WAILDB 2024 Pairs Comp
Many of our Chameleon Bowlers entered the Welsh Association of Intellectual Learning Disability Bowlers. The Chameleon bowlers came away with an impressive number of medals and cups. Below is the competition report:
Welsh Association of Intellectual Learning Impairment Bowlers Pairs Championship 14th January 2024.
This was a Special Olympics GB sanctioned event run by Cardiff Chameleons a Special Olympics Cardiff and Vale affiliated Club.
On Sunday January 14th 2024 Bowlers from South and Mid Wales descended
on Cardiff Indoor Bowls Club to compete in the third Welsh Intellectual Learning Impairment Bowls Championships. Trophy’s in four Classifications were the ultimate aim, but first the competitors had to negotiate the divisional play section across eight divisions with Medals available for all competitors, before competing for the Semi’s and Finals.
In the first of the Semi-finals in the L2 Classification Millie Campbell ( Cardiff Chameleons) and Andrew Roberts ( Pembroke DBC) were convincing winners over Rebecca King ( Cardiff) and Jack Smith ( Llanelli). In the second L2 Semi,
Ian Kelleher and David Williams ( Cardiff ) were the eventual winners, beating James O’Brien and Dave Pratt ( Cardiff) 9 shots to 6.
The first of the L3 Classification Semi-finals Sean Thackwray and Ben Wood
( Cardiff) were the stronger pair, beating Ben Lewis and David Galsworthy (Cardiff) 8 shots to 2. The second Semi, was an all Pembroke affair, with Gareth Brown and Henry Mack running out convincing winners over Daniel Pullin and Jack Wood.
The L4 Final was between Peter Cook (Radnor and Shane Stock ( Cardiff) and Paul Scott and Wayne Robins both from Cardiff Chameleons) with Peter and Shane dominating throughout to win their first Title. The L3 Trophy Final was a roller-coaster affair with Gareth and Henry taking an early lead but tailing off over the last few ends, to lose to Sean and Ben by 5 shots.
In the L2 Final Ian Kelleher and David Williams got off to a brilliant start winning the first end with 4 shots, Millie and Andrew dominated the game over the next five ends winning by 7 shots to 4, a well-deserved win. The L1 Final was close in the first four ends, but Harry Gwatkin and Jake Griffiths came back well in the last few ends to win the L1 Classification Trophy by 7 shots to 3. My sincere thanks to all the Volunteers from several clubs throughout the region who worked a very long day to make the competition run smoothly. The Coaches and Volunteers from West, Mid and South Wales for giving up their time to bring their members to Cardiff Indoor Bowls Club. My Thanks to the Management of Cardiff Indoor Bowls Club for their support of Cardiff Chameleons and the Championships. To Sam and Paul for a great job with the Catering and last but not least to John Wilson the Welsh Para Bowls Co-ordinator for giving up his day to support us on the green and present the Trophy’s to our worthy winners.