Bowling aid really is the Wheel Deal!

DISABILITY SPORT

FOURTEEN specially-adapted wheelchairs have been delivered to three local bowling clubs so disabled players can become involved in the game.

The Houghton Town Bowling Club, Houghton Indoor Bowls Club and Washington Glebe Club are the first clubs in the region to offer the free wheelchairs to players through the Wheel Deal initiative.

Wheelchair bowling is flourishing in many areas throughout the UK but has not been available in the North East until now.

The Wheel Deal, a scheme designed for social inclusion in bowling in the North East, was delivered through the work of freelance appeals organiser George Duffell, 86, who raised £14,000 to buy the para-handy bowling wheelchairs.

He said. “Bowling is a sport I have enjoyed for 20 years and I wanted to work with the clubs to open up the sport to people who were previously alienated from it.

“When I was bowling on many occasions I was aware of spectators in wheelchairs - they could not bowl or even go on to the bowling green as their chairs would damage the surface.

“Para-handy wheelchairs enable spectators to become players.

“We are welcoming people from across the region to become involved, discover a sport and join our community.”

The three clubs are now offering new coaching sessions for wheelchair-bound children.

With the larger bowls too big for youngsters, the clubs are appealing to the community to donate any unwanted size one, size two or carpet bowls.

The wheelchairs do not need to be pushed and are designed for both indoor and outdoor use.

They are approved by the British Wheelchair Bowling Association.

The Wheel Deal scheme was supported and sponsored by the Prime Grassroots Fund, Ringtons Fund, the Sir James Knott Trust, the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust, the Northumbrian Water Fund, Gentoo and Boost.

For further inquiries contact Margaret Nicholson (Houghton Indoor Bowling) on 0191 581 2677, Kenneth Taylor (Houghton Outdoor Bowling) on 0191 584 7268 and Ivan Richardson (Washington Glebe Outdoor Bowling Club) on 0191 416 7822.