Bright future on the greens for Seamus Curtin

Seamus Curtin has just started year 11 at Aotea College. Last year he won a silver medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa. Last week he competed against a legend of his sport and three-time world champion, Peter Belliss. At the end of this month he travels to Christchurch to represent New Zealand in a Development series against Australia. Then it’s the National U18 tournament, which has recently replaced the NZSSC nationals.

The sport is lawn bowls, and Seamus is fast making a name for himself as a future star on the greens. New Zealand Bowls national coach and selector Dave Edwards said: “We are super impressed with Seamus, he’s is only aged 15 but he is more like a 30-year old as far as maturity is goes and a dedicated young player so he’s getting the rewards.”

“He made his debut for New Zealand at the Youth Commonwealth games last year, as a result of some good performances domestically. It’s a real feather in Seamus’s cap to now earn selection in this squad to play Australia.”

Seamus is one of four U18 players selected in the New Zealand Development teams ( two in each of the men’s and women’s teams) to play Australia. The others are Bradley Down (Onslow College), Ashleigh Jeffcoat (Hamilton Girls’ High School) and Mackenzie Blucher (St Dominic’s College).
This week College Sport Media caught up with Aotea College’s Seamus about his growing career as a lawn bowler.

Congratulations on being selected to play Australia in early March, was this what you were working towards?
This was the goal that I was aiming for at the start of the season. We knew that the team was going to be selected after the Nationals tournament in the New Year. So there was a nervous wait and then I got the call from Dave Edwards saying that I was in the team which was awesome.

You made the semi-finals in the pairs at Nationals?
Yes, I made the semi-finals in the pairs with Euan Wong [aged 22], who has also been selected in the development series. I also played the singles and the fours. I won two out of three in both events but this wasn’t enough to qualify for the main rounds. 

You are playing in the pairs and fours in the series against Australia?
Yes, I’ll be playing lead in both the pairs and the fours. I’ll also be teaming up with Euan again in the pairs. We know each other’s dynamics, which will be great.

Year 13 Onslow College student Bradley Down is also in the squad – have you played much with him?
He used to go to Aotea College, before leaving for Onslow College. We’ve had some great battles and we’re pretty even together – it’s good to have that competition.

You’ll be gearing up for the National U18s at the end of March?
Yes, definitely. The tournament has been moved, but the one time I played it last time I got third in the pairs. So I’m looking forward to playing in that.

How special was representing New Zealand at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa last year?
That was probably the biggest event I have competed in. It was awesome winning a silver medal as well, in the singles. My goal was to get a medal and whatever colour it was I’d be happy. I played an Australian in the final, and I might be playing against him in the upcoming development series.  I also played mixed pairs with Ashleigh Jeffcoat and we just missed out on a medal, coming fourth. Another highlight was being around other athletes and sports and watching them competing.

Is your success inspiring others at your school to take up your sport?
Yes definitely, we are getting lot of new bowlers at Aotea College, which is healthy. We have also got Finbar McGuligan who I’ve been mates with for a while. We got him involved just after I started.

How long have you been playing for and how did you take it up?
This is my sixth season. I was introduced to it through my parents and I was down on the green when I was about six. When I turned 10 I decided I would take it competitively and it went from there.

How often do you practice?
Not every day, because it is really hard to manage time with school work and down time. I have games most weekends and practice about three-four times during the week.

Bowls is not a physical sport like rugby, so how much of it is mental?
It can get physically taxing, being outside on your feet for long periods in hot conditions. I remember in Samoa I was walking up and down from 9am to 5pm in the heat. You have to stay focused. Mental is massive though. Bowls New Zealand say it’s 95 percent mental and 5 percent technical.

Do you play other sports, or do you just concentrate on Bowls?
I also play basketball for Aotea College, and enjoy that as well.

Do you have role models in your sport that you’d like to emulate?
Peter Belliss is a legend in the game. I’d love to achieve what he has done. I actually played him last week! I was playing for Wellington against Wanganui, where he is from. He was just really composed and gave nothing away as to what he was thinking or doing. He’s actually a New Zealander selector right now, so that was good timing!
​
What are your long-term goals?
I want to represent a top New Zealand team before I turn 25. So that means I have got ten years to do it. 

---