Cramps, a pounding headache and 15 games of ten-pin bowling were not enough to stop Beaudesert bowler Cameron Cowan from claiming the Masters title by more than 150 pins on debut.
Cowan competed at the Disability League Regional Tournament at Tweed Heads on July 23, where he finished third in the all-events category for his grade before qualifying for the six-game Masters competition for the first time.
He went on to win the restricted Masters division by more than 150 pins, with the runner-up being the reigning Masters champion.
The result capped a demanding two days of competition, with Cowan bowling nine games during the regional tournament before adding another six after qualifying for the Masters.
Despite the physical toll, Cowan pushed through all six Masters games and admitted he was “really exhausted” by the end of the tournament.
“When my body was giving out, I was thinking, ‘No, don’t do this to me now’,” he said.
“I was very happy to be finished by the end of it.”
Cowan is in his fourth year of disability league bowling and competes in the Breakaway league at Mount Warren Park, where he usually bowls two games each Friday.
He is legally blind and uses a motorised wheelchair, competing with the assistance of a bowling ramp and support worker Kristy Nairn, whom he jokingly describes as his “partner in crime”.
Nairn said Cowan battled leg and hand cramps as well as a headache during the tournament but continued to perform strongly.
“He had leg cramps, his hand was cramping and he had a headache,” she said.
“Cam smashed his personal best twice playing Masters.”
Nairn said one of their strategies during competition was to avoid telling Cowan where he was placed, allowing him to concentrate on his own bowling.
“I don’t tell him how he’s going,” she said.
“I just tell him if we’re travelling well or we need to pick it up. It’s not until the end that he knows.
“We always make it fun.”
Competition rules strictly govern the assistance Nairn can provide, with Nairn positioning Cowan’s ramp before he confirms its placement.
Once Cowan places his hand on the ball, Nairn must step away and turn around until the ball has been released.
The pair have developed a strong partnership through competition, with Nairn helping Cowan navigate the tournament requirements while keeping the experience enjoyable.
Nairn said bowling had also provided Cowan with an inclusive competitive sport and an opportunity to build friendships with other bowlers and support workers.
Cowan will now turn his attention to the State Championships in September before having the opportunity to defend his Masters title next year.
