It is a first in the strong Dunedin centre. No other bowler has won a gold star in her first five years of bowls.
West (45), the business support manager for the New Zealand Fire Service from region six, won her first title in the open fours late in 2009.
Her fourth and fifth titles were won last season in the open pairs and the champion of champion pairs with Malia Tavite.
''It didn't sink in at the time what I'd done,'' West said.
''It was two weeks later that we celebrated.''
West is serious about her bowls and has competed at four national championships in her first five years in the sport.
She will have another big test in June when she contests the national finals at Westpac Bowls Stadium in Dunedin.
West won her first title in Lyn Bevin's open fours just three weeks after joining the Andersons Bay Club late in 2009. They beat the experienced Faye Cosgrove (Green Island), who has now won 12 Bowls Dunedin titles.
''I didn't know who they were and their names meant nothing to me,'' West said.
''It made it a lot easier because I wasn't under a lot of pressure.''
At the time, West did not know what a gold star was and did not think about winning any more titles.
West won another title in the champion of champions fours in her second season but her third year was lean and she did not win a title.
West switched to the Forbury Park club in her fourth year and skipped the winning champion of champions fours,In her fifth and final year as a junior last season, West won two titles in the open pairs and champion of champions pairs to complete her gold star.
All her titles were won with Malia Tavite, who has won seven centre titles. They went on to win the region six finals and will contest the national pairs final in June.
West had her first taste of bowls when the Dunedin Fire Service entered a team in a corporate bowls competition run by the Andersons Bay Bowling Club.
''I never thought I would play bowls but I went along and enjoyed it and decided to take up the game,'' West said. Bowls is in the family. Her grandfather, Frank Allan, and her mother, Zenda West, played for Milton. Her mother has won 13 South Otago titles.
Her uncle, Raymond Allan, played for Milton and aunts Lola Cousin for Balcutha and Christine Boyle for Palmerston.
''Mum only started bowls when she was aged 40 and we never went near the bowling green when my grandfather played,'' West said. West enjoys bowls.
''I like the friends I meet on the green and the camaraderie we have on and off the green,''she said.
''It is relaxation away from work.''
West has not set herself any goals on the green.
''Whatever happens happens,'' she said.
''Me and Malia have played together at club level and that has got us results at centre level.''
She had sound advice for new bowlers.
''Come along and join up. You can have fun on and off the green,''she said.
''We are serious when we play our bowls but we also have a few laughs on the green as well.
''You can get too serious. But if you are relaxed that is when you play good bowls.''
Gold star
Year by year
First year: Open fours.
Second year: Champion of champions fours.
Third year: Nothing.
Fourth year: Champion of champions fours.
Fifth year: Open pairs, champion of champion pairs.
