SA’s blind bowlers defend title at world champs

TAKE a scarf, wrap it around your head, securely covering your eyes. Ask someone for a tennis ball and to take you on to some smooth grass; walk 15 paces, turn and try to bowl the ball underarm within 20cm of where your companion is standing.

You might be lucky with one try in 20 from that, or any, distance.

Lawn bowlers of varying visual impairment regularly show amazing talent in being able to achieve accuracy under the direction of a “director” with normal bowls, defying the imagination time after time – from 20-23m away!

On the perfect four greens of WPCC, Newlands in Cape Town, 10 nations and 130 players and directors, including title holders South Africa, are competing for the International Blind Bowls Association’s 11th World Championships, sponsored by 100-year-old Lions International and the City of Cape Town, until Tuesday. This will be followed by two days of internationals between visitors’ sides and the SA Proteas at Jaggers BC, Liesbeek Park.

Bowls South Africa president Kallie Haupt said: “Disabled bowlers of all types are affiliated to Bowls South Africa and are valued and admired.

“To host an event of this stature is a privilege; my thanks to the sponsors and all who work tirelessly to ensure an amazing spectacle of fortitude, patience and pure ability.”