 |
The EIBA is pleased to acknowledge the following Official Partners
& Suppliers
|
|
MORRIS MASTERS BOWLING
ARM TO BE CROWNED SINGLES CHAMPION
On a massive high after winning the World Indoor Championships
Mixed Pairs with Greg Harlow at Potters in 2007, Jo Morris
injured her neck and was told to stop playing bowls. Devastated
and in pain, Jo made the difficult decision to move to Spain
with husband Geoff.
"After being diagnosed with three herniated
discs, we thought the warmth of Spain would help, which it did,"
she explained. "I decided to have another
go at bowls a couple of years later and found I still had the drive."
Success followed. Jo was selected for the Spanish International
Squad and went to Australia representing her adopted country.
"Although it seemed very weird hearing the Spanish National Anthem,
I enjoyed it but I still missed English bowls and with family
commitments we decided to return to the UK and took up bowls again.
I had really missed it and started winning again, but as what seemed
to be the story of my life with disappointments, I later developed
another herniated disc in my neck. Then I was diagnosed with
Fibromyalgia, which is a chronic, debilitating and painful
condition."
Jo gave up bowls for another two years before a
fellow bowler suggested the use of a bowling arm.
"Geoff and I
both purchased one as he also had medical issues," she said.
"We
started off practicing in the front room, trying to learn how to
release it. Unfortunately the radiator took a bit of a hammering but
we persevered onto the bowls green.
"The reaction has been mostly
complete admiration of my determination to try bowling with the arm.
Some say they would just give up bowls, or throw it from the hip,
but we both decided we wanted to master the bowling arm to show
people there is another alternative.
"Last year at the Nationals,
Katherine Rednall and Carl Higgins had a try with it and were
astonished as to how I played with it, because they couldn't get to
grips with it at all. The transition has been hard, as you are
really starting to learn to bowl again, when you have been playing
for so long using the usual method."
Jo said the most
difficult aspect is trying to get the weight right, because you
cannot feel the weight of the bowl in your hand.
"Then comes the
timing of the release as you swing the arm," she added.
"We were
concerned that the lights in the club could be in serious danger if
we got the release wrong. But if you keep practicing it becomes
natural.
"More members at my club Eastbourne and District Indoor
Bowls Club, have now started to use the arm after they have seen us
play and are gradually getting better and they are so pleased that
they can still play bowls and socialise with their friends.
"I
recommend it to anyone who is having difficulty in bowling due to
injuries or health reasons, don't give up, with the bowling arm you
can still continue to bowl and you can play at any level."
Jo
is proof that anything is possible with determination and
persistence.
Last month at the EIBA National Finals she won
the Women's Over 60's Singles.
 "It
has been a long, hard five years getting to grips with playing with
a bowling arm, so to have reached this pinnacle in bowls is
incredible," Jo said.
"My season in general was good preparation
for the Nationals as we qualified in all the disciplines, singles,
pairs, triples and fours in the Nationals, which meant I had played
plenty of competitions and I play lead, which is a position I have
played since I started in 1998. I love the challenge of building the
head for the team.
"Of course, all the games at the Nationals
were going to be tough, but I just put my head down and try and get
as close to the jack as possible and cover whenever it is required.
"My approach to all my games is to stretch my arms and legs
before play. Take my time on the mat and focus.
"Suddenly the
finishing line was there and the trophy was being presented, which
all happened so quickly it didn't really sink in as to what I had
achieved."
Jo returned home and completed her season by
winning the Sussex County Singles, Pairs and Fours, Club Singles,
Pairs and Mixed Pairs. There have been numerous accolades since she
began bowling at the age of 41.
"I went along with my husband to
give him something to do when he retired," Jo recalled. "I enjoyed
it as well and have never looked back after our initial four
lessons.
"My first success was my second year of bowling when I
got to the Women's Singles Final, which made me feel encouraged. I
wanted to do better and win next time, which happened the following
year.
"I love bowls because it takes you possibly around the
world, you make friends for life and I love it. Indoors I love the
accuracy of drawing to the jack, it's so precise and perfect."
From her many highlights, Jo picks qualifying for the National
Singles and Champion of Champions at Loddon Vale in 2004 as stand
out memories.
"I was up against the legendary Carol Ashby who was
the best woman bowler at the time, in both competitions," she said.
"I was totally new to this level of bowls. Unfortunately for me
Carol was attempting to win her third National title, so the press
was at the end of the rink with their long lenses trained on Carol,
no pressure!
"I managed to win 21-14. Now it was the Champion of
Champions, this time I won 21-1, which at that time was unbelievable
to me and the crowd."
Jo played at Potters for the first time
two years later, where she played in the mixed pairs with Kelvin
Kerkow from Australia and made the final of the Women's Singles,
losing out to Ellen Falkner.
"They were such great experiences
but I remember David Corkill asking me if I was nervous before I
went on the green.
"Of course I was. He said; "Not to worry, you
only have about 1,200 watching here, it's the millions watching at
home you have to worry about." Great, thank you David!"
Finally, Jo took decorated Australian player Karen Murphy to an
extra-extra end in the Singles World Cup in 2012.
She said: "It
was great to do that against such a legend, especially on her home
green.
"My aspiration in the game would be to get back to Potters
and promote the bowling arm to a wider audience, win a British Isles
title and of course more national titles.
"I could be a pin up
girl for Drakes Pride with the bowling arm, I wouldn't mind a new
Maroon one!"
Sian Honnor
Previous Article
Martin Heitzman
Previous Article
Mikey Titcombe |
May
2023
|
|
