State Multi-Disability Championships 16 – Paradise Point’s Junior Program

Sporting Wheelies Open Pairs Medallists L-R: Bronze Rufino Obien & Tony Watson, Gold Cheryl Lindfield & Cooper Whitestyles, Silver Damien Delgado & Bernie Wolland

Diane Jackson Richard Rombouts Louise Hoskins

Since 2011, Bowls Queensland in partnership with Sports Connect has run the Multi Disability State Championships. The first time this event travelled outside of Brisbane was to Mackay in 2019. This year, 2021, the championships were back in Mackay and held across Souths Suburban Bowls Club and Mackay City Bowls Club. This event includes four disability groups: Sporting Wheelies (physical), QLD Deaf Bowlers, QLD Blind Bowlers and Lifestream (intellectual). Spirits were high on Monday, July 19 (day 1) after bowlers and spectators were welcomed, with players itching to get on the green. Sporting Wheelies Open Pairs and QBBA Open Singles played their first three rounds at South Suburban while the Hard of Hearing Men’s and Women’s Singles kicked off at Mackay City. Old friendships were rekindled and many new ones were made in a great display of sportsmanship on and off the green. Tuesday, July 20 (day 2), was the first medal day with gold and bronze medal playoffs set to begin in the afternoon after rounds 4 and 5.

Sporting Wheelies Open Pairs

Last year’s Sporting Wheelies Pairs Champions Cooper Whitestyles (Souths Suburban) and Damien Delgado (Tweed Heads) found themselves doing battle against each other for gold in this year’s final. Whitestyles was originally ruled out of the event due to recovering from surgery with Delgado opting to team up with Bernie Wolland from Mossman. However, Whitestyles was a late inclusion in the pairs and teamed up with Mt Gravatt’s Cheryl Lindfield in her first appearance in the event. After topping the sectional ladder, Lindfield and Whitestyles came flying out of the blocks to lead 10-nil after five ends. Wolland and Delgado showed a never-say-die attitude to claw their way back to trail by two shots with three ends to play. Lindfield and Whitestyles bounced back claiming five shots and then another one on the following end to

secure the gold medal. Rufino Obien (Gatton) and Tony Watson (Kallangur) claimed the bronze after Dale Mansfield (Capalaba) & Cristian Lenske (Mooloolaba) had to withdraw due to medical reasons. • Gold Medal Match: Cheryl Lindfield (Mt Gravatt) & Cooper Whitestyles (Souths Suburban) 18 def Bernie Wolland (Mossman) & Damien Delgado (Tweed Heads) 10 • Bronze Medal Match: Rufino Obien (Gatton) & Tony Watson (Kallangur) def Dale Mansfield (Capalaba) & Cristian Lenske (Mooloolaba)

Hard of Hearing Men’s Singles

Hard of Hearing Men’s Singles Medallists L-R: Bronze Peter Rookas, Gold Russell Jackson & Silver Andrew Crosbie

It was an Airlie Beach derby in the final of the Hard of Hearing Men’s Singles with club mates Russell Jackson and Andrew Crosbie doing battle for gold. Jackson held a handy lead of 12-7 before putting the foot down to win by 14 shots, his second gold medal in three years after winning the event two years ago at the same venue. North Toowoomba’s Peter Rookas defeated Brian Taylor from Beenleigh to claim bronze, after trailing 8-17 Rookas bounced back to win for his first time in the event. • Gold Medal Match: Russell Jackson (Airlie Beach) 21 def Andrew Crosbie (Airlie Beach) 7 • Bronze Medal Match: Peter Rookas (North Toowoomba) 21 def Brian Taylor (Beenleigh) 18

Hard of Hearing Women’s Singles

Hard of Hearing Women’s Singles Medallists L-R: Silver Linda Corey, Gold Janet Hogan & Bronze Robyn Campbell

Gladstone’s Janet Hogan topped the section in the Women’s Hard of Hearing Singles and then had an epic battle with first timer Linda Corey from Headland Pacific in the final. Corey came out firing to take a commanding lead 16-6 before an amazing comeback from Hogan to draw level at 16 all. Corey scored two on the next end before Hogan steadied to claim a four and one to take the gold. Another thriller was in the bronze medal match with Northern Beaches Robyn Campbell overcoming Pamela Branton from Tweed Heads after also being 16 all at one stage. • Gold Medal Match: Janet Hogan (Gladstone) 21 def Linda Corey (Headland Pacific) 18 • Bronze Medal Match: Robyn Campbell (Northern Beaches) 21 def Pamela Branton (Tweed Heads) 16

Life stream Open Singles

Life Stream Open Singles Medallists L-R: Silver Kaye Freeman, Gold Danial Walker & Bronze Darren Davis

Alan Duffy Carla Pizzi & Darryl Bridges

On Wednesday, July 21 (day 3) Danial Walker from Tweed Heads came out all guns blazing in the final of the Life Stream Open Singles against Cleveland’s Kaye Freeman. Walker found his rhythm right from the start scoring two counts of three shots to take an early lead. Freeman fought hard all the way and tried her hardest to work her way back into the game. Walker continued the pressure to defend his title after winning the event in 2020 and 2019. Darren Davis from Diggers Memorial took out the bronze medal after defeating Wondai’s Darryl Bridges. After being nine all, Davis surged ahead and finished off stronger to claim the win.

• Gold Medal Match: Danial Walker (Tweed Heads) 21 def Kaye Freeman (Cleveland) 1 • Bronze Medal Match: Darren Davis (Diggers Memorial) 21 def Darryl Bridges (Wondai) 13

QLD Blind Bowlers Singles Medallists L-R: Silver Director Grant Fehlberg & Jake Fehlberg, Gold Director Keg Transberg & Scott Kinnear, Bronze Lynne Seymour & Director Bob Seymour

Proserpine’s Scott Kinnear took out the Blind Bowlers Open Singles after defeating defending champion Jake Fehlberg from Burleigh Heads in the final. Kinnear started well going out to a 9-4 lead before a comeback from Fehlberg squared the ledger at nine all.

Kinnear bounced back with a count of three shots to regain the lead before Fehlberg hit his straps to win the next five ends to lead 15-12. Kinnear kicked again with a full count of four shots to regain the control. After trading ends, the pair were on 17 all when the bell rang to end the game. With Kinnear holding three shots, Fehlberg had the last crack and missed with a running shot with Kinnear taking the title in his maiden Blind Bowlers event.

Kinnear was assisted by Director Keg Transberg while Fehlberg was assisted by his father Grant Fehlberg as Director. Lynne Seymour from Thuringowa along with husband Bob as Director took out the bronze medal after defeating Edmonton’s June Brittain and daughter Christine McDonald as Director.

• Gold Medal Match: Scott Kinnear & Director Keg Transberg (Proserpine) 20 def Jake Fehlberg & Director Grant Fehlberg (Burleigh Heads) 17 • Bronze Medal Match: Lynne Seymour & Director Bob Seymour (Thuringowa) 16 def June Brittain & Director Christine

McDonald (Edmonton) 10

Director Peter Doherty with Helen Boardman Brandon Smith with Director Maisie Smith (Brandon’s Grandma)

Sporting Wheelies Men’s Singles Medallists L-R: Silver Cristian Lenske, Gold Damien Delgado & Bronze Cooper Whitestyles

Sporting Wheelies Women’s Singles Medallists L-R: Silver Louise Hoskins, Gold Cheryl Lindfield & Bronze Annette Goldsworthy

Thursday, July 22 (day 4) was a bumper day with the finals of five events in the last session and some amazing bowls being played across the green. Damien Delgado from Tweed Heads continued his sublime form to overcome Cristian Lenske from Mooloolaba in the Sporting Wheelies Men’s Singles final. It was the last game to finish in the finals series and had everyone on the edge of their seats. Lenske went out to an early lead of 12-5 and had momentum on his side before Delgado hit his straps to claw back to 15 all. They then traded ends before being 17 all when the bell rang. With the jack in the back corner of the ditch, it was a battle of the draw to the ditch with Delgado winning a measure to take out the match. Delgado has had a great year after claiming silver in the Open Men’s State Championships in Brisbane during May, he also won this event last year at Chermside. Hometown favourite Cooper Whitestyles claimed the bronze medal after defeating David Hayes from Glasshouse Country. • Gold Medal Match: Damien Delgado (Tweed Heads) 18 def Cristian Lenske (Mooloolaba) 17 • Bronze Medal Match: Cooper Whitestyles (Souths Suburban) 21 def David Hayes (Glasshouse Country) 8

SPORTING WHEELIES WOMEN’S SINGLES

Mt Gravatt’s Cheryl Lindfield dominated the Sporting Wheelies Women’s Singles winning all her round games and then defeating Louise Hoskins from South Johnstone in the final. This was Lindfield’s first time in the event after

recently being classified, she was also successful in the pairs with Cooper Whitestyles where they won gold. Annette Goldsworthy from Burnett defeated Diane Jackson of Airlie Beach and won the bronze medal. • Gold Medal Match: Cheryl Lindfield (Mt Gravatt) 21 def Louise Hoskins (South Johnstone) 12 • Bronze Medal Match: Annette Goldsworthy (Burnett) 21 def Diane Jackson (Airlie Beach) 3

HARD OF HEARING OPEN PAIRS

Hard of Hearing Open Pairs Medallists L-R: Silver Medal Eric Smith & Andrew Crosbie, Gold Medal Russell Jackson & Barry Lynne, Bronze Medal Janet Hogan & Sue Tappenden

Airlie Beach’s Russell Jackson made it to two gold medals for the week when he teamed up with the experienced Barry Lynne from Mareeba to win the Hard of Hearing Open Pairs. The pair topped the ladder in the round games before accounting for Eric Smith (Beenleigh) and Andrew Crosbie (Airlie Beach) in the final after leading from start to finish. Sue Tappenden (Mt Larcom) and Janet Hogan (Gladstone) defeated Peter Rookas and John Price to take home bronze. • Gold Medal Match: Russell Jackson (Airlie Beach) & Barry Lynne (Mareeba) 17 def Eric Smith (Beenleigh) & Andrew

Crosbie (Airlie Beach) 11 • Bronze Medal Match: Sue Tappenden (Mt Larcom) & Janet Hogan (Gladstone) 14 def Peter Rookas (Nth Toowoomba) &

John Price (Victoria Pt) 10

QBBA VISION IMPAIRED OPEN PAIRS

Vision Impaired Open Pairs Medallists L-R: Silver Medal Director Peter Doherty, Director Christine McDonald, June Brittain & Helen Boardman, Gold Medal Director Maisie Smith with Brandon Smith & Jake Fehlberg with Director Grant Fehlberg, Bronze Medal Lynne Seymour with Director Bob Seymour & Director Dawn Field with Vanessa Hinton

Peter Doherty (Enoggera) and June Brittain with daughter Christine McDonald as Director (Edmonton) in the final. Smith and Fehlberg were cruising at 9-1 until a big comeback from Boardman and Brittain drew them level at 9 all. Smith and Fehlberg steadied to win four of the last five ends to claim the title. Vanessa Hinton with Director Dawn Field (New Farm) and Lynne Seymour with Director Bob Seymour (Thuringowa) took home the bronze medal. • Gold Medal Match: Brandon Smith (Sth Johnstone) & Jake Fehlberg (Burleigh Heads) 16 def Helen Boardman (Enoggera) & June Brittain (Edmonton) 10 • Bronze Medal Match: Lynne Seymour and Director Bob Seymour (Thuringowa) 16 def June Brittain and Director

Christine McDonald (Edmonton) 10

LIFE STREAM OPEN PAIRS

Life Stream Open Pairs Medallists L-R: Gold Medal Danial Walker, Bronze Medal Carla Pizzi, Gold Medal Darryl Bridges, Silver Medal Darren Davis & Alan Duffy. Absent Bronze Medal Kaye Freeman

Danial Walker of Tweed Heads continued his dominance in the Life Stream event winning the Open Pairs back-to-back with Darryl Bridges from Wondai. The pair went out to a 14-0 lead over Darren Davis (Diggers Memorial) and Alan Duffy (Chermside) and never looked back to eventually win by 10 shots. Carla Pizzi (Noorla) and Kaye Freeman (Cleveland) won the bronze medal. • Gold Medal Match: Darryl Bridges (Wondai) & Danial Walker (Tweed

Heads) 17 def Darren Davis (Diggers Memorial) & Alan Duffy (Chermside) 7 Congratulations to all winners and players. Thank you to the Queensland Government, Mackay Regional Council and Souths Leagues Club Mackay for their support. Congratulations must go to both clubs Souths Suburban and Mackay City along with their staff and volunteers for being magnificent hosts for all players, support crew and officials.

2021 MULTI DISABILITY MEDALS

Hard of Hearing Men’s Singles • Gold: Russell Jackson • Silver: Andrew Crosbie • Bronze: Peter Rookas Hard of Hearing Women’s Singles • Gold: Janet Hogan • Silver: Linda Corey • Bronze: Robyn Campbell Sporting Wheelies Open Pairs • Gold: Cheryl Lindfield & Cooper

Whitestyles • Silver: Bernie Wolland & Damien

Delgado • Bronze: Rufino Obien & Tony Watson QLD Blind Bowlers Open Singles • Gold: Scott Kinnear & Director Keg

Transberg • Silver: Jake Fehlberg & Director

Grant Fehlberg • Bronze: Lynne Seymour & Director

Bob Seymour Life Stream Open Singles • Gold: Danial Walker • Silver: Kaye Freeman • Bronze: Darren Davis Sporting Wheelies Men’s Singles • Gold: Damien Delgado • Silver: Cristian Lenske • Bronze: Cooper Whitestyles Sporting Wheelies Women’s Singles • Gold: Cheryl Lindfield • Silver: Louise Hoskins • Bronze: Annette Goldsworthy Hard of Hearing Open Pairs • Gold: Russell Jackson & Barry Lynne • Silver: Eric Smith & Andrew Crosbie • Bronze: Sue Tappenden & Janet

Hogan QLD Blind Bowlers Open Pairs • Gold: Brandon Smith & Jake

Fehlberg • Silver: Helen Boardman & June

Brittain • Bronze: Vanessa Hinton & Lynne

Seymour Life Stream Open Pairs • Gold: Darryl Bridges & Danial

Walker • Silver: Darren Davis & Alan Duffy • Bronze: Carla Pizzi & Kaye Freeman

NEVER TO OLD IN INSPIRE

By Dee Ayre

Paradise Point’s Mick Thorne with Ben (10)

In the June edition of the Queensland Bowler magazine RBM Development column (page 22), Micheal Sorrensen asked readers to check out ABC’s YouTube clip You’re Never too Old to Inspire. From the positive feedback we have received about this video, it certainly inspired many people who read the Queensland Bowler magazine to encourage younger people to visit their club. For those who have not had a chance to view this heart-warming story, it all started when Paradise Point’s Mick Thorne spotted sevenyear-old Ben visiting the club with his family and kicking a football on the greens. Recognising that reprimanding him could put an enthusiastic young boy off playing bowls one day, Mick asked Ben if he’d like to come along and learn bowls. This was to be the start of a wonderful relationship; Mick and his wife, Cheryl, became almost like a Nan and Pop to Ben. And as for Mick, Ben’s enthusiasm and natural ability started a fire burning in him to nurture more junior bowlers, as they are the future of the game. It didn’t take Mick long to recognise that Ben was “absolutely brilliant”, and that he loved to roll up and learn more each week. By age nine, Mick had enrolled Ben in the State Championships playing against 15-year-olds. Fast forward to Ben at age 10 now and he has just won the Novice Championship at Paradise Point – not a bad result from a chance meeting four years ago. Mick feels strongly that everyone gains in a story such as this. There is still a perception that bowls is an old people’s game; however, in reality it is a game for all ages. Young children, more specifically eight-year-olds, take instructions well and the more they improve their skills, the more they love the game. Bowls is a sport where families can participate together in a healthy environment and build passion for the game. It’s all about fun and passing on a love of the game; but taking the time to mentor a child is more, as it is giving back to the community and contributing towards the survival of the game itself. Mick credits his club, Paradise Point Bowls Club, for their support with the junior mentorship program. As Mick explains, bowls is the only sport that doesn’t have a feeder club and there is very little junior competition.

Mick also speaks highly of the School Bowls Programs. However, what he feels is missing is the lack of follow on. This is where it is important to recognise interest and potential in young players and sign them up as junior members of the club. If further interaction with the school program continues from here, then the hard part is done. At Paradise Point Bowls Club, there are members on the Junior Development Committee who hold blue cards and coaching certificates and there is an arrangement in place whereby the Men’s Committee pay for junior boys’ membership and the Women’s Committee pay for junior girls’ membership. Every effort is made to kit the juniors out ready for training at minimum cost to families and a support team of mentors is in place. So, where to from here? When the You’re Never too Old to Inspire story hit Facebook, Mick was encouraged by the reactions from all over the world.

Unfortunately, since then, the momentum of juniors in bowls seems to have stalled again. Mick’s dream is to see more inter-club competitions for juniors starting up in the Gold Coast District area, as he finds it a sad reality that his club currently has 20 young bowlers with no one to play against. If you would like to help make Mick’s dream a reality, all it takes is to follow the steps Micheal Sorrensen lists to gain juniors, where you need: • A very dedicated person or persons who love to work with children. • A person or persons who love the sport of bowls. • A person or persons who have the time and qualifications to run weekly training sessions. • Green space and bowls suitable to run sessions for juniors. • Cooperation between club and coordinator of the program and a Duty of Care document for juniors (this is to protect both children and the club). If you have club members who meet the above criteria and share the same passion and drive as Mick from Paradise Point, work with them to start a program and ‘get the bowls rolling’, one small step at a time. Don’t forget the support of your local RBM is only a phone call away.