Eric Magennis: bowls’ Paralympic star
Bowls would appear on the Paralympic program on seven occasions from 1968 to 1996, with Australia notching up eight gold medals, a tally which sits as the nation’s fifth highest across all sports at the quadrennial event.
A man who is entrenched in those golds is New South Wales’ Eric Magennis, who managed to win three across his stellar career on the green.
Left with a broken spine and in a wheelchair after a tragic motorbike accident in his younger years, the determined athlete would not let his disability weigh him down as he strived to make his mark on the international sporting arena.
Introduced to bowls at a rehabilitation centre in 1968, it was love at first roll for the New South Welshman, who took to it like a duck to water.
Shortly after taking up the sport, he was selected for the 1970 Paraplegic Commonwealth Games.
“I was up at a rehabilitation centre and there was a bowling green on the premises,” he recalled.
“There was an option to give bowls a go, so I tried it and I liked it.”
“I competed in a few other sports, and then I was selected for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where I would win the gold medal in the men’s pairs with Jim Newton.”
A competitive individual, Magennis would try his luck at a plethora of sports on top of his bowls commitments, before he was selected for the latter for his maiden Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany.
It is safe to say that the elation was palpable when he realised that his passage to Europe was guaranteed.
“I loved any sport I could play, but I really loved bowls and I learned all of the tricks of the trade,” he said.
“I gained advice and coaching from many of the state players that had been there and done everything, they were great coaches.
“The powers that be selected athletes to try different sports in the Heidelberg trials to essentially see how good we were, so I took part in wheelchair basketball, archery, snooker, weightlifting, obstacle courses and the 100 metre sprint.
“You had to compete in six to eight different sports to be eligible for selection, it was hard work but extremely enjoyable.
“When I got the selection I was very happy, I really couldn’t contain myself.”
Selection was just the beginning for the then 34-year-old, who was about to embark on a remarkable journey in becoming one of Australia’s greatest ever para bowlers, paving the way for the current greats that represent the Right at Home Jackaroos.
Having not medalled in bowls’ inaugural appearance on the program, Australia was looking for a spark, which would come in the form of Eric in the men’s singles event.
Up against Great Britain’s John Ure in the final, Magennis would claim a lead late before netting a three on the final end to take a 21-15 victory and become the sport’s first ever Olympic or Paralympic gold medallist.
He describes the ceremony and his homecoming reception as two of the proudest moments of his life, but there was one item given to him that he discarded almost immediately.
“They pulled out the podium and wheeled us up there before presenting us with our medals and a bunch of flowers,” Magennis said.
“I looked at the flowers and scratched my head and thought that they had to go straight in the bin because there was no way they would be allowed on the plane or through customs.
“The ceremony was extremely special, as was my return to Sydney where my mother was waiting at the airport and she said, ‘You have just won a gold medal.’ That was magnificent.”
Fast forward four years to Toronto 1976 and Magennis was again donning the green and gold regalia in his bid for further success on the grandest of stages.
Partnering Bruce Thwaite in the men’s pairs, he would once again taste ultimate glory as they defeated Brazil’s Robson Almeida and Luiz Carlos Costa in the final.
Unable to defend his singles title after falling in the third round, Magennis was not about to leave North America empty handed, winning with the final bowl of the deciding end.
“The club was just north of Toronto and we had an amazing time up there, but I lost in the third round of the singles by one shot,” he recounted.
“We were down with the final bowl of the last end and we got it with the last bowl, I looked down at Bruce and told him that we had just won the gold medal.”
There was more glory to come eight years later when a third gold medal would arrive for the then 46-year-old at Stoke Mandeville in 1984.
With many events across the competition held in New York City, bowls would be held in the United Kingdom with ample facilities already in place.
His discipline would be the men’s paraplegic pairs with fellow three-time gold medallist in Queensland’s Roy Fowler. They would overcome their compatriots in Ken Moran and Wayne Lewis in the final.
That tour would see Magennis meet two extremely notable members of history, one of them now sits as the current British monarch.
Riverstone Bowling Club in New South Wales, sadly now defunct, would display Magennis’ name on its walls to honour the contribution made by the international star to the sport and the country, making him extremely proud.
In fact, many of his medals and uniforms are on display at the Riverstone & District Historical Society and Museum for viewing, donated kindly by Magennis himself.
“I played many times with Roy, he was a good bowler and we had a great understanding.
“That tournament I met someone who was called Prince Charles back then, he came over and talked to the Australian side and about an hour later I met Margaret Thatcher.
“When I returned home from Stoke Mandeville, the club was as proud as punch, they put my name on the honour board, it really was a good club.”
Magennis would move on to Taree Leagues and Landsdowne Bowling Clubs for the remainder of his bowling days until he suffered an untimely stroke around 20 years ago.
Now living in Karingal Gardens, Magennis remains extremely close with his sister, Barbara, who makes the trip to see him twice a week.
It is a relationship he values endlessly, they see each other twice a week when she makes her way to the nursing home for a visit.
Another relationship that holds true in his heart is bowls, a sport that he adores to no end and one that he would dearly love to see back on the Paralympic program, as well as at the Olympics.
The 86-year-old believes such an inclusive sport belongs on the biggest stage
“Anybody that has got a disability can play bowls,” Magennis said.
“I would love to see bowls back at the Olympics and Paralympics, it would be absolutely fantastic.”
In addition to his three Paralympic gold medals, Magennis would take home a trio of Commonwealth titles in a career for the ages.
“I’m now 86, I’ve had a damned good life and I wonder if they play bowls in heaven.”
*Photos provided by Riverstone & District Historical Society and Museum
