Before Heather Pembroke even boarded her flight to Cyprus, she had already won something extraordinary: the hearts of South Africans from every corner of the internet.
Johannesburg, South Africa (02 December 2025) – We’re a country that celebrates people with our whole chest. We’re a nation that backs its people loudly, proudly and without hesitation… even when the spotlight lands on a sport many have never played, watched (or even Googled).
That’s the magic of what happened when an incredibly proud daughter pressed “send” on a tweet about her mom and the country showed up in full force.
Her mom is Heather Pembroke and right now she’s representing South Africa in Cyprus at the Atlantic Rim Senior Fours Bowls tournament.
It all started when Shelley Pembroke shared a light-hearted, proud-as-anything tweet.
My mom is headed to Cyprus tomorrow to represent Bowls SA. She is so much cooler than me.
Please feel free to wish her luck so I can pass on the message!
(And yes, those are SOME of her medals in the background 😂🇿🇦🎉) pic.twitter.com/UxpnDXy1TZ
— its Shelley, not Shirley. Sorry 🤷♀️ (@ShellsPemBroke) November 27, 2025
The tweet exploded.
Hundreds of comments. Strangers cheering her on. People asking, “What is bowls?” but supporting anyway. And yes, even Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, spotted it and amplified it.
When we caught up with Shelley, she was still a bit overwhelmed.
“I posted about my mum heading to Cyprus to represent South Africa at bowls and the response was so sweet! Hundreds of well-wishes. From all areas. From people who don’t even know what bowls is. Even frikkin Gayton McKenzie reposted it and wished her well. Her teammates were ecstatic. She was in near-tears when I showed her last night. No one ever pays attention to bowls.”
Heather has been playing bowls for 33 years, and despite decades of local wins, this is her first chance to wear the green and gold on an international stage. Shelley explained just how much this moment means.
“This is the first time she’s getting to represent South Africa, despite all her local wins. It’s been a dream of hers for decades. She wasn’t expecting much acknowledgement because it’s obviously a lesser-known sport in SA, so she was happy to hop on her flight and just go play.”
But then South Africa arrived. Loudly, lovingly (and of course with that Mzansi flavour).
“Hundreds of strangers wishing her well, calling her Gogo and BowlsMom, all from completely different walks of life. Many didn’t even know what the sport was but that didn’t stop them from wishing her luck and love.”
And the part that got Shelley the most?
“My mom wanted to play for herself and her team, but now she’s playing for thousands of South Africans who have shown nothing but love, support and kindness.”
The comments say it all:
“All the best to her, we love ❤️ 🇿🇦”
“Good luck Mama Heather!!! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 Now Shelley, what is Bowls? 😅”
“Go bowl them over, Shelley’s mom!”
“Good luck Mama ❤️🫶🏽 South Africa is fully behind you! Get it Queen 👊🏽🔥♥️”
And honestly… it’s well deserved. Heather isn’t just representing SA, she’s earned her place with decades of discipline and a medal cabinet that could qualify as structural artwork.
A small slice of her achievements over the last five years alone:
- SA Pairs – Gold 2023 & 2024
- SA Fours – Bronze 2024 & 2025
- SA Veteran Masters Singles – Silver 2025
- Gauteng Open Pairs – Gold 2022 & 2024
- JBA Singles – Gold 2025
- JBA Bowler of the Year 2024
- …and so much more.
This is a woman who has put in the hours, the passion, the years… and now finally gets her moment with the Protea on her chest.
And maybe that’s why this story hit home for so many people. Because it’s not really about bowls. It’s about seeing someone’s lifelong dream finally come to life and choosing to cheer loudly for a stranger simply because the joy is contagious. South Africans love backing each other, no matter the sport, the stage, or the spotlight. We rally. We lift. We love. And when someone’s moment arrives, we never let them stand alone.
Heather, we’re behind you.
We’re also behind Esme Haley, Otto Holicki, Michelé Schliesser, Allan Gordon, Linda Hampton, Brian Dial, and Gianni Gatti too (they are also competing for South Africa at the Atlantic Rim Senior Fours Bowls tournament).
Go represent us with pride.
Go play the game you’ve loved for 33 years.
Go bowl them over.
by 