Bowls an outstanding outlet for Condy
Vision-impaired bowler Lisa Condy has recently spoken out about how bowls has encouraged her to venture outside of her comfort zone and overcoming her sight issues.
Condy was born with severe myopia with her sight deteriorating at the mere age of five following a fall that left her blind in her right eye with macular degeneration in the left.
Due to her condition, she is only able to see four metres in front of her, which over the years has caused bouts of anxiety and depression.
Talking to Blind Sports Australia, Condy recounts how her impairment caused her to withdraw from human connection and avoid public situations, but bowls was her way to counter that.
“It’s been life changing for me. Once I was a recluse, now I can’t wait to get out on the green and meet new people,” Condy said.
Condy was introduced to the sport by her husband, David, who is now her director on the green, instructing her where to place her bowls and with how much weight.
After years of nagging, Condy finally made the trek to the Lake Boga Bowling Club, in a town just south-east of Swan Hill in Victoria, and it was love at first roll.
That quickly transitioned into a passion, as a fellow member nudged her towards blind bowls, where she began to flourish and relish in her success, claiming the Victorian Blind Bowlers Championship before taking home a gold medal in the B3 singles at the 2012 National Blind Bowlers Championships.
Throughout her career, Condy has utilised a guide dog, firstly with Vincent who gave her more confidence and reassurance both on and off the bowling green, and when he retired, Condy got her current dog, Zaphy.
While Zaphy is yet to settle into the bowls world due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of travel, but since the nation’s re-opening of sorts, Condy’s canine companion has accompanied her to Commonwealth Games trials at both Club Sunbury and Club Mount Tamborine.
Her story is one of inspiration, as she never felt that sport was for her due to her nearsightedness and self-confidence, but Lisa Condy is a trailblazer of bowls and her hunger for more success drives her, as she strives for Commonwealth Games selection in 2022, and World Championships selection in 2023.
