honours one can have.
“Just every time I pulled on the green and gold shirt was amazing and I have always worn my cap number proudly when I’m out on the green.
“I think there has been some awesome highlights throughout my career and being able to travel around going over to the UK, Hong Kong and New Zealand have been up there as well.
“I feel like the Trans Tasman battles have always been unreal and just the recent one that we got back from was awesome to be part of.”
Having moved from Victoria to Queensland to gain more consistent opportunities at the highest level, the Kyneton-born Stewart has made a home for herself at Club Tweed, where she will continue to ply her trade on top of her state and Bowls Premier League commitments, with the latter to be her immediate focus as she embarks on her journey to Moama for BPL21 next week as a defending champion.
“I’m definitely not bowing out of bowls altogether, I’ll still be around playing and I’ve just re-signed with Tweed for another couple of years which is super exciting.
“I’m really looking forward to putting on the green and gold again at the World Champion of Champions in September after taking out the Australian title just a few months ago.”
“I’ll also definitely be putting my hand up for Queensland selection again, I love playing with the girls and wearing the maroon shirt.
Many people have supported and been a part of Stewart’s career, and she said she appreciates the contribution each has made.
“My mum, Jenny, has been a major influence on my career and I could not have reached the heights that I have without her support,” she said.
“Then there is my Nan, Val, who has passed on, she was the one that got me into bowls and had a huge effect on my career as well as all of my family and friends.
“Chris McKibben and Ian Schuback have also influenced my bowls in an indescribable way, as have my two wonderful Australian coaches in Steve Glasson and Gary Willis.
“The Kyneton Bowling Club and Club Tweed, they have been enormous for me and shown a staggering amount of support throughout my career within the Jackaroos lineup to go and achieve my dreams.
“Finally, my workplace at SParms, the organisation continues to be such a wonderful part of my life that has shown the utmost faith in me to strive for greatness both on and off the green.”
National Coach Gary Willis lauded the contribution that Stewart had made to the Australian High Performance program and thanked her for her outstanding dedication to international representation.
“Chloe has made a really significant and valuable contribution to the Australian Jackaroos team and Bowls Australia’s High Performance program over the last decade, and she’ll be sorely missed,” Willis said.
“It’s great that Chloe will continue to be a staple of the national and state bowls scene and we know that she’ll continue to be successful both on and off-the-green, because she’s a great player, but even more importantly, she’s a great person, and we wish her all the best with everything that the future holds in store.”
Bowls Australia congratulates and applauds Chloe Stewart on a magnificent international career.
