Top bowlers from four different disability bowls groups played in the elite 16-person event. The groups represented were BWBA (for wheelchair bowlers), CPSport (for bowlers with cerebral palsy, strokes and head injury) VIBE (visually impaired) and EALABA (for amputee’s and other disabilities). Each disability group nominates 4 top bowlers, they are then drawn into 4 pools consisting of one bowler from each disability group. They play a round robin in their pool, the winners of each pool determine the semi-finalists.
Sadly John Appleton the defending Champion was unable to compete this year, but there was no lack of talent in the competition with competitors coming from North, South, East and West of the country and many points in between.
Representing BWBA were;
Val Bradley, Alan Cunningham, George Ridgeon and Steve Bigg
EALABA Bowlers
Mac Otton, Gary Swift, Neil Smith and Bob Love
VIBE Bowlers
Ron Homer, Sarah Marshall, Liz Ward and Gareth Harwood
CP Sport Bowlers
Alastair Domville, George Pierrepoint, Les Smith and Steve Angus.
All four groups were keenly contested with two of the group winner being decided after the round robin stage by shots difference.
This year the semi-finals saw Bob Love, (Birmingham) take on Gary Swift (Harrogate) in a very close game, Bob being the eventual winner, 21 points to 18.
The other semi-final was even more of a ‘nail biter’. Val Bradley (Hull) and Mac Otton (Warwick) played a wonderful game of bowls. As the bell rang to end the game the score was even, 16 across the card with Mac taking one shot on the extra end to win the match and go through to the final.
The Final was no disappointment. Both Bob and Mac played really well, by the 14th end the score was 14 all but then Bob ‘put his foot down’ quite literally( as he bowls with his feet) ‘stepped on the gas’ and won the next 3 ends winning 21 points to 14.
Congratulations Bob on your win!
100% record after almost a year off with injury. You truly are ‘The Master’.
Congratulations to all of the players for a wonderful display of bowling over the whole weekend.
This year the trophies were presented by Paul Brown, DBE Chairman.
A ‘big thank you’ to the Gedling IBC members who helped over the weekend, they were, as always, brilliant!
Margaret Smith
DBE Sec and tournament organizer.