Bowls: New Blackjacks coaches announced

Sharon Sims during the womens pairs final of the 2007 New Zealand Bowls Open. Photo / Getty Images

With Dave Edwards, after 10 years in the job, having already confirmed his resignation as National Coach and Convenor of Selectors for the New Zealand Blackjacks his replacements were today announced by Kerry Clark the CEO of Bowls New Zealand.

Palmerston North's Sharon Sims (MNZM) is appointed as National Lead Coach and will take up the role from 12 December 2016, the day after the World Championship's conclude. She will be assisted by Whanganui's Peter Bellis (MBE).

Together they will lead both selection and coaching of the Blackjacks.

Within the world of bowls neither Sims nor Belliss need any introduction. While playing, both won world titles and subsequently both have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"Their bowls experience makes them an obvious choice for the job," Clark says . "While their past exploits on the green are as good as you can get it is actually the off green components that make their appointments critical ones for the team. Having both been assistants to Dave their appointments give us continuity in all the key areas of culture, values and of course selection.

"For the team it means it is largely business as usual. For all these reasons, we have real confidence in making these appointments effective through to and including the next Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018"

Sims and Belliss will ultimately be joined by two assistant coaches. Post the World Championships these positions will be appointed for each of the next two major events and then permanent appointments made to also take them through to the games on the Gold Coast. These roles will be advertised in the near future.