On a usual Thursday afternoon 18-year-old Katherine Rednall would be in her double textiles class - but instead the youngster was on cloud nine when she won the World Indoor Bowls women’s singles title.
Applause rang out in the arena when the Baylham teenager became the final’s youngest-ever champion but the loudest cheers were at her Suffolk school where a packed classroom watched her win in style.
She was only 18 earlier this month but the Stowmarket High School student beat her opponent Rebecca Field, six years her senior, convincingly in two sets with Katherine saying she “couldn’t believe” that she had won the title.
Her friends – some 40 strong – took a seat to watch her armed with posters, whistles and teenage enthusiasm to support their classmate at the school yesterday. Katherine mentioned her friend Ebony Carlton, 18, following her triumphant victory, as she would normally have been sitting next to her in the textiles lesson.
“Well I’m very proud obviously that she won and because she was winning all the time – there was a good atmosphere in the classroom,” Ebony said.
Lois Garrod, 17, sits next to Katherine in their form group and said her friend had been training too hard to have time to celebrate her recent birthday.
“I had no idea of how good she is; we are really proud of her, the sixth-form has supported her well – everyone likes her. We plan to take her out and celebrate with her,” Lois said. Katherine won in the final, held at the Potters resort in Hopton, Norfolk, by defeating Norwich bowls player Rebecca Field, 14-4, 11-3.
Despite the match being screened live on BBC2, Katherine, who practises at the Ipswich & District Indoor Bowling Club, remained focused on winning throughout the contest.
The school’s head of sixth form, Andrew Soanes, said it was a “fantastic achievement”. “We are very proud of her,” he said. “She’s been doing it for a long time; building up her skills. When the really big events take place we do give her a bit of slack so she can concentrate.
“She’s a very motivated student, high achieving, who copes with it well.”
Katherine’s father, John, is an accomplished bowler in his own right who has represented England.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here