Disabled bowlers lose their training facility

A Perthshire teenager with cerebral palsy fears his international sporting career is under threat after indoor bowls was scrapped from his training centre.

Frazer Hutchison, 18, was part of the Scotland team who took home the Munro Cup – an indoor bowls international series for people with learning disabilities – in April.

Two other members of the team, Graeme Panton and Jamieleigh Lutton, are also from Perthshire, as is coach Fiona Taylor and her son Ryan Tamburrino who made the squad last year.

But the team’s future has been thrown into doubt after a decision was made to replace the indoor bowling carpet at Perth’s Dewars Centre with gym equipment from the flooded Bell’s Sports Centre.

Frazer’s dad Lindsay, whose son has been diagnosed with a number of health issues, described the situation as “unbelievable”.

He told The Courier: “Having bowling has been his way into sport, it’s his life.

“It’s the ability of going into Perth and mixing with other people, it’s been a great thing for him.

“He has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning difficulties so it’s one of the only sports he can play.”

The Scotland team only train once a month in Falkirk, so the Perthshire teammates rely on Dewars to train and play through the week.

The closest carpet to them will now be either Dundee or Dunfermline.

“He (Frazer) plays three times a week in Dewars,” Lindsay said.

“It’s five times a week with practice – he won’t be able to go to Dundee or Dunfermline five times a week.

“It’s just a shame that Perth is closing.”