At the ripe age of 80, Isabel Edgar has achieved something no woman at her club has come close to.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The veteran recently won her 20th ladies club singles championship at Chiltern Bowling Club.
A long-time golfer, Edgar took up bowls in 1985, in her late 40s, after injuring her shoulder on the course.
Her late husband started playing at the local club and she found herself sitting at home on her own on Sundays and decided to join him.
Never did she imagine she would have the sustained success she has since experienced.
Edgar claimed her first club singles crown in the 1988-89 season and her amazing run went from there.
My first one was my highlight because I was one of the youngest in the club, she said.
I wanted to win this year to get to 20 because it's a milestone.
I think there are five others who had me in that time.
I'm one of the oldest members up there at the moment, that's for sure.
I didn't think I'd do so well this year, but I got there.
Edgar admitted her reign at the top may be coming to an end, but she wont go down without a fight.
The younger ones are up and coming and I won't be able to compete with them much longer as they are getting very good at it, she said.
That's the way it goes. I took over from the older players when I won my first one.
I still enjoy it, so while I enjoy it, I'll keep going while my health lets me.
She is certainly showing no signs of slowing down.
I love the company and I'm competitive, Edgar said.
I still play pennant on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
You can play until you get quite old socially, but I'm still able to play pennant and skip a team on Tuesday.
Many small bowls clubs like Chiltern are now finding it difficult to survive and can only operate through many hours of work from volunteers.
It's hard to get younger women because a lot of them work and have kids, she said.
When I first started we had a big club of ladies, but gradually it has dwindled and we've only got 10 at the moment.
The smaller clubs have amalgamated to mixed teams except for club championships.
We wouldn't be able to field pennant teams if we didn't combine.
Edgar has held every executive position at the club during her bowls career and was awarded life membership in 2012 for her tireless efforts over the years.