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EIBA JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL AARON JOHNSON GIVES AN INSIGHT INTO HIS INCREDIBLE YEAR |
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"I was 10 when Grandad took me to a junior coaching session with my
sister and four cousins and I remember loving it from the start,"
recalls Aaron. "Me and my sister have been playing ever since! My first success was winning the National U18 singles in the 2015/16 season. I had no expectations turning up to it and would say this was my first taste of national finals." Aaron's win wasn't a fluke. He's already represented England at both under 18 and under 25 level which he describes as "an honour". He said: "Representing England feels like a privilege anytime you get to put on the shirt. I've been lucky enough to get selected and they really are the games that mean the most. "The atmosphere is more intense than any other kind of match you'll play, but I think that's what makes it so special. "Each person and country wants to win and perform at their best so it really brings out the best in you because you have to be at your best!" Other highlights for Aaron include winning the National U25 singles and British Isles U25 singles last season. "Coming close a couple of times the seasons before, it was easy to feel like I had missed my chance so was very happy with that," he said. "I've been fortunate enough to come on the right end of a few results this year and entering a few OSC events have paid off. Winning the U25 singles was something I have been chasing for a few years so that really meant a lot to me. "Playing at Potters in the World Pairs Championships with Ian Catchpole was also a massive highlight as it's the World Championships that will always be the pinnacle of bowls and where everyone wants to play. "I also won the National Family Pairs with my dad. Being able to celebrate something as big as a national title with someone in my family was an unbelievable feeling and something I'll never forget!" For Aaron, the most appealing aspect of the game is the competition.  He said: "No matter who you are and what your experience you can have a go in any competition and try and beat anyone. I think that's one of the best things about this sport there's no restrictions in most competitions, if you want to have a go you can! "I try to target at least 2-3 events each season that I really want to try and succeed at and are my main focus, however, with how important Nationals are and how difficult they are to qualify for, if you look too far past the next game you can end up thinking about too much and struggle to focus on each game as it comes. "In the next few years I would love to be able to have the opportunity to continue my international career in bowls and a massive career goal for me is to manage to make the senior international team, as with the calibre of bowlers in this country that is an extremely difficult task! "I would also love to qualify for Potters and play in the World Singles Championship as again that is where everyone dreams to play!" Who does Aaron look up to? "Wayne Willgress at my club has achieved many of the goals I have in the game so it is handy for me to see first hand someone achieve these things and does help push me on to try and do the same and see the standard I need to be at achieve these things." Next for Aaron is competiting in the World Under 25s and the Scottish International Open, a World Bowls Tour qualifying event. He said: "With the Worlds, the opportunity to play bowls overseas in Hong kong will be incredible! I'm really looking forward to pitting myself against these other nations and seeing all the different playing styles there will be from across the world "With the Scottish Open, I am just looking forward to competing with the world's best. I have drawn Jamie Walker who is one of the best bowlers in the world but I love being able to play in competitions like this as this is where you truly test yourself and your abilities and simply the games where you learn the most about the game!" Sian Honnor. We' d love to know what bowls means to you, get in touch at info@eiba.co.uk Previous Article - Interview with Paul Maynard |
October 2024
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