Handré Visagie, who started playing bowls in December last year, is one of many bowlers who is going to take part in the Accumulo Rainbow Trips bowls competition to raise funds for Lombardy East Bowling Club’s less-fortunate members.
The competition will comprise more than 380 participants from across the country, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Its field incorporates bowlers of all standards – from league or social players to provincial and national Protea bowlers, bowlers in wheelchairs; sighted or visually impaired players, able-bodied or physically disabled, and young or adult of any race, colour, creed or gender.
Visagie has always been a keen sportsman and wanted to actively take part in sport after a diving incident landed him in a wheelchair in 2004.
He watched people with disabilities playing lawn bowls during the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2014, when the South African team won gold in the Para-Bowls Trips. The SA team consisted of one leg amputee, one person with cerebral palsy, and one paraplegic who bowled from a wheelchair.
Inspired by this, he shared his thoughts with a family friend, Philip Heyns. Together they planned, designed and then built a contraption that fits over Visagie’s wheelchair with a chute that holds a bowl. Heyns loads every bowl into the chute and then positions the wheelchair according to where Visagie tells him to.
They and many others from around the country will participate in the competition to be held in Bedfordview at the end of August.
“Together, they all represent the idea of the rainbow in terms of colour, ability, age and determination, and the competition facilitates them to be a shining light to all of humanity,” said Desiree Levin of Lombardy East Bowling Club.
Levin added that with the participation of bowlers such as Visagie, Accumulo and Lombardy East members can raise funds for people less fortunate to participate in bowls. “It has been said that there is a place for everyone through this sport, and both old and young have an opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives.”
