Inclusion on display at mixed para bowls event
The inclusive nature of bowls was on full display last month when 30 teams came together to compete at the 2024 Para Inclusive Pairs Championships at Club Helensvale.
This showcase event for para bowls, where one para bowler teamed up with an open bowler, proved to be a great success, with Dale McWhinney-Shillington and partner Andrew Reed taking home the trophy with a win over Luke Turner and Shane Kerr in the final.
With a strong field of players including Jackaroos, Para Jackaroos and Bowls Australia’s own Para High Performance and Coach Development Manager Ellen Falkner MBE, bowls really was the winner with a high level of play being on show for both days of the tournament.
Club Helensvale, with their new state of the art undercover facility did an amazing job hosting the event with plenty of support for all the teams from their club members.
“Club Helensvale is extremely proud to be partnering with the Para Inclusive Pairs event and we look forward to an ongoing relationship with Serena and the Gold Coast Tweed District for future events. The promotion of Para Bowls and inclusivity is high on the list for our Club, and we will do all we can to help Serena and her team,” Club Helensvale Sports Operations Manager Chris Falkner said.
“Serena Bonnell (Bowls Australia Para Jackaroo), who has been the brains behind this event, did an amazing job getting this event off the ground this year with players travelling from all over the country to participate. All the credit must go to her and her support crew from the Gold Coast Tweed District”.
The event was well supported by sponsor Adaptive Rehabilitation Recreation Centre who have been strong supporters of para bowls in Australia. ARRC will again be involved with the next planned event in October which will see the inaugural para bowls Blue Ribbon singles tournament being held, again at Club Helensvale, earmarked as the biggest para bowls tournament in the world.
