JAMES Reynolds has done it again.
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The lawn bowling extraordinaire has teamed up with Josh Thornton to win the Australian Open multi-disability pairs title.
An increased prize pool and a Gold Coast venue attracted the largest field ever to the titles.
“Because of the money on offer across all divisions, it was probably the most successful event we’ve ever had I reckon,” Reynolds said of the huge fields.
Entrants included Australia’s best as well as a number of overseas competitors.
“We had Malaysians, Koreans we had an Englishman – it was massive.”
His team-mate Thornton is also a Commonwealth Games hopeful and the duo thought it wise to test their mettle ahead of trials.
“We’ve known each other for 15 years or so, we were both on the State Development teams with him in Victoria and me in NSW,” Reynolds said.
The Queensland Broadbeach club will host the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and both Reynolds and Thornton will be trialling for selection.
“We thought it was in our best interests to go up to that event and try and knock it over together,” Reynolds said.
“The goal was to win to put our name forward for the next 12 months and we’re certainly giving ourselves a good chance.”
Especially given the circumstances of the win with the strongest field ever at the Australian Open.
Thornton missed the selections for the Games last year in Glasgow, but excels in the Australian conditions.
Which is good considering the entire Australian selection panel was present for the week-long tournament.
Reynolds was delighted with the win and was happy to join with a possible future team-mate.
“Playing with Josh was a really enjoyable experience,” he said.
“I also have to thank [Michael] Wilks and Club Sapphire for all their support.”
There is still a busy agenda ahead for Reynolds, with state pennant finals, national bowls titles and potentially the state champinoships to contend with.
But for now, he’s just relishing the pairs big win at the titles and keeping up with the sport at home.