Colleen Piketh and Wayne Rittmuller will represent South Africa. Image: File
Piketh, Rittmuller aiming big at World Champs
Colleen Piketh and Wayne Rittmuller will reunite their teamwork after being selected as the pair to represent SA at the Indoor Championships.
Colleen Piketh and Wayne Rittmuller will represent South Africa. Image: File
Colleen Piketh and Wayne Rittmuller will reunite their teamwork on the greens after being selected as the pair to represent South Africa at the World Bowls Indoor Championships in May.
“Firstly, I am very grateful to be chosen again and honoured to be playing for South Africa,” says Piketh.
She is looking forward to the trip to Australia with a certain element of familiarity in play.
“It’ll be good to get down to Warilla (Australia) again after going to the UK last year. In fact, Wayne [Ritttmuller] and I actually played there a couple of years ago. But of course, the difference then was that there wasn’t the mixed pairs competition as there is now.
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“We have played as a back rank combo in a competition, where our team won it and we get on well. So I think we will be looking for ’more of the same’.
“Warilla is a great venue and I am looking forward to the challenge of the carpet again,” adds Piketh.
Another factor inspiring some confidence is that the pair both trust Henselite as their bowls of choice.
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“As we both play with Henselite back home, we will play with the Dreamline XG there. The carpet is different to outdoors, and consistency is key on the carpet. Staying focussed and calm also helps.”
Piketh reveals just how many different factors are in play that some might not consider.
“Indoor has a number of factors that have an influence on play – when the carpet was stretched impacts the speed, the lights also speed up the carpet and even the air conditioning plays a role.
“We don’t have those carpets or speed that they get to so the Midstream indoor facility is probably the closest simulation to the conditions of playing on a carpet, however the speed at Midstream is slower.”
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SA’s ace bowler is looking forward to improving her already strong record at Warilla.
“I have played at Warilla a few times now and 3 times I placed 2nd and 3rd in my section, only to lose all three times on an extra end of the tie break. If you win that game you go to the semi finals.
“If you top the section, it’s straight through to the semi and guaranteed a medal. So my aim is to go one better than before.”
Rittmuller, who did national duty during the Commonwealth Games and who has a rich history in the Singles event at the South African National Championships, is delighted with his selection.
“I’m honoured to be selected for the event,” says the Port Natal Bowls star.
“I’m super excited to get another chance to show what I can do in the Singles and, of course, play alongside Colleen in the Mixed Pairs.”
Having done well outdoors, he knows that the elements will be against the duo in May.
“Indoor is a major challenge, especially for us as we don’t get to play any indoor competitions at all domestically. So technically and mentally it’s a major challenge to try and adjust in a very short space of time.
“From the last time I played there, the surface was running at around 16 seconds. So it’s a lot quicker than we are used to.
“So straight away our bowl choice becomes important and we generally tend to play with a different model than our outdoor bowls.”
Rittmuller is certainly aiming for the stars in 2023.
“My ultimate goal will obviously be to win the Singles as well as the Miix\ed Pairs with Colleen. Initially, the first goal is obviously to make sure of qualification out of the section and then from then onwards, it’s just 1 game at a time.
“Before we leave, we will try to practice and play as much as possible on fast greens.”
He adds,”I will also make slight tweaks to my delivery and importantly, get the mindset correct for a faster and more bending green. This obviously comes with its own set of challenges as we will still be involved and playing in our own domestic competitions on much slower greens.
“But I’m confident that I can adapt quickly enough to challenge the very best.”
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