Christine Titheradge may already be the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games’ most successful tenpin bowler, but she is still chasing more gold. Photo: Pat McLeod.
Wednesday 9 November 2016
By Pat McLeod
She may already be the Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games’ most successful tenpin bowler, but Christine Titheradge is chasing more gold.
The 51-year-old from Brisbane’s Shailer Park, is a masters games icon. Not only has she won 32 gold medals, 18 silver and 15 bronze and holds nine games records she is also the organising arm behind the volunteers for the sport at the masters games.
“I just love this tournament,” the mother-of-two and now grandmother says.
“It has a special feeling about it. It is the friendships that you make and retain here that makes these games something that I will always want to be a part of.”
Christine has missed just one Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games – the first, because she was too young. Since then she has lined up for the following nine and has compiled an impressive playing record.
Of the 13 records that she can hold, she has nine in her ‘bag’ and is chasing the other four at this tournament.
“Tenpin bowling is such a great sport,” she says.
“It doesn’t matter what size you are, whether you are male or female, or how old you are. It is also a family sport. My husband Gerry used to play. My daughter Cindy and son Ian were both very good players.
“As they were growing up we were all busy, but tenpin was our chance to come together and debrief. Of course the loser would have to pay for dinner.”
Christine has often beaten the pain barrier to play at the masters games – which is the case again this week.
Christine takes her volunteer role very seriously and she was surrounded by plenty of supporters at the games tenpin venue, Go Bowling Ashmore.
“She’s the reason so many people come back to these games,” said a fellow bowler.
“Her passion for the sport and these games is contagious,” said another.
The regular tenpin bowling tournament concludes on Saturday (12 November) – when we will know if Christine’s medal and record tally has increased. There’s every likelihood she will also be involved in the Masters of Masters tournament which runs on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
The 10th biennial Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games is being held 5 – 13 November 2016 on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
The event showcases competition in 43 sports and is hosting 13,000 participants from Queensland, interstate and overseas.
