Crawford (57), a community compliance officer with the Inland Revenue Department, lost the use of her left arm as the result of a medical misadventure when she was 3, but has not let it get in the way of life and has found bowls a very good way in which to bring out her competitive streak.
Along with Anne Muir, she won the national pairs title in 2014, defeating Blackjacks Jo Edwards and Val Smith in the final, and at this year’s championship the Crawford and Muir combination again proved a threat, making it safely through the qualifying rounds of both pairs and fours, as well as each making it through to post-section play in the singles.
The Crawford and Muir combination has in the past proved a stumbling block for the Blackjack pair of Edwards and Smith, having knocked them out of last year’s pair’s title race in New Plymouth.
Making no secret of her competitive streak, Crawford was on song with straight-set victories in the qualifying rounds of the women’s singles last Sunday, in what were far from ideal conditions. Her first win was over Canadian international squad member Joanna Cooper.
Crawford has spent the past three years contributing to the disability side of the sport while attempting to trial for the disability team at this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Like many athletes Crawford travelled to get competition in an attempt to put herself on the selectors’ radar.
"But it just wasn’t going to be," she said adding that she was pleased with the way she performed in a picking up a silver medal in the Six Nations tournament on the Gold Coast.
Although missing selection, Crawford hopes to be back on the radar in team selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
"I’ll put my name out there again," she said.
"I’ll just continue to compete and try and win as many games as I can."
Crawford got into bowls as a 13-year-old, following her parents and brothers into "carpet bowls" (indoor bowls) and almost 10 years later progressing to lawn bowls, which is now her primary focus.
"I love it," she said.
"It’s good exercise. Good group of people and I just enjoy competing."
With 25 Dunedin titles to her credit, Crawford is one of the most successful bowlers on the local scene.
"I just enjoy competing with and against the best," she said.
"I know every time I compete I can give a good game."
