Blog post written by Lianne Franklin on her experience with Para Bowls in Canada for the last two years as well as the first International Competition attended by Canadian Para Bowlers. Lianne was competing with Louise McLean, a bowler with a visual impairment, as Performance Partner and Director.
As I think back on my trip to South Africa with the first Para Bowls team sent by Bowls Canada Boulingrin, I am reflecting on a few themes – gratitude & kindness, friendship, and great bowling memories. I wanted to share with the wider bowling community in Canada and perhaps inspire others to work with our disabled communities and step out into the wider world.
My journey started about 2.5 years ago when I got a call from Louise McLean, asking if I would be her Director/Coach for the first Para Bowls Nationals being held in Windsor, Ontario. I immediately said, “Yes, of course”. We had bowled against each other many times, including in our Singles league at Heritage Greens, and I always helped her out by giving her estimates on how far short/long, narrow/wide, and advice on which hand to throw next. She always appreciated the help, and she impressed me with her skill as a blind bowler. As a novice bowler myself, I remember coming home and telling my husband I had just been beaten by a blind bowler!
The Para Bowls Nationals in Windsor had only 3 blind bowlers, a B1 bowler, B3 bowler, and Louise as a B2, plus 4 physically impaired bowlers. Even though there were only 7 bowlers, it was a fantastic event on beautiful greens, and Louise bowled really well. We had a great welcome and made many new friends.
Last summer we went to Calgary for the Para Bowls National Championship, and again amazing greens at the Stanley Park LBC, a wonderful welcome, and, once again, great bowling. In Calgary, we had more bowlers, including another blind bowler in Louise’s category B2. It was great to see the sport grow in just one year!
While at the Calgary Para Bowls Nationals, Louise was evaluated (classification) as she had applied to go to South Africa for the IBD (International Bowls for the Disabled) World Championships in 2024. We got the good news about a month later that Louise would be going, along with Andy Caldwell, and Jack Smart! It was a very busy fall and winter. We prepared by taking Louise to indoor bowling in Tilsonburg (Ontario) and Preston (Ontario). We also took a trip to Toronto to practice on the new James Gardens Lawn Bowling Club outdoor carpet, and a practice or two at Heritage Greens – thanks to an early spring!!
Good Bowling
Fast forward to May 2024, and we set off to Johannesburg, South Africa. Our Team Canada Para Bowls Squad – we immediately bonded as a team. We had Jack with the Hollywood smile, jests, and fun. We had Andy – our social butterfly, meeting anyone and everyone. We had Louise our kind friend to anyone and everyone. And our coach Pat Vos, who kept us all organized, looked after us, and went through our team debriefs each evening. We happily reported our brilliant shots of the day, our amazing come-from-behind wins, or almost wins, and shared our challenges.
Our bowlers proved they belong on the world stage, and I am proud of them all.
Everyone was really supportive of Louise who was struggling to see the “invisible string”. It was a paper-thin white nylon string and depending on the angle of the sun, it turned grey. So, we struggled but we adapted! Louise was very unhappy with how many bowls she lost out of bounds, but her weight was excellent. She could usually get one or two good bowls, but nowhere near her performances in Windsor or Calgary. We had to scratch and claw for every point – and it made a difference as you will find out…
In one game, Louise was down 20-12. Michelle was doing well on the long jacks, but ditched the jack, so we got to roll it. I said to Louise we will pull the mat up and play near the ditch – we had practiced that very move. So, we pulled up the mat to 27 and Louise rolled a perfect 25m jack. Michelle ended up sitting 3 or 4, and Louise rolled a perfect chop & lie, taking out the bowl beside the jack, to score 1. So now we had the jack, and again we pulled up the mat to 27, and Louise rolled a perfect 26m jack. She was sitting 3 (although not close), and Michelle had rolled two bowls into the ditch. But Michelle got her next two bowls in there, and Louise couldn’t counter, so we lost the game. However, that one last point made a huge difference.
Our last game was against the eventual gold medalist Moon from Malaysia who already had 5 wins under her belt. In the last end, Moon had 3 bowls right on the jack and one to go. I said to Louise, “Our only hope is to kill the end”. We had never practiced that. I showed her the line, and asked for lots of weight. She went a bit wide. Moon rolled her last bowl and it was not in our way. Louise had one more try to kill the end. Her line was perfect, just not quite enough weight, and we slipped inside and missed. I congratulated Louise on being very close to making that shot.
The gold and silver were claimed by Moon & Michelle. And Louise and Marj each had one win only. It came down to the For/Against points, and Louise got third place by one point in the “For” category, proving that good things happen when you never give up! They had announced that contrary to the Conditions of Play, they would only award Gold & Silver in our category with only 4 players.
But then … sitting by our flag listening to the medal presentations, they get to B2 Women’s Singles – and they called Louise’s name for the Bronze! A huge surprise as we thought they were only giving out gold and silver in her 4-person category. Our entire team was so happy that we got a medal for Canada!! The celebration afterwards was fabulous – John the greenskeeper from the Benoni Lakes practice club came running over. Our favourite driver – Carel – came running over. We were just over the moon with pride and gratitude. I remained on “Cloud 9” all the way to Amsterdam, then I was just tired and a bit grumpy – sorry Louise!
Friendship
I knew Louise was not a light-packer, but this time we couldn’t rearrange anything between suitcases, and she had to pay $175 for her oversize bag! Little did I know that not only did she have her usual kettle (Note to self – do not plug in Canadian kettle in Africa as bad things happen…), mug, and Starbucks coffee packets, but she also loaded her suitcase with gifts and food for the workers at the hotel! She got to know the housekeepers and dining room staff, and gave gifts, lighting up their faces with her kind gestures. She also wanted me to introduce her to our bus driver – we greeted Francis every day, and sure enough, she gave him a good tip and a bag of goodies at the end of our trip. We met some lovely people at the hotel, did happy dances for hot water, and praised them for their wonderful food and hospitality.
I have met some unforgettable bowlers, and hearing their stories has left indelible etchings in my memory. For example, one day I met Joseph from Singapore, and he told us about how his parents rejected him at birth, and he ended up living on the streets addicted to alcohol and drugs. He eventually found his parents however they still didn’t want a relationship, even after he cleaned up. He now has a wife and child – and competing at a World Championship in Lawn Bowls!! (And no ill feelings towards anyone – the name Joseph really suits him).
About friendship – it was an amazing journey as we were paired with a South African gentleman for our Mixed Pairs competition. Grant and his director Peter were happy to meet us, and we had a great practice together on the practice greens prior to the start of competition. Louise came back and gushed that she was “happy as a peacock”. The guys were easy to get along with and very supportive of Louise as she struggled to see the ‘invisible string’. Grant had never skipped before but took on the skip role. They raved about our beautiful Team Canada jerseys and thought we all looked good as a team!
On the first morning of competition, the South Africans invited us into their warm-up and stretching circle. They had a huge team and we got to know so many of them. Gail – another director – always greeted us with “Good morning my darlings (or sweethearts or lovelies). How did you sleep?”. We claimed a Team Canada table in the dining room, and we had regular visitors stopping by or eating with us. I always got big hugs from Braam, another director from South Africa.
Speaking of teammates – we were invited to a full squad Zoom meeting with the National Team Squad prior to leaving – and what a nice bunch of people they are! We regularly got comments on my Facebook posts from the Senior Squad members, and we also got Bowls Canada postcards from bowlers & squad members across Canada & Australia. Thank you to everyone for your friendship and messages!! Louise celebrated her birthday in South Africa, and we were treated to a lovely dinner at a restaurant (we only ate out 3 or 4 times)! We also received a video of messages from the Bowls Canada Board of Directors. Our South African friend, Braam, led the bus loaded with bowlers and their performance staff traveling from the greens to our accommodations in singing “Happy Birthday”.
And speaking of the closing ceremony – Andy donated a Canadian Team jersey, which we wrote all our names on and presented to the Delville LBC President – he was absolutely thrilled – did I tell you our jerseys were the nicest of all 10 countries represented there? They are going to mount it under glass! I knew I would be proud to wear the Maple Leaf on my back, but I absolutely love my jersey, and I will be wearing it regularly at my club (just like Chris Stadnyk does)!
Our team was usually last out of the dining room. We also enjoyed our cribbage games on the deck, and our rowdy “dice game”, attracting attention from the other teams. We met as a team to discuss plans for keeping ourselves healthy – Swine Flu and Influenza A was running rampant through the hotel. The cacophony of coughing on the daily bus rides was a big worry. So, we decided not to watch the finals on the last day, but to try to sleep in, pack, get to the green on time for the closing ceremony, and then come back to shower before our long trip home.
Gratitude
I have learned a lot about kindness and gratitude on this adventure with Louise. A story I must share – one afternoon I commented to my lovely Lindy at the front desk, how it would have been good to have a fridge in our room, but knowing all the rooms were full, we should have requested it ahead of time. Anyway, off we go to the deck, and then back to our room about 15 minutes later. I wandered around, opened curtains, etc., and turned around and screamed! Louise thought I saw a snake or something – but it was a fridge and microwave. I ran out to the front desk to thank them profusely – I don’t know where they got it, or how they got it in there so fast! On the second last day, I saw Lindy and told her we were going shopping – she said she loved milk chocolate. I went back to my room to get her some President’s Choice dark chocolate-covered almonds to try – she hated them! It was hilarious seeing the look on her face as she chewed on one and choked it down. So, instead, we found some Lindt milk chocolate truffles to bring back. My tiny gift of a Canada flag pin to many of the hotel staff seemed like such a small thing, but it lit up their faces! I am very proud to be a Canadian – we tried to treat
everyone with kindness and respect – when so many did nothing but complain.
Before our first game, Pat Vos (Para Bowls Squad Coach) announced that we were to meet to receive our “cap & shirt” in a ceremony with the team. Chris Stadnyk confirmed that “the capping ceremony is real” – I am so glad that I got all the presentations on video and have shared the speeches on Facebook posts if anyone is interested. My teammates are really amazing people!
In our first game vs. Michelle & Jennie from South Africa – Jennie said, “You must be a bowler”. I said, “Yes I am, why?”. She responded that I know my way around the head and that many directors are not bowlers, and it’s hard to find good directors. At the closing ceremony, I saw Jennie, and said “Wow – you are wearing sunglasses today!” I had never seen her in sunglasses, but she said that was to hide her tears – the bowlers are so amazing, and it was always emotional for her…
After we got back from the closing ceremonies, Pat asked everyone to say what the highlight of the trip was for them. Andy said, “Louise and Lianne receiving that Bronze medal” – what a guy, and what a friend! My highlights were Louise’s brilliant shots – those two perfect jacks into the ditch with toucher on top and doing it TWICE in one day (a feat I don’t think I’ve ever done) and the guy’s perfect 6.
Then when Pat got out a very cool gift and handed it to me – that really made my day and made the whole trip very worthwhile! To be recognized by Pat and receive that gift – I will never forget that moment.
See you on the greens with my new Cheetah head/tails flipping coin!!
