BRITAIN'S only professional female ten-pin bowler, who proudly hails from Bournemouth, has her sights firmly set on becoming world number one after a recent accolade.
Verity Crawley is the only British woman who competes in the PWBA (Professional Women's Bowling Association) league in America.
She has recently been named the British TenPin Bowling Female Bowler of the Year for her performances from 2019 to 2022, having been voted to the award by her peers across the UK.
While unable to attend the awards ceremony in person due to being stateside, she sent her thanks in the form of a video.
Thankfully she was given her trophy by vice chair of the British Tenpin Bowling Association, Ron Griffin, a few weeks later when he visited the US.
Verity, who used to practice at the Hollywood Bowl complex in Poole after taking up the sport aged five, said winning was a nice surprise.
“While I’m the only female pro bowler the UK has, it’s still a surprise to win because I’ve been based in the US for so long,” she said.
“It’s nice to see what I’m doing in the US is recognised back home.”
The recent award accounted for three years’ worth of bowling due to the Covid pandemic. In the time since the accolade was last awarded, Verity won her biggest title yet – the 2021 PWBA Greater Nashville Open.
Then aged 26, right-hander Verity won three matches in the stepladder at Smyrna Bowling Center on the way to the title and $10,000 top prize, defeating Poland's Daria Pajak in the final, 245-168.
Looking ahead, Verity will compete in a doubles event in December, tournament in Europe in January, with her professional season in the US commencing in May 2023.
While she hopes to retain her UK Female Bowler of the Year title next year, Verity says her ultimate aim is to become the sport’s premier female athlete.
She concluded: “It’s always been my biggest dream to either be the world champion or to be the best bowler in the world. Last year I was ranked third in the world so for me that shows how close I am to being number one.”
Verity has previously appeared on the official Daily Echo podcast, the Echo Dispatch. Listen HERE.
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