The experienced bowler qualified as one of 16 to represent NSW at the knockout competition at Tweed Heads where she faced the world champion bowler in her second game. 

Katon’s first game was against Colleen Orr from the Northern Territory, which the local woman won to progress onto the second round. 

This is when she met world champion, Cabramatta bowler, Karen Murphy who is from a club of hundreds of women and has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. 

Despite her nerves, Katon played the best she has in a long time and came off the green the winner. 

Her third game was against Kristy Thatcher from Tweed Heads where Katon was defeated out of the competition. 

Coming from the Aberdeen Bowling Club, a club of about 20 bowlers, Katon’s achievement was outstanding. 

She said it felt like a dream and was so surreal. 

“I was really nervous but I just concentrated and played really well,” she said. 

“It was a huge achievement to defeat Karen and I think I was more shocked than excited.”

Overall, Katon said the whole experience was brilliant and she had a great time meeting nice people and catching up with old friends that had also qualified. 

Katon thanked her    husband Ken, mother Jeanette and friends – Sandy, Michael and Lee, who all went with her to  Tweed Heads and supported her.