Lorna Trigwell Bids Farewell

I was originally selected to play pairs and
fours at World Championship 2008 but following results in the Ayr, Scotland
in July 2007, the selectors decided to change so that I played triples and
fours. What a wise move that proved to be.

After the change, we won triples Gold at the African States
Tournament in September 2007, and that gave us confidence for the World
Championships in 2008. In October 2007 we had a series of matches as warm up
for the World Championships, giving us valuable experience of the greens on
which we would be playing in January 2008. We were happy with our performance
in these test matches drawing 2-2 with NZ. 

Our first discipline at the 2008 World Championships was the
fours and having qualified from our section, we lost at the Quarter Final stage
to Wales so just lost out on a medal. However, the three of us in the triples,
following the fours, Sylvia Burns, Loraine Victor and I built upon our experiences
in the fours to qualify for the quarter finals by finishing second in our
group.

In the quarter finals we won by one shot against Malaysia
so we guaranteed a medal and faced home nation NZ and we won by three shots. Fantastic! We were playing for gold two days
later. The three of us had a good chat on our day of rest and we all knew we
had to play a part in the final.

In the final we faced the highly fancied young Australians
triple but my superior experience at that level led the team to victory 15-11.

We collected Gold and stood with pride on the podium, singing the National Anthem as the flag of South Africa
was raised and the crowd, including many South African supporters were
overjoyed for us. For Loraine Victor, it was something special as she retained
the title she had won in England 2004.

Triggers or Lornski you hear the calls on the green was
born in the Seychelles
on the 1^st February 1954. She now resides in Johannesburg and plays bowls for Morningside
Country Club. I come from a big family of 5 brothers and 2 sisters and they are
all over the world. I have a beautiful daughter, Hayley, and a great
son-in-law, Donald and my two beautiful grand children Kian and Luke.

Music, cooking, family, my partner Gary, my success and to
also be on the Bowling Green
makes me happy.

I became interested in bowls after a serious knee injury
put an end to a promising hockey career. I never thought that one day I would
be playing the "slow" game of bowls. I always thought bowls was too slow and a
game for old people. But once I started playing I could not stop. Now I’m on
the green everyday and my thirst for the game is insatiable.

I love playing competitive bowls. I am always hungry for
medals for my country. My name Triggers/ Lornski is synonymous with "Gold". My
first performance for South Africa
was 1994 when SA came back into the fold and that was in the African States
Tournament Swaziland.

The highlight of my career, there are too many to mention
but I always talk about my first Commonwealth Games in Canada when the bowls (girls and boys) four’s
team won Gold for South
Africa. After that it was Gold and more
Gold.

I have played in 4 Commonwealth Games and won 2 Gold medals
and 2 Bronzes. In 1994 Canada,
1998 Malaysia, 2002 Manchester and 2006 Melbourne.

In 1999, I received the Sports Ambassador Award from our
own "Madiba", what a charming man I have the utmost respect for him. I also
received two Gold and one Silver from the Department of Sports. I have played
in African States Tournament and won Gold in every discipline played.

I won Player of Tournaments and Personality of Tournaments.
I have never been left out of the South African teams. Played in the Australian
Open and New Zealand Open and won. Played in many Test series for South Africa
and won.

April 2006, I became World Number One. What an achievement
and very proud to have been there. Got back form New
Zealand after winning the Gold medal in the triples, had
a break from bowls and then I had to concentrate on the South African Masters
Singles which played at Wingate Park in Pretoria
from the 14^th to the 17^th February.

This was my fourth Masters I won and also winner of three
National Singles. What a fantastic finish to my career in South Africa. My last
representative appearance for South Africa
is Australia
for the World Cup Indoor in April.

Then it will be farewell and not goodbye, as I will be
moving to Scotland
to start a new life.

A special thanks to Bowls South Africa for that special
award given to me during the SA Masters, recognizing my contributions to the
Sport of Bowls in South
Africa.

To the bowlers, young and not so young out there… My
message to you all…

Practice, commitment, big match temperament, believe in
yourself and patience.