The sun was shining at Albury Outdoor Sports Centre, the hospitality was second to none, and the competition was fierce (albeit friendly & with copious amounts of banter) at this year’s Grampian Regional Lawn Bowls Championships.
The qualifying event for Grampian’s bowlers to reach the SDS National Lawn Bowls Championships was highly anticipated amongst the bowls community and saw bowlers with physical, visual and learning disabilities aged 20 – 88 from across Aberdeen City & Shire compete for the top spots on the day & a place at Nationals. The event also saw a tremendous 50% increase in entries compared to the 2018 event.
Thanks to the organisation skills of Grampian’s bowls lead, Kevin Duncan, participants were split into 3 pools for the day (seated bowlers & those using wheelchairs, ambulant bowlers with physical and learning disabilities, and bowlers with visual impairments) and competed in round robin matches against the others in their pool.
Following the event, the players, carers, parents and umpires retired to the club house where local hero & Albury Outdoor Sports Centre volunteer, Agnes MacDonald, ensured that everyone was suitably fed & watered with an afternoon tea. In turn, diners donated over £80 towards the Centre’s funds. The Centre is entirely run by volunteers & managed by Albury Community Sports Hub. SDS, Grampian Disability Sport & the players are eternally grateful to Agnes & her team for continuing to make sure everyone is looked after, both at our annual event & at the weekly Grampian Bowls Squad sessions, which take place on Saturdays from 13:00 – 15:00 at the Centre and are suitable for all ages.
Special mentions from the day go to first-time competitors Reggie Craig & Zoe Kane who performed incredibly well amongst our veteran entrants.
A huge thank you also goes to the team of umpires & markers, without whom the event wouldn’t be possible.
Congratulations to all of the competitors.
Results:
Section A (Seated bowlers & those bowling from wheelchairs)
Gold: Kevin Duncan
Silver: Reggie Craig
Bronze: Kerry Mathers
Section B (Ambulant bowlers)
Gold: Zoe Kane
Silver: Martin Morrison
Bronze: Kelly McDonald
Section C (Visually impaired bowlers)
Gold: Ali Burt
Silver: David Cox
Bronze: Jim Lamb
If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.