2016 Multi-Disability Lawn Bowls National Championships
The 2016 Multi-Disability Lawn Bowls National Championships, run under the banner of DisabilitySport Australia, were held at Clearview Bowling Club located in Adelaide from the 22nd – 27th of May. These Championships are the National stepping stone to International events such as the Commonwealth Games and International Bowls with a Disability (IBD) Games.
WA state representatives have been attending since 2013 – in 2013 as a single player, and then in 2014 and 2015 as unique teams of three. 2016 saw an influx with a team of eight playing at the games. Last year our Fremantle representative, Joe Davey, was awarded the prestigious Clover/Lester Perpetual Trophy – the Nationals had been running for 30 years and it was a first for WA – unfortunately we still weren’t in the running for any game Trophies.
2016 saw us as a potential state to be reckoned with as one of our three Open Triples team (Eddie Gollan, Steve Murray, Wayne Allsopp) made it to the Semi-Finals in play off for Bronze, unfortunately this game was not our time to shine but instead be proud of landing in the Semi-Finals in the first place and coming 4th of 16 teams.
Up next came the Open Men’s Pairs (players with B5/6 and B7/8 disabilities playing against each other instead of in their respective categories) – one of our Pairs teams made it to the Finals for Gold and won!!! Congratulations to Eddie Gollan and Steve Murray on their fantastic showing.
Our team ladies (Maud Taylor, Lara Symons) gave a fantastic show in the Ladies Singles – while not coming out ahead they pushed their opponents to the time limit on every game! I see a lot of potential in future Championships for these ladies. Coming out of the Singles and into the Open Women’s Pairs saw the WA women put up a fight … in the first 3 games they did not win; however, once again they pushed their opponents to the game time limits – then came in for a draw and finalized their Pairs with a win – improvement over the week and in trying conditions that saw one day closed due to rain and the next day four games of two hours played consecutively!
Winding up the week along with the Ladies games were the Men’s Singles played in separate categories of B5/6 and B7/8. Steve Murray came within a hairs-breath of competing in the Quarter Finals of the B7/8’s losing a position by only 3 shots for Lucky Loser in his section. Wayne Allsopp and Greg Power also pushed their opponents but the opposition pushed back harder! The B5/6 Singles saw Leigh Passmore and Joe Davey push their opponents but not quite slide through and Eddie Gollan win a spot in play off for Gold; however, lady luck was not on the players side on the day with the game cancelled due to rain. The countback saw Eddie come Silver rather than Gold – still a fantastic result and one to be proud of!
The 2016 WA Squad: Eddie Gollan (Kardinya – B6), Greg Power (Guilderton – B7), Joe Davey (Fremantle – B6), Lara-Jane Symons (South Perth – B6), Leigh Passmore (Kwinana – B6), Maud Taylor (Collie – B8), Steve Murray (Scarborough – B8), and Wayne Allsopp (Dowerin – B7).
OVERALL RESULTS
Triples
Bronze: Bonnell/Nicholls/Sellars (QLD)
Silver: Thornton/Slater/Argent (VIC)
Gold: Mason/Barrie/Quinn (ACT/SA)
Women’s Pairs
Bronze: Hunter/Nelson (NSW)
Silver: Morrison/Meaking (VIC)
Gold: Smith/Bonnell (QLD)
Men’s Pairs
Bronze: Williams/Currie (QLD)
Silver: Thornton/Weaver (VIC)
Gold: Gollan/Murray (WA)
Women’s Singles
Bronze: Carolyn Nelson (NSW)
Silver: Kaytlyn Smith (QLD)
Gold: Jo Hunter (NSW)
Men’s B5/6 Singles
Bronze: Matthew Barrie (ACT)
Silver: Eddie Gollan (WA)
Gold: Geoff Seton (NSW)
Men’s 7/8 Singles
Bronze: Josh Thornton (VIC)
Silver: Clive Williams (QLD)
Gold: Chris Flavel (SA)
Clover/Lester Encouragement Award – Dylan-Jack Weaver (VIC)
The Clover Lester Encouragement Award was established in 2000 recognising players that are relatively new to the sport at a national level and who set a good example at all times on and off the green, displaying good sportsmanship, encouraging others and having the potential to become a good bowler. This years recipient Dylan, at the age of 16 is this year’s youngest competitor. Dylan started Bowls 4 years ago when he was 12. This was his first ever nationals and only his second time bowling on synthetic greens. Dylan made the finals of the pairs and bowled well in triples and singles. Dylan’s competitors have noted his good sportsmanship and good nature while embracing the spirit of the competition.
Interstate Trophy – ACT
The Interstate Trophy is awarded to the state that has the highest points on aggregate across disciplines and classes and divided by the number of players on the team.
By: Denise McMillan, Team Manager
