Physical Disability

Who is eligible to compete as an athlete with a physical impairment?

(B5-B8) Physical Impairment – There are eight different types of physical impairment:

  • Impaired muscle power – With impairments in this category, the force generated by muscles, such as the muscles of one limb, one side of the body or the lower half of the body is reduced, (e.g. due to spinal-cord injury, spina bifida or polio).
  • Impaired passive range of movement – Range of movement in one or more joints is reduced in a systematic way. Acute conditions such as arthritis are not included.
  • Loss of limb or limb deficiency – A total or partial absence of bones or joints from partial or total loss due to illness, trauma, or congenital limb deficiency (e.g. dysmelia).
  • Leg-length difference – Significant bone shortening occurs in one leg due to congenital deficiency or trauma.
  • Short stature – Standing height is reduced due to shortened legs, arms and trunk, which are due to a musculoskeletal deficit of bone or cartilage structures.
  • Hypertonia – Hypertonia is marked by an abnormal increase in muscle tension and reduced ability of a muscle to stretch. Hypertonia may result from injury, disease, or conditions which involve damage to the central nervous system (e.g. cerebral palsy).
  • Ataxia – Ataxia is an impairment that consists of a lack of coordination of muscle movements (e.g. cerebral palsyFriedreich’s ataxia).
  • Athetosis – Athetosis is generally characterized by unbalanced, involuntary movements and a difficulty maintaining a symmetrical posture (e.g. cerebral palsychoreoathetosis).

Previous Champions

Singles Championships

YearWinnerRunner-UpEqual Third***
2023Eddie Gollan
(Thornlie)
Neil Richardson
(Mandurah)
David Stephen (Morley)
Robert Young (Yunderup)
2022***Steve Murray
(Scarborough)
Eddie Gollan
(Thornlie)
Michael Garrett (Bassendean)
Clem Nottle (Pingelly)
2021Ashley Armstrong
(Bunbury)
Eddie Gollan
(Rossmoyne)
 2020Wayne Allsopp
(Dowerin)
Billy Davies
(Forrestfield)
 2019**Steve Murray
(Scarborough)
Leigh Passmore
(Cockburn)
 2018*Wayne Allsopp 
(Dowerin)
Frank Fletcher 
(Osborne Park )
 2017*Laurie Blurton – BA
(Bunbury )
Eddie Gollan 
(Kardinya )
 2016Wayne Allsopp
(Dowerin)
Eddie Gollan
(Kardinya )
 2015Wayne Allsopp
(Dowerin)
Steven Murray
(Scarborough)
*  Included Bowling Arm players
**
2019 Inaugural year of stand-alone Bowling Arm State Singles – not mixed in with physical disability
*** 2022 First year of Equal Thirds

Pairs Championships

 YearWinnersRunner Ups
2023Lead: Clem Nottle (Pingelly)
Skip: Michael Garrett (Bassendean)
Lead: Gordon Twist (Eaton)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Thornlie)
2022Lead: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Thornlie)
Lead: Clem Nottle (Pingelly)
Skip: Michael Garrett (Bassendean)
2021Lead: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Rossmoyne)
Lead: Joe Davey (Fremantle)
Skip: David Stephen (Morley)
 2020Lead: Andrew Edmonds (Northam)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Rossmoyne)
Lead: Greg Power (Scarborough)
Skip: Bill Davies (Forrestfield)
 2019**Lead: Thomas Copping (Brookton)
Skip: Joe Davey (Fremantle)
Lead: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Rossmoyne)
 2018*Lead: Wayne Allsopp (Dowerin)
Skip: Frank Fletcher (Osborne Park)
Lead: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Rossmoyne)
 2017*Lead: Wayne Allsopp (Dowerin)
Skip: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
Lead: Judy Stein – BA (Mundaring)
Skip: Ted Bowman – BA (Halls Head)
 2016Lead: Joe Davey (Fremantle)
Skip: Eddie Gollan (Kardinya)
Lead: Wayne Allsopp (Dowerin)
Skip: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
 2015Lead: Vincent Higgins (Karlgarin)
Skip: Greg Power (Guilderton)
Lead: Tye Angel
Skip: Steve Murray (Scarborough)
*Included Bowling Arm players
** 2019 Inaugural year of stand-alone Bowling Arm State Singles – not mixed in with Physical Disability