TAMWORTH lawn bowler Linda O’Reilly swept through a two-day round robin competition to win the Moree qualifying round of the 2026 Australian Indoor Women’s Singles at Moree Services Club on Saturday.

The win catapulted O’Reilly to a spot in the Australia Indoor Championships at Tweed Heads in August.

O’Reilly said getting to  national level is an honour.

“It’s a knock-out competition, so it’s must-win,” she smiled.

O’Reilly, whose husband Phil is competing in the men’s qualifiers in Moree today and tomorrow, is no stranger to playing at national level.

Winner of the Moree qualifying round of the 2026 Australian Indoor Women’s Singles Lynda O’Reilly (green and gold colours) with fellow bowlers Lisa Pillar (Narrabri), Charlie Cameron (Gunnedah), Karen Moxey (Inverell) and Debra Lehman (Inverell).

She played in the Australian Indoor Championships after winning the East Cessnock qualifier in 2022.

“It’s a great experience to get that far – that’s where you see all the international players,” she said.

“It’s quite exciting to get to that level and rub shoulders with all the big-name bowlers.”

O’Reilly played a round robin series over two days at Moree to get the invite to Tweed Heads.

She sat out a round one bye on Friday before beating Debra Lehman from Inverell Sporties in round two, 8-7, 11-6.

O’Reilly, who’s been playing lawn bowls for about 15 years, was defeated 10-5, 10-6 in round three by Gunnedah bowler Charli Cameron before going into round four on Saturday with a comprehensive win against Narrabri’s Lisa Pillar, 11-2, 9-4.

She rounded out the final of five rounds by beating Inverell Sporties’ Karen Moxey 10-7, 10-4.

“Because there were five of us, it was played as a round robin,” O’Reilly said.

“I knew to be in with a chance I had to come out and win two games on Friday, which I was lucky enough to do,” she said.

Qualifying rounds for the Australia Indoor Championships have been played over the past three days at North Haven, Castle Hill, Wenty Leagues, Belmont, East Cessnock, East Maitland, Merimbula, Charlestown, Halekulani, Cabramatta and Warilla. Qualifying bowlers – 11 men and 13 women – will play in the Australian Indoor Singles Championship at Tweed Heads in August.