Jonathan Hubbard provides positive proof that people of all ages with a disability can take part in local sport as he plays bowls at Tenby Bowling Club, has represented the county under 35s alongside and against non-disabled competitors - and travelled to Scotland, where he was thrilled to represent the Wales Disability team against the host country and England.
 
Jonathan is now in his late-40s and was born with right-sided hemiplegia or cerebral palsy but has refused to let his disability stop him being involved after rolling his first wood up the green in Tenby when he was a teenager.
 

It’s ability that counts!

 
"It's ability that counts, not disability," he says with a smile, "and that's why I went along to the West Wales Festival of Disability Sport at Haverfordwest, alongside Welsh Disability Bowling colleagues Ben Hopkin (Fishguard) and Jack Lloyd (Milford Haven), who was there with his guide dog Jackson, hoping to encourage others to get involved.
 
“We all wore our Welsh playing tops and blousons to help show others with a disability that all kinds of sports are now available to get out there and enjoy."
 

Joined mum Anna on the green at Tenby

 
Jonathan first went to the Tenby Bowling Club because his mother Anna had always fancied trying out the game and went for a couple of taster sessions, which Jonathan and his dad Keith went along to watch. After a couple of visits Jonathan decided he would like to have a go and so he was invited on to the green by stalwart member Ray Holly, who had previously been a very good cricketer.
 
"I was nervous but Ray showed me the basics in an enjoyable hour-long session and from then on I was well and truly hooked. But it was the only coaching I have ever received because no-one could really understand my difficulties with balance in the delivery stance or delivery of the ball - so from then on I just got on with it!"
 

Determination paid off

 
"At first I found it hard to get into the third team, called the 'Goscar' section so I just had plenty of roll-ups against other club members - and eventually I got selected, which was brilliant!
 
“I was really delighted to be chosen as the Goscar 'Player of the Year' after one season and since then I have played for the last decade with the Five Arches, or second, team.
 
“We play in the first division against our first team and other clubs around the county, as well as friendlies against the many touring clubs who like to visit Tenby - and I have twice been chosen as the Five Arches'  'Player of the Year' so I can't have done too badly, can I?"
 

Great fun on tour

 
"We have also been off on tour to places like Dundee, Northampton and Torquay - and I have also been with Beaufort Bowling Club from Ebbw Vale because a team mate at Tenby comes from there and encouraged me to go off with them, which has been great every time.
 
"There is always a lot of fun and we had a good laugh once when a friend of mine offered to carry my bag to my room for me but unknowingly took the wrong bag, which meant we were rushing around trying to find my bag before the first game, soon after we arrived.
 
"We weren't successful and so I had to borrow a pair of bowls' shoes until later that evening my bag turned up safe and sound!"
 

Recently broke his silverware duck

 
Jonathan has reached the finals of several Tenby competitions and twice lost in the final of the TP Hughes Cup, which is awarded to the club singles' champion, but finally broke his duck when he won the Meyrick Price Cup - and in addition has reached the later stages of competitions in bowls weeks at Tenby, Saundersfoot and Pembroke Dock.
 
"At first I was the only disabled bowler in the county who was playing regularly but in recent years there have been others like Ben Hopkin and Jack Lloyd and it is nice to report that I am treated with a respect as a bowler with a disability, not someone who is disabled - and I have made friends all over the county and beyond.
 

Welsh selection a real thrill . . .

 
At the start of this new season, Jonathan was invited to attend a Welsh Disability Bowls 'Development Day' at Llandrindod Wells and he felt that he had done pretty well - which was confirmed when he received an e-mail from Berwyn Owen, the Academy Manager at Disability Wales, who confirmed Jonathan was included in the 15-man team to play at Kelvingrove, in Glasgow.
 
Jonathan was even more pleased to learn that Ben Hopkin and Raymond Lillycrop were in his section, whilst Jack Lloyd was also selected for the visually impaired part of the team.
 
"We had a training session at Pontarddulais before we set off for Kelvingrove and I discovered that I was playing lead for both the triples and rink teams.
 

. . . And good performances followed

 
"In the triples I was joined by Raymond Lillycrop and Jonathan Williams (Swansea) and we played really well to beat England by two shots and Scotland by one shot.
 
“In the rinks I again played in a four alongside Raymond, plus Damien Hallett (Pontypridd) as skip and Barbara Woolmore (Wrexham) as second - although we lost narrowly to Scotland, who were cheered on by a large crowd, we did really well to beat a strong English rink.
 
"It nicely rounded off a memorable debut for Wales because I was delighted to win three and lose only one of my matches.
 
"I will never forget the thrill of walking out as a team for the opening ceremony, all dressed in our Welsh kit, supplied by Disability Sport Wales, except for having our own white trousers and bowling shoes. The playing of our National Anthem was very moving indeed - and the presentations at the closing ceremony will stay with me always.”
 

Loves the game outdoors

 
Jonathan has also played some indoor bowls at Heatherton but admits that it is not as suitable for him as the outdoor game because there is no 'give' underfoot and puts his legs under pressure in standing for long sessions.
 
But with regard to outdoor bowls he is more than happy to carry on for as long as he can at Tenby and would love to carry on playing for Disability Wales, especially in the next Para Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast in Australia in 2018.
 
"Playing bowls is linked to my need for independence, despite the support of my parents Anna and Keith, plus my older sister Monique, and the respect I'm shown by colleagues and opponents, and in my work in IC, goes a long way towards that.
 
"If there is anyone out there who is disabled and wondering whether there is a sport for them, I would highly recommend that they have a look around and give a few sports a try.
 
"I'm just so glad that I decided to give bowls a chance at Tenby Bowling Club and I can only say there has never been one moment when I have regretted that decision because it is not an exaggeration to say it has enriched my life!"