Ballarat North’s Michael Clark tackles 2024 State Para Championships at Kangaroo Flat
Ballarat North’s Michael Clark competed in his first State Para Championships in April and enjoyed the whole experience, especially finding a new bowls community and all the rewards that come with it.
The State Para Bowls Championships is open to all affiliated and classified Bowlers with a Disability and the 2024 edition was held from Monday, 22nd to Thursday, 25th April 2024 at Kangaroo Flat Bowls Club.
At the age of 21, Michael was diagnosed with a degenerative neuromuscular disorder called Friedreich Ataxia or FA for short, which affects the strength and coordination in his legs and then fatigue.
Now 34, and with no treatment or cure for his condition yet, he’s learned to live with his disability and gets on with life in a positive, accomplished manner.
2024 State Para Championships
In Para Bowls, there is Physical Disability, Visual impairment and Intellectual Disability, and Michael is classed as Physical B6 under the Physical Disability Bowls Classifications.
At the 2024 State Para Championships, he contested the Para B5/B6 Singles (Section 1) and the Para Physical Open Pairs (Section 2) alongside Shirley Ivanovic from Lilydale.
“It was my first time competing in the State Para Championships as I only went out and got officially classified for my disability to be able to compete in an event such as this in the last 12 months,” Michael said.
“Before that, I’d been happy just playing pennant and tournaments locally and didn’t really recognize that I was missing out on a great little community in the Bowls Victoria space, as all the competitors are very welcoming and supportive of each other.”
“We also had another local Howard Smith from Clunes competing in his first Para event too.”
Clunes bowler Howard Smith competed in the Para B7/B8 Singles making it through to the quarter finals before losing by 5 shots to Moama’s Barry Brennan in an impressive effort.
Para B5/B6 Singles
Michael started strongly in singles sectional play defeating Garfield’s Gwen Fabris 21-8 in his first game, before backing it up with a top 21-15 win over Deer Park’s Andrew Brandolin in his second match.
He then beat Mordialloc’s Peter Dixon 21-8 in his third game to go through his section undefeated, advancing to the finals and knockout play.
It was a strong performance by the gritty Ballarat North bowler, and he was happy getting through to the finals.
“I was happy with how I played on day one of the singles, winning all three of my sectional games,” Michael said.
“Two of the three players I had practiced with at open training days throughout the season and I rated them quite highly, so I was happy with getting the wins.”
“Day two meant going straight into the semi-final where I came up against last year’s winner Greg Toy of the Singles B5/B6 event.”
Michael had an enthralling battle with Hilltop’s Greg Hoy in the semi final clash, going down by just 4 shots in a tight encounter.
“We had a great game with a few lead changes, and he ended up getting the win 21-17,” Michael said.
“The final was then taken out by Lucas Protopapas over Greg.”
“Lucas is someone I’m hoping to play against one day, as he’s a great guy and a hell of a bowler with a similar bowling action to mine, where he’s adjusted to using a fixed bowling stance as well.”
View Michael’s Singles results here (under ‘COMPLETED’ tab).
Para Physical Open Pairs
Michael teamed up with Lilydale’s Shirley Ivanovic in the Para Physical Open Pairs and after winning their first sectional game by one shot (14-13), they went down 16-6 and 22-13 in their next two games to bow out of the competition.
“I teamed up with Shirley Ivanovic from Lilydale in the Para Physical Open Pairs, who I had met at an open training day,” Michael said.
“We only got the one win from three games, so no finals unfortunately.”
“Shirley bowled well but her lead (me) didn’t give her much unfortunately.”
“But had a great experience getting to play a game against a super team in Barry Brennan and Josh Barry, who are both very good not just in the para bowls space but bowls in general.”
Josh Barry (Clayton) and Barry Brennan (Moama) finished runners-up in the pairs final, losing 4-17 to Josh Thornton (Murray Downs Golf) and Dylan Weaver (Swan Hill Racecourse).
View Para Physical Open Pairs results here (under ‘COMPLETED’ tab).
A Rewarding Experience
For Michael, the whole event was a rewarding experience.
“Bowls Victoria and the host club Kangaroo Flat did a great job in running the entire event,” Michael said.
“Especially the finding of markers from different clubs across Bendigo to not only mark each game but also help kick bowls back at the end of each end, which obviously can be a bit tricky for some of us with a physical disability.”
“I’m just really happy I found the Para Bowls Vic community and am enjoying the events and training days they put on.”
The Para Bowls Vic community will certainly benefit from having such a quality person as Michael Clark in its ranks.
He was also blown away by the support from close and afar during the Para Championships.
“I’d like to thank you to everyone who messaged me wishing me luck during the event,” Michael said.
“I was blown away by the support not just from my bowling club at Ballarat North but the wider Ballarat bowls community as well, so thank you.”
Looking ahead, Michael has entered more para events and learnt plenty from his recent foray.
“The biggest thing I learned is I need to work on my match fitness,” Michael said with a wry smile.
“I pulled up pretty sore after three games of singles on day one and really struggled to get my body back to where I wanted it after that, so something to work on with my physio and in the gym for next time.”
“I have an integrated pairs event at Hoppers Crossing and a para singles event at Narre Warren, both coming up in the next couple of weeks.”
Good luck and best wishes to Michael in all future life and bowling endeavours.
Below you will find classifications for Para bowls events.
Physical Disability Bowls Classifications
Physical disability classification is based on the following information:
B5: Wheelchair bowlers who can only use a very small bowl (size 00) due to limitation of upper limb function. Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with restricted grip and upper body limb function, poor balance and co-ordination, unable to bowl a full length end or needing a splinting device to do so (Not including the bowling arm as used in Australia). Bowlers with no arms who bowl with their feet.
B6: Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with reduced balance function (loss of 5 points or more) but able to bowl a full length end.
B7: Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with minor balance problems (loss of less than 5 points).
B8: Ambulant bowlers, who have a permanent and irreversible disability, have lost 10 points on the bench test, but have no noticeable impairment of function. (Loss of 0-1 points on technical assessment)
Classifications from IBD website.
Featured Photo: Michael Clark at the 2024 Para State Championships.