Disadvantaged players in Lower Great Southern compete at inaugural bowling arm competition

A highly successful Lower Great Southern Bowling League arm competition was held for the first time at Emu Point Bowling Club last Thursday. Twelve teams of three players took part in the event that consisted of three rounds. The decision to start a competition for players using artificial bowling arms came after six months of work by Roz Holman and Sue Milne. Only bowlers who play with a bowling arm could participate, giving many disadvantaged elderly bowlers a chance to play at a competitive level. The event will become an annual contest and will be on a rotation system between Emu Point, Middleton Beach and Albany bowling clubs. One game of 12 ends was played, along with two games of 10 ends, on the day. Mt Barker trio John Williams, Ross McCarthy and Ron Lewis won all three games convincingly to finish on 40 shots up for the day. Albany trio Wayne Jones, Tony Italiano and Lynette Erickson had three wins and 17 shots up to finish second. Middleton Beach’s Murray Milne, 88, Trevor Holman, 83, and Tom Ridgeway, 92, filled third with two wins and 15 shots up. Williams, who was born with a deformed hand and arm, won round one, Phil Ramsden prevailed in round two and Will McGowan won round three. Ted Lee also competed at the event and was the oldest bowler on the green at 96. Wellington and Reeves, Fuel Distributors of WA and Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens sponsored the event and provided prizes. The event will be played at Middleton Beach next year. Event organisers said the day was a success and despite being a competition was played in a friendly atmosphere.