Lee Schraner
Lee James Schraner (born 1982) is a male lawn bowls World Singles Champion of Champions and bowls coach.[1] He became the number one ranked bowler in Australia in October 2018 and held the ranking until June 2019.[2].
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee James Schraner | ||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Leeroy, Shrunger | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 31 January 1982 Prahran, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Spring Gully, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1994–present | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Lawn Bowls | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | Bendigo East Bowling Club | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Bowls career summary
Schraner began bowls in December 1994 at Mount Cottrell Bowling Club, located in the outskirts of Melton and Rockbank.[3] After a squad omission Schraner retired from bowls in 2011 to concentrate on his business career. He later returned to the sport and won the 2019 World Singles Champion of Champions, beating Tony Cheung in the final,[4] and the 2019 National fours.
He played 206 test matches for Victoria from 2004-2013 and 91 test matches for Tasmania (2014–2019) and is the coach of Bendigo East.[1]
Australian representation
Schraner represented Australia at Under 25 level and Open Men's Level on numerous occasions, but yielded only one official cap for his Country. He became the 132nd male to represent Australia in Lawn Bowls when he led in the pairs for Mark Jacobsen against England, in the "Battle on the Border" at Moama Bowling Club.
In 2006 Schraner represented the Australian Under 25 side against New Zealand in Christchurch. He skipped the Fours & Triples, winning 3 matches and losing 3 matches. Overall, Australia won the series 3-0. Schraner was again named in the 2007 Australian Under 25 side, the only to remain from the 2006 side, handed skipping duties in the Triples and the coveted Singles role. With two wins and a tie in the Triples, on top of an unblemished Singles record, Schraner again helped the Australian side record consecutive 3-0 series victories.
After a distinguished Under 25 career, Schraner was rewarded with Australian Squad Men's Selection in 2008, where he remained in the squad until he was omitted in 2011. He became available for National Selection in 2014 after a string of impressive results at both State & National level. In July 2018 he was named in the Australian Jackaroos Emerging Squad (the tier below the Open squad), but after just one year, he was omitted in June 2019. At age 37, he retired indefinitely from National duties.[5]
International Record
Schraner has represented Australia at Under 25 level and Open level on 41 occasions, but only one of those matches was an officially capped match. His single capped match was his 13th International appearance. Of the 41 matches, 31 were in Singles, 6 were in Triples, 3 were in Fours and 1 was in Pairs. 28 of Schraner's matches were in the 2018 & 2019 World Champion of Champions Singles, where he qualified by winning back-to-back 2017 & 2018 Australian Champion of Champions Singles. Schraner lost just 6 of his 41 matches in Australian colours and just 2 of his 31 Singles matches, highlighting a 94% win record as an International Singles player.
| Match | Year | Discipline | Position | Opponent | Event | Result | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006 | Fours | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Loss | |
| 2 | 2006 | Triples | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | |
| 3 | 2006 | Fours | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | |
| 4 | 2006 | Triples | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Loss | |
| 5 | 2006 | Fours | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | |
| 6 | 2006 | Triples | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Loss | Australia win the 5-a-side series 3-0 |
| 7 | 2007 | Singles | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | ||
| 8 | 2007 | Triples | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | |
| 9 | 2007 | Singles | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | ||
| 10 | 2007 | Triples | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Draw | |
| 11 | 2007 | Singles | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | ||
| 12 | 2007 | Triples | Skip | New Zealand | Under 25 Trans Tasman | Win | Australia win the 5-a-side series 3-0 |
| 13 | 2010 | Pairs | Lead | England | Battle on the Border | Loss | Australia lose the 6 match series 3-3 on countback |
| 14 | 2018 | Singles | Scotland | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 15 | 2018 | Singles | South Africa | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - tie-break | ||
| 16 | 2018 | Singles | Spain | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 17 | 2018 | Singles | Switzerland | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 18 | 2018 | Singles | USA | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 19 | 2018 | Singles | Zimbabwe | World Champion of Champions Singles | Loss - tie-break | Zimbabwe is the only country with a better record over Schraner | |
| 20 | 2018 | Singles | Botswana | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 21 | 2018 | Singles | Hungary | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 22 | 2018 | Singles | Norfolk Island | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 23 | 2018 | Singles | Malaysia | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 24 | 2018 | Singles | Macau | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 25 | 2018 | Singles | Wales | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 26 | 2018 | Singles | Samoa | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | Schraner topped the pool with 12 wins and 1 loss | |
| 27 | 2018 | Singles | Hong Kong China | World Champion of Champions Singles (Semi-Final) | Loss - tie-break | Losing the semi-final meant Schraner won Bronze | |
| 28 | 2019 | Singles | Singapore | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 29 | 2019 | Singles | South Africa | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - tie-break | ||
| 30 | 2019 | Singles | Japan | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 31 | 2019 | Singles | Botswana | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 32 | 2019 | Singles | USA | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - tie-break | ||
| 33 | 2019 | Singles | Wales | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - tie-break | ||
| 34 | 2019 | Singles | Turkey | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 35 | 2019 | Singles | Fiji | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 36 | 2019 | Singles | Israel | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 37 | 2019 | Singles | Ireland | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | ||
| 38 | 2019 | Singles | Guernsey | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - tie-break | ||
| 39 | 2019 | Singles | Norfolk Island | World Champion of Champions Singles | Win - straight sets | Schraner topped the pool undefeated with 12 straight wins | |
| 40 | 2019 | Singles | England | World Champion of Champions Singles (Semi-Final) | Win - straight sets | ||
| 41 | 2019 | Singles | Hong Kong China | World Champion of Champions Singles (World Final) | Win - tie-break | Schraner defeated Tony Cheung in the final 7-6/6-9/4-1 |
Championships
Schraner has been a prolific winner of State and National titles for more than a decade. To date, he has won 15 National level Gold Medals and 18 State level Gold Medals:
| No. | Year | Title | Team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2019 | Australian Fours Gold Medal | Brad Johns, Joshua Appleyard, Robert McMullen, Lee Schraner (skip) | Merimbula, NSW |
| 14 | 2018 | Australian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Kingborough, TAS |
| 13 | 2018 | Victorian Open Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 12 | 2017 | Australian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Darwin, NT |
| 11 | 2017 | Victorian Open VIC Medal | Overall best performed player in Victorian Open | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 10 | 2017 | Victorian Open Triples Gold Medal | Dylan Filuk, Bradley Marron, Lee Schraner (skip) | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 9 | 2017 | Victorian Open Mixed Pairs Gold Medal | Gayle Edwards, Lee Schraner (skip) | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 8 | 2017 | Australian Masters Games Pairs Gold Medal | Mark Nitz, Lee Schraner (skip) | Ulverstone, TAS |
| 7 | 2017 | Australian Masters Games Triples Gold Medal | Deborah O'Donnell, Ricky Ormerod, Lee Schraner (skip) | Ulverstone, TAS |
| 6 | 2016 | Victorian Open Pairs Gold Medal | Bradley Marron, Lee Schraner (skip) | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 5 | 2012 | Victorian Open Pairs Gold Medal | Lee Schraner, Aaron Wilson (skip) | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 4 | 2012 | Victorian Open Mixed Pairs Gold Medal | Gayle Edwards, Lee Schraner (skip) | Shepparton Park, VIC |
| 3 | 2011 | Australian Open Pairs Gold Medal | Neville Rodda, Lee Schraner (skip) | Darebin City, VIC |
| 2 | 2009 | Queensland Open Triples Gold Medal | Dylan Fisher, Lee Schraner, Todd Simmons (skip) | Bribie Island, QLD |
| 1 | 2006 | Victorian Grand Prix Triples Gold Medal | Lee Schraner, Joel Simmonds, Paul Dorgan (skip) | Moama, NSW |
| No. | Year | Title | Team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 2019 | Tasmanian Fours Gold Medal | Brad Johns, Joshua Appleyard, Robert McMullen, Lee Schraner (skip) | Rosny Park, TAS |
| 17 | 2018 | Tasmanian Singles Gold Medal | Singles | North Launceston, TAS |
| 16 | 2018 | Tasmanian Triples Gold Medal | Grant Allford, Michael Sweeney, Lee Schraner (skip) | Kingborough, TAS |
| 15 | 2018 | Tasmanian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Kingborough, TAS |
| 14 | 2017 | Tasmanian Triples Gold Medal | Grant Allford, Michael Sweeney, Lee Schraner (skip) | Kings Meadows, TAS |
| 13 | 2017 | Tasmanian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Kings Meadows, TAS |
| 12 | 2016 | Tasmanian State Fours Gold Medal | Michael Sims, Cameron Tegg, Robert McMullen, Lee Schraner (skip) | Buckingham, TAS |
| 11 | 2016 | Tasmanian State Pairs Gold Medal | Cameron Tegg, Lee Schraner (skip) | Buckingham, TAS |
| 10 | 2013 | Victorian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Bendigo East, VIC |
| 9 | 2011 | Victorian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Wangaratta, VIC |
| 8 | 2011 | Victorian Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Wangaratta, VIC |
| 7 | 2009 | Victorian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Altona, VIC |
| 6 | 2008 | Victorian Champion of Champions Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Swan Hill, VIC |
| 5 | 2007 | Victorian Pairs Gold Medal | Mario Cipolla, Lee Schraner (skip) | Berwick, VIC |
| 4 | 2006 | Victorian Under 30 Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Mulgrave CC, VIC |
| 3 | 2003 | Victorian Under 30 Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Sunbury, VIC |
| 2 | 2001 | Victorian Under 30 Singles Gold Medal | Singles | Yarraville/Footscray, VIC |
| 1 | 1997 | Victorian Secondary School Sports Fours Gold Medal | Kayla Cartlidge, Chris Chambers, Robert Doody, Lee Schraner (skip) | Albert Park VRI, VIC |
Outside sports
Schraner completed Secondary School at Kurunjang Secondary College in Melton, Victoria in 1999. He later attended Deakin University where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce (2000–2002) with majors in Commercial Law, Accounting, Finance & Financial Planning. Schraner is now a GST Specialist and licensed BAS Agent, running his own business from home called LJ Schraner Group, a bookkeeping service specialising in Uber, Ola and Drive Share operations.
Schraner has been a published author on three occasions:
| Title | Year | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Falsely Accused - The Twisted Revenge | 1997 | A short-story published in "Shades of Darkness" |
| Nothing to Prove - The Autobiography of Lee James Schraner [6] | 2014 | Autobiography |
| In the Zone - Developing Mental Toughness in Lawn Bowls [7] | 2016 | Non-fiction and educational |
References
- "Star recruit Lee Schraner settling in with new club Bendigo East". Bendigo Advertiser.
- "Latest National Rankings for October released". Bowls Australia. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- "Mt Cottrell Bowls Club". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- "World Singles Champion of Champions, Adelaide Bowling Club, South Australia". World Bowls.
- "Schraner calls time on Jackaroos career". Bowls Australia. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- "Nothing to Prove - The Autobiography of Lee James Schraner". Amazon.
- "In the Zone - Developing Mental Toughness in Lawn Bowls". Amazon.