2015 Multibowl National Championships – Final
Multibowl Championships Write-Up (18/10/15)
Attending from WA: Joe Davey (Fremantle), Steve Murray (Scarborough), Greg Power (Guilderton)
What an exciting week the WA State Disability Team had at the 2015 Multibowl National Championships! Hard fought games against the best Australia has to offer in the area of physical disabilities proved to be inspirational on so many levels, lessons learnt to last a lifetime. Attending a National event is intimidating in every sense and typically takes a couple of years to gain confidence to achieve results. WA’s team are new bowlers at this level and proved they have what it takes to improve with experience.
Joe and Greg working together to do a measure
Joe Davey and Greg Power bowled B5/6 Pairs against two Queensland teams, Victoria, New South Wales, and a combined team from ACT and Tasmania. While they inched their way forward improving their game throughout the week, the duo did not quite make it to the top three. What the pair did do was win the respect of everyone they bowled against – to the point in the last game of the week every other state/territory was cheering our guys on! Pictured here are Joe and Greg working together to complete a measure while waiting for an umpire, this act alone stopped everyone on the green for a moment to take a look in awe – fantastic team work guys!
Steve and Steve Quinn (SA)
Steve fought hard in his B7/8 Singles games going down by only two shots in his games. He was successful in the end winning against Steve Quinn from South Australia 21 to 13. Congratulations to Steve whose performance improved steadily throughout the week to come out ahead!
Brett Wilkie presenting the Clover/Lester Achievement Award to Joe Davey – accepted by Denise McMillan (WA Team Manager)
The wrap up to this article is exciting for WA and empowering for Bowls WA, while our men did not reach Gold, Silver or Bronze level at these games we come away with something more inspirational. Since 2000 the National Multi Disability Bowls have awarded the Clover/Lester Encouragement Award to one bowler each year, this Award was established in recognition of Clover Bradley and John Lester, both of whom have made a significant contribution to Lawn Bowls for athletes with a disability. The Award is a means of recognition of individuals who are relatively new to the sport at a National level and who set a good example at all times on and off the greens, display good sportsmanship, encourage others and has the potential to become a good bowler.
Congratulations to Joe Davey from Fremantle Bowling Club who was awarded the 2015 Clover/Lester Achievement Award – the first time in 15 years that WA has been recognized at this event (this year marks the 30th year). It is very exciting to have our State recognized on a National Perpetual Trophy! Significantly, Joe required dialysis three times a week and managed to fit that in along with an intense competition schedule. Due to being at dialysis during the Award presentations I accepted the Award, presented by Brett Wilkie, on Joe’s behalf and he was presented with his personal trophy later in the evening.
Thank you to my team for being such wonderful athletes and showing what WA has to offer in the area of bowlers with a disability – I couldn’t be more proud. I look forward to taking the team, hopefully with more players, again in 2016!
Denise McMillan, Bowls WA Inclusive Practices & High Performance Officer
