Category: Frontpage News
Blind Lawn Bowlers Calling for Your Support!
The New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowling Association is calling for support from all bowlers and bowling clubs around New Zealand!
Fundraising has started to get the eight blind bowlers, eight directors and two team management personnel to the 2013 World Blind Lawn Bowling Championships, which are being held in June 2013 at the Beach Park Bowling Club in Worthing, England.
As can be imagined the costs are terribly expensive to get a full squad over to England and compete for two and a half weeks, it is expected to be around $100,000! All potential team members and their directors are expected to make significant personal contributions towards these costs. This is barely achievable by those squad members who are in full time employment but is near impossible for those squad members who rely on benefits and live week by week. It is also time off work and a large cost for those amazing volunteers who will attend and direct a blind bowler for up to six hours a day.
The World Championships are no holiday for the Blind bowlers and the event is being taken very seriously. A New Zealand training Squad for the 2013 World Championships was named on the 1st December 2011 by head selector/coach Tony Marinkovich (Browns Bay). In the squad are several bowlers who have won World Championship medals in the past, and this is considered one of the strongest training squads ever selected. As the old saying goes Effort = Rewards so considerable efforts are being put in to be successful. Coaching has already begun eighteen months out and individuals will be required to meet stringent fitness requirements off the green and put in the required amount of training on the green.
On a training note, the Browns Bay Bowling Club has offered the use of their half green for training purposes which is amazing. This green will be running at around 12 seconds over the next 18 months to simulate the slow greens the event will be played on in England. A similar facility in the Waikato region is also being sought for training purposes. If anyclub can help out with this request please email nzblba@gmail.com
This is where you and/or your bowling club can make a difference! Help the New Zealand Blind Bowls team achieve their goals and attend World Blind Lawn Bowling Championships. Every bowling club in the country is challenged to help by running a fundraising event/tournament/raffle/auction or any other event before the end of the 2012 season. Whether it is $5 or $5000 it would be gratefully received. If any club would like a guest speaker to attend a club night and discuss blindness or blind bowls this can bearranged. The possibility exists for any clubs top bowlers to be blindfolded and play some of the NZ Blind squad in a demonstration match. All suggestions will be considered.
Some individuals may also wish to donate so an online website is available where this can occur. The website is by a reputable company and is safe to use (givealittle). All donations must be made by credit card and receipts are provided. The link to donate is http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/NZBLBA. Under the heading of ‘New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowling Association’ there is a link to ‘Donate Now’. Enter this link then fill out the required fields. It’s that simple!
If any individuals or clubs would like to send in a donation by cheque these can be sent to the post office box listed below. All donations will receive receipts.The postal address is:
New Zealand Blind Lawn BowlingAssociation
P.O Box 35-779
Browns Bay
Auckland 0753
Attn : The Secretary
The named NZ training squad is listed below. A final team will be selected at the 2012 nationals:
B1
Nola Burgess (Gisborne)
Marilyn Savage (Auckland)
Greg Johnson (North Harbour)
David Monk (Bay of Plenty)
Parveen Shankar (North Harbour)
B2
Keith Bell (Havelock North)
David Bradding (Waikato)
B3
Audrey Johnson (Auckland)
Joan Warren (Counties Manukau)
Susan Velois (Waikato)
Danny Simon (Waikato)
David Stallard (Auckland)
B4
Donna McCaskill (Counties Manukau)
James Dunn (Counties Manukau)
Barry Currin (North Harbour)
Congratulations to those named and best of luck with the training camps.
Please get in behind this national team and challenge all clubs to hold a fundraising event for the Blind Bowlers. Without individuals and clubs supporting this team, participation in this event will be out of reach for most of the squad.
Any questions or suggestions can be sent via email to nzblba@gmail.com or call the NZBLBA President, Greg Johnson, 021 527 144.
Thank You.
The New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowls Executive
http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/NZBLBA
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