Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to continue to provide an overview of the sports that Scottish Para athletes will compete in as members of Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Today we are highlighting the sport of Para Lawn Bowls and our magnificent seven: Irene Edgar, Robert Barr, David Thomas (Director), Sarah Jane Ewing (Director), Garry Brown, Mike Nicoll and Michael Simpson.
Bowls is a game of skill, precision and tactical awareness, appropriate for players of all ages and abilities. Bowls inspires teamwork and quality communication between participants. Bowls encourages community engagement and has clearly defined pathways to performance and excellence.
Up to and including the 1996 Games in Atlanta, bowls was part of the Paralympic programme. Stricter qualifying criteria and a reduction in the number of nations and players resulted in a change of status for the sport within the Paralympic family.
Scotland has progressed from finishing third at the IBD World Championships in Australia to second in 2011 in South Africa and 2015 in New Zealand.
The highest level for any international para bowler is the Commonwealth Games and Scotland won triples gold for physically disabled para sport bowlers at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and pairs silver for visually impaired bowlers at the Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Irene Edgar (B2: Lead)
With multiple World and Commonwealth Games appearances and medals, Irene is the most experienced international bowler within the team. She will be making her second Team Scotland appearance at a Commonwealth Games and will be aiming to go one step further by winning gold in Gold Coast.
Key achievements
- Silver in in the B2/3 Mixed Pairs at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
- Silver in the singles of the 2017 IBBA World Championships
- Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
- Gold in the B2 Singles and B2/B3 Mixed Pairs at the IBD World Championships
Irene’s athlete profile can be viewed here.
Robert Barr (B3: Skip)
Robert is a relative newcomer to Para Lawn Bowls after attending a talent development day in 2015. From this moment he has gone from strength to strength.
He is accomplished in the mainstream setting and has taking this skill level into the para game. Robert has competed in several Home Nations events and was part of the successful B2/B3 Mixed pair that won silver in the 8 Nations Para Sport Event at BroadBeach in 2017.
Robert will be making his Commonwealth Games debut.
Key achievements
- Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
- Gold in the 2017 UK Visually Impaired Indoor Championships
- Gold in the 2017 Bowls Scotland Visually Impaired Outdoor Championships
Robert’s athlete profile can be viewed here.
David Thomas (Director)
One of Scotland most accomplished directors and has built up a formidable partnership with Irene Edgar. The duo have been successful over many years delivering medals for Scotland.
This will be David’s second appearance at a Commonwealth Games.
Key achievements
- Silver in in the B2/3 Mixed Pairs at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
- Silver in the singles of the 2017 IBBA World Championships
- Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
- Gold in the B2 Singles and B2/B3 Mixed Pairs at the IBD World Championships
David’s athlete profile can be viewed here.
Sarah Jane Ewing (Director)
At 32, Sarah is the youngest member of the team but has a considerable international record as a bowler. She won the British Isles under 25 singles championships and has several international caps to her name. She has successfully transferred this knowledge to para bowls coaching and has excelled over the years in her capacity as a director.
She has won many British and World medals as a director and this will be her first appearance at a Commonwealth Games.
Key achievements
- Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
- Gold in the B3 Singles at the 2015 IBD World Championships
- Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed Pairs at the 2015 IBD World Championships
Sarah Jane’s profile can be viewed here.
Garry Brown (B7: Lead)
One of Scotland’s most improved bowlers Garry has won numerous club and national titles and has represented Scotland at two IBD World Championships in 2011 and 2015. In his younger days he represented Scotland in both Cerebral Palsy football and para swimming.
As a swimmer he narrowly missed out on the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
All this experience will stand him in good stead as he prepares for his first Commonwealth Games.
Key achievements
- Gold in the B/7/8 2016 & 2017 Scottish Indoor Championships:
- Gold in the 2017 able bodied Scottish Team Championships:
- Fifth place in the B6/B7/B8 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
Garry’s athlete profile can be viewed here.
Mike Nicoll (B6: Second)
Mike is an accomplished bowler and has several honours as mainstream player. Since discovering Para Lawn Bowls in 2016 he has taking this considerable experience into the Scottish national programme and has added real strength.
Mike has competed in two Home Nation events and performed well at Broadbeach in the 8 Nations test event in 2017. This will be Mike’s first appearance at a Commonwealth Games.
- Gold in the B6 singles at the 2016 Bowls Scotland Championships
- Fifth place in the B6/B7/B8 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
Mikes athlete profile can be viewed here.
Michael Simpson (B7: Skip)
At only 32 Michael can be considered one of the most experienced players within Scottish Para bowls. He has represented Scotland at two IBD World Championships (2011 & 2015) and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
He is extremely competent within mainstream bowls and has won numerous club and county events.
Michael is heading into these Games with determination to improve on the 4th place he achieved in Glasgow four years earlier.
Key achievements
- Gold at in the B6/B7/B8 Open Triples at the 2013 Eight Nations Championships
- Silver in the Mixed pairs at the 2015 IBD World Championships
- 4th in the B6/B7/B8 Open Triples at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
Michael’s athlete profile can be viewed here.
For a schedule of para lawn bowls events please follow the link below:
https://www.gc2018.com/sport/lawn-bowls
Scottish Disability Sport has produced a factsheet on para lawn bowls for people with a disability which can be downloaded here.
And a video fact file can be viewed here.