Gold For Proserpine Bowler At Blind Championships

A Proserpine bowls player has won gold for his part in Australia’s recent overall win at the International Blind Bowlers Association Championships in Tweed Heads last week.

Scott Kinnear, a visually impaired Proserpine local, represented the country in both the Singles and the Pairs B4 Classification for the March 6 to 16 competition – and brought home a Gold Medal to the Whitsundays this week for his efforts.

Alongside younger brother Shane, who acts as Mr Kinnear’s director in the competition, assisting him in matters of distance and position of the bowls, Mr Kinnear played five rounds of the singles competition and ten in pairs, winning against England, Israel, New Zealand, and South Africa in singles.

Mr Kinnear’s selection as part of the Australian squad came after talent scouts saw his previous two years of performances in the Blind Section of the Disability Games, which led him to an invitation late last year to attend a training camp and selection trial.

“I started playing Bowls at the age of 11,” Mr Kinnear said.

“I kept playing as a kid all the way until 2004 when the degenerative issue in my eyes saw me lose sight in the left. Bowls have been a constant in my life."

Proserpine Bowls Club secretary Heather Brown said she and fellow members of the club – at which Mr Kinnear plays regularly - weren’t surprised by the excellent result.

“Scott is a serious talent,” Ms Brown said.

“His ability to cope with a variety of green speeds and weather conditions is what set him apart; it was no surprise to us that he would earn a spot in the team and the hearts of so many of the spectators.”

Ms Brown said she was most impressed by the level of teamwork between Mr Kinnear, his brother, and his pairs partner Sharon Dunk and her director.

“The level of sportsmanship was incredible to watch,” she said.

“I was particularly impressed by the trust that they placed in each other; it was something that they had in every single game.”

In the pairs, Mr Kinnear and Sharon put in stellar performances and were the standouts, beating teams from England, South Africa, New Zealand, and Hong Kong – they won with a clear +69.

Mr Kinnear said he never imagined he would win, but when it came down to the last end against New Zealand in the Singles finals, he finally began believing.

“That was the best game against New Zealand in the finals,” he said.

“Every game is tough, depending on who you’re facing up against. And the difficulty adds to the happiness – which when I won the Gold was huge.”

Mr Kinnear will be sure to show off his Gold Medal to his fellow Proserpine bowlers at the local club for years to come.

‍