National Wheelchair Bowling Championships – or what Dru did next….

Over the week of 20^th to 25^th September the National Wheelchair Championships were taking place on the bowling arena of Stoke Mandeville Hospital. I was delighted to be invited by National Secretary Ian Blackmore and as there were a couple of lads from Devon playing in the Pairs and Singles (Howard Dare and Roger Wilton of Plymouth IBC) it would be an interesting trip.

Again, this event was well supported and with the camaraderie between the bowlers both on and off the green, it was a very pleasurable 3 days for me. Penny Tyler (GB Coach for the BWBA) organised the games and Peter Eykyn also a Coach, umpired the whole event. I again had the honour of marking the singles competitions and indeed was able to mark the final, which was a very close game.

The results: Winner: Kevin Woolmore (Frith BC – North Wales)

                     Runner up: Paul brown (Bristol City and County BC)

                      3^rd             Percy Powell (Who was 70 on Wednesday 24^th)

                     4^th              Brenda Penny (Frith BC)

But what I would like to tell you all is, that I wouldn’t have liked to play any of the bowlers whom I saw play during my stay at Stoke Mandeville. The quality of bowling was superb, the drawing ability a pleasure to watch.

TLH Leisure Resort holds a special weekend for disabled bowlers in April every year. This is a fun event and is also well supported – all are welcome.

Well that’s about all for now folks - Dru Close (alive and well and safely back in South Devon).