Bateau Bay bowler Ryan Wood has been selected to represent NSW in the 2024 Australian Para Nationals to be held at Broadbeach Bowling Club on October 9-12.
Wood will participate in the singles and the open pairs and while he is no stranger to representative status, he said he was very excited and honoured to be selected in the Keno NSW Blues All Abilities Men’s Team.
He said Bowls NSW and Bowls Australia had shown commitment and energy to the promotion and elevation of the Para Bowls by ensuring that the event would run side by side with the other categories.
With lawn bowls an important event at the Commonwealth Games level and with the Para-sport program at the games being fully integrated with the open bowlers it provides opportunities for para bowlers.
Wood, 44, said he hoped his bowls would be good enough to earn him a spot on the Commonwealth games para team.
Following a surfing accident in 1999, life for Wood changed but he said he refused to let his disability hold him back or define him.
He currently plays at the top level of bowls on the Central Coast with his Bateau Bay Bowls mates, and they are the current Bowls Central Coast Grade 1 Champions.
The fact that he is competitive at this top level and accepted by his peers speaks highly of the sport of bowls and its inclusivity and acceptance.
Wood said he believed it was important to play through any disability as sport was an important outlet, and what he has found in bowls is a physical, social and challenging diversion while the support he received from his fellow bowlers, the Bateau Bay Bowling Club and Wyong Leagues was “phenomenal”.
He will travel to Dubbo in September to compete in the Inland Petroleum City of Dubbo International Fours, a prestigious invitational event with very substantial prize money.
His team is fully sponsored by Right at Home Care group.
Wood’s busy life revolves around driving his twin children to school each day and working for his wife’s business Berkeley Book Keeping as a book-keeper, somehow fitting in attendance at an IT course at TAFE and, of course, his bowls.