World Championships success has given Hayman sense of belonging
It was a week to remember for Right at Home Jackaroo Dawn Hayman, who dominated the New South Wales State Championships at Club Dubbo by taking home four gold medals in one of the most dominant displays in the event’s history.
The St John’s Park won each event she played in, with the fours the only discipline that she was not involved in.
Hayman would clinch the blue ribboned singles, pairs, mixed pairs and triples, adding to her long list of accolades and reaffirming her status as one of the hardest players to defeat on Australian soil.
Speaking on Bowls Australia’s (BA) ‘The Right Line’ podcast, the 26-year-old attributes her run of form to the confidence she gained from the 2023 World Bowls Championships on the Gold Coast, as well as work with a sports psychologist.
She would walk away with her maiden gold at the event with victory in the women’s triples, as well as a silver in the fours after going down to England on the opening weekend.
“Winning that gold really boosted my confidence,” Hayman said.
“Before that, I wasn’t really super confident in myself and there were many little doubts and ‘what ifs’ and stuff like that.
“But after some work with a sports psychologist I feel like I have come so far and the confidence keeps building through each event.
When discussing the affect of her psychologist on her game, Hayman stresses how important the process has been to truly believe that she belongs on the big stage.
“It’s been monumental, it’s something that not many people think about but it is a very big part of our game,” she said.
“If you can be on top of things mentally, then it goes a long way to getting you where you need to be.”
The most special portion of the week for Hayman came in the mixed pairs competition, where she and fiancee Thomas Webb lifted the title.
It was Webb’s first gold medal at state level, which will propel the pair to The Nationals in October for the 2024 Australian Championships, where they will bid for more prestigious glory on the Gold Coast.
With her partner always on the sidelines watching her in action, Hayman labelled that title as the sweetest to assist him in achieving his dreams on the green.
“He’s been one of my greatest supports, he always travels around with me wherever I go and is always a constant support for me, I always here his voice cheering me on in the background when I play.
“He gives me a lot of confidence so for him to win his first state title with me is extremely special.”
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