A remarkable athlete from Sydney's southwest is proving that disability is no barrier to sporting success.
Mick Leigh is the current world number one for B3 Men’s visually impaired tennis and is now taking on a new challenge — blind bowls.
Mick says he’s aiming to represent Australia on the international stage, with the goal to carve out a spot on the Commonwealth Games team.
“I really want to get into the competitive bowls space,” Mick said.
“I’ve gotten where I want to with tennis, I want to try something new, something easier on the body.
“I love the social aspect of bowls, but the real goal is to secure a spot in the Commonwealth Games team.”
Thanks to support from the Austral Bowling Club, Mick receives ClubGrants assistance with travel costs that helps him continue competing at the highest level in tennis.
“A lot of what I do is self-funded,” Mick said. “Their support means the world to me.
“Austral keeps me in the game, ensures my racquets are strung and helps me travel to tournaments across Australia and the globe.”
It was this relationship with the Club that piqued Mick’s interest in lawn bowls.
“They invited me to a few ‘come and try’ events over the last couple years,” Mick said. “I was hooked.”
Lawn bowls is a game of precision, patience and community, and the game of Blind Bowls is all that and more.
The adapted version of the sport allows people with vision impairment to compete using the same greens, bowls and rules as their sighted counterparts. The objective remains the same; roll your bowls as close to the jack as possible.
What differs is the use of a few key adaptations that make the game accessible. Players are assisted by a sighted director who help with alignment, positioning and describing the state of play.
One of the most important tools in blind bowls is the “clock-face” system. The jack is imagined as the centre of a clock, allowing directors to describe where bowls have come to rest. A bowl at “two o’clock” or “six o’clock” gives the player an accurate mental picture and helps guide their next shot.
Austral Bowling Club General Manager Shaun Johns says Mick’s story demonstrates the life-changing impact local clubs can have through community support programs.
“I just think it’s important for us to give back to the community,” Shaun said. “We’re proud to help Mick realise his dream.”
As he trades the tennis court for the bowling green, Mick’s next sporting journey is getting underway. Backed by his local club and driven by a passion for competition, he continues to encourage others to see ability before disability.
