Ruttger Schliesser brought bronze home
Morningside Country Club bowler Ruttger Schliesser made waves at the Gauteng Open U18 Singles held at Pretoria Old Bowls Club, securing a bronze medal in his third major tournament.
Eighteen-year-old bowler Ruttger Schliesser from Morningside Country Club claimed the bronze medal in the Gauteng Open U18 Singles held at Pretoria Old Bowls Club on June 28 and 29.
This was Schliesser’s third major competition, and his journey into bowls has been deeply influenced by his family and a passion for sports.
Schliesser’s bowls journey began just over a year ago, inspired heavily by his parents, Heinz and Michelè. “My bowl’s journey started with my parents’ influence. I started playing to spend more time with them, and that motivated me to get involved.”
Going into the Gauteng Open, Schliesser’s expectations were modest. “Honestly, I went there just to have fun. I didn’t expect much except for experience,” he said.
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His approach paid off when he narrowly clinched his first game, taking three shots on the last end to win, a moment he described as quite cool.
“Besides winning my section, I had to play the winner from last year, which was pretty cool. I ended up winning against her and finally losing to an amazing bowler from Pretoria Old Boys Bowling Club.
Despite limited time to prepare, Schliesser maintained a calm and relaxed mindset. “I did not have enough time to practice because I was busy preparing for my exams, but I just tried to keep a calm head and focus on having fun.”
He expressed gratitude to his parents for being his biggest cheerleaders. “I’d like to thank my parents for being the biggest influence on my bowls journey. It’s been a year since I started bowling, and out of the three major competitions I entered, I came away with two medals and in my first year, which I think is quite impressive.”
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Looking ahead, Schliesser’s ambitions include playing for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games, though he admits that completing his matriculation is his current priority. “Right now, I’m doing matric, so no specific goals yet, but I hope to represent my country someday.”
Beyond bowls, Schliesser is a sporty individual with interests spanning swimming, water polo, basketball, hockey, soccer, and even fishing.
He also enjoys building Lego and spending quality time with his parents, especially since they often attend bowls competitions together.
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Having recently started in bowls, Schliesser offered advice to newcomers. “Enjoy it and take your time. Bowls is an old man’s game, so patience is key.”
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