Para sport squad whittled down as the Commonwealth Games loom

by admin on October 24, 2016

The 2018 Commonwealth Games para sport competitors shortlist has bene whittled down to 14. The para-sport squad for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games has been whittled down to just 14 as the sport’s pinnacle event draws ever closer. 

Following last week’s grueling para-sport camp, which saw athletes from around the country participate in five days of arduous activities on pristine Broadbeach Bowls Club greens, eight athletes with a disability (AWD) and six vision impaired bowlers have been selected to proceed through to the next major squad camp in February 2017.

This camp will see the para-sport athletes combine with the wider Jackaroos squad as preparations for the Commonwealth Games continue to gain steam.

Among those selected are three members of the 2014 Commonwealth Games squad, including AWD bowlers Tony Bonnell (QLD) and James Reynolds (NSW) as well as vision impaired bowler Joy Forster (QLD), who will be looking to replicate and better the bronze medal she picked up in Glasgow.

The squad also boasts a litany of current and former Australian Open Bowlers with a Disability discipline champions, including Josh Barry, Jake Fehlberg and Lynne Seymour who took out disciplines in 2016, as well as former Physical Disability Singles champion Josh Thornton who was a part of the runner-up team in the Men’s Fours.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held from April 4 to 15 on the Gold Coast, with the bowls section to be held at Broadbeach Bowls Club. 

Two para-sport disciplines being contested at the event:

• AWD Open Triples – open gender; eligible to B6, B7 and B8 classified players, with at least one B6 player required.
• Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs – one male and one female, eligible to B2 and B3 classified players.

Full Squads:
Athletes with a Disability
Josh Barry (VIC)
Anthony Bonnell (QLD)
Chris Flavel (SA)
Eddie Gollan (WA)
Ken Hanson (VIC)
James Reynolds (NSW)
Joshua Thornton (VIC)
Darryl Willson (SA)

Vision Impaired
Jake Fehlberg (QLD)
Joy Forster (QLD)
Marian Morrison (QLD)
Craig Newbery (ACT)
Lynne Seymour (QLD)
Ralph Simpson (VIC)

Caption: James Reynolds is in contention for the 2018 Commonwealth Games para sport team.