An experienced group of Para athletes have been named to the New Zealand team for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games to compete in Para lawn bowls.
The athletes were named at an event at the Carlton Cornwall Bowls Club in Auckland where they provided some expert level coaching to a group of children from the Para community.
David Stallard and director Peter Blick, alongside Sue Curran and director Ann Muir will contest the B2/3 mixed pair Para lawn bowls event.
David and Sue are hoping to better their performance at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where they placed fourth.
Above: Ann Muir teaching a child how to play bowls
Bruce Wakefield, Mark Noble and Barry Wynks have also been named to the team and will contest the B6/7/8 open triples Para lawn bowls event.
Both Barry and Mark were part of the team which won silver in the same event at Glasgow 2014.
“It’s another great opportunity to represent my country and do it proud. We want to win another medal, hopefully gold this time, and we’re going to give it our best go,” said Mark Noble.
“Our form has been pretty good this season, there’s always areas to improve but it’s all going well and we can take a lot of learnings from when we played in Glasgow.”
Above: Mark Noble with his silver medal in Glasgow
Bowls NZ National Coach Sharon Sims says both teams are very strong and will be looking to get on the podium.
“The triples are going really well and are really excited for the Commonwealth Games. We’ve brought in a new lead [Bruce Wakefield] who had his first international experience in November where he went really well,” she said.
“The pair are also in good form and went well in the 2017 World Blind Bowls Championships where they won silver. They’ve been very close in their last few games and have learnt a lot. They’ll be stronger by April and are looking forward to the challenge.”
Above: Sue Curran teaching a child how to play bowls
NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith believes the team will be able to use knowledge and experience from previous games campaigns.
“It’s fantastic to have so many of these athletes back for another Commonwealth Games. New Zealand has a strong history in Para lawn bowls and I look forward to seeing these athletes add to that legacy on the Gold Coast next year,” she said.
Para sport events are integrated and contested as part of the main programme at the Commonwealth Games. Gold Coast 2018 will host the largest Para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.
Lawn bowls will be contested at the Broadbeach Bowls Club as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
A further lawn bowls selection announcement is expected in February.
The selection of the lawn bowls athletes brings the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team size to 12 athletes.
Above: Athletes Ann Muir, Sue Curran, David Stallard, Pater Blick and seeing eye dog Jackson