A local Lauder women is hunting for a medal in the womens para bowling pairs in the Birmingham Commonwealth games. 

Despite knowing she had a good chance of selection Pam Walker said she still got emotional when the call came through to tell her she would be joining the Commonwealth games team. 

“You should never cross off anything happening in your life."

Pam has been bowling for about 15 years after husband Bruce convinced her to fill in for one of his teams who were short a bowler. 

She’s only been involved with para bowls for the last seven or eight years. 

“I was going out of my comfort zone when I first joined the para bowls organisation.

“I met some fabulous people… and ended up putting my hand up for secretary.”

Back then there were around 20 members of para bowls in New Zealand, and that has grown to more than 60, Pam said.

“Bowls New Zealand has really embraced para bowls and blind bowls, and we want to work together with them.”

Pam has ankylosing spondylitis, a genetic auto immune disease and a form of arthritis that impacts her spine and neck.

It means six weekly trips to Dunedin hospital for an infusion which she takes in her stride. 

Diagnosed at age 18 it's something she has experience in managing and thanks to a new second medicine she said she’s never been in such good shape.

Her coach and husband of 48 years, Bruce said she is a determined competitor.

“She likes to do things well, and she’s had a lot of success getting into [representative] teams.”

Pam said bowls is a real network of fabulous people and she enjoys the team aspect of playing.

“Everyone who joins up to para bowls says they wish they had done so years ago…

“You can meet people with similar disabilities and get valuable info to help you at the same time.

The latest technology and tips are shared by para bowlers such which scooters work well on bowling greens.

To get ready for Birmingham Pam is heading away next week to a trans tasman test that will be held in Mt Tambourine, Queensland. 

She’ll be bowling with Linda Bennett from Te Awamutu, who leads the pair. Pam is the 'skip', the person in charge of the game.

When she heads to Birmingham it will be both her and Bruce's first time travelling to Europe and the pair said they're really excited about the trip.

Her training has become more serious and bowling does take up a lot of her time Pam said.

“I’ve been doing exercises and weights to get stronger…

Bowling greens in Birmingham are ‘heavier’ and require more momentum from bowlers.

“I’ve been sent bowls from England that are specifically for the heavier green… I’m practicing on our back lawn which is slow and bumpy. 

“It’s all about the rhythm and timing of when you release your bowl.”

Pam said she’s grateful to the Alexandra Croquet club who are permitting her space to practice on their heavy green as her home club Omakau is closed for the season.

When asked about strategy and mental strength Bruce said Pam had mental skills coach John Quinn on board, who has worked with NZ Cricket, Rugby NZ and other high performing sportspeople. 

“Bowls is a mental game mostly… your mind has got to be right. 

“You have to think ahead about what might happen… and you’ve got to keep focused,” Bruce said.

Pam might have three games a day, and each game could go for two and a quarter hours, it could be around seven hours of bowls per day and remaining mentally strong is key according to Bruce. 

When The Central App asked Pam about her routine, she said she’s got her method nailed.

It involves a thorough warm up, getting to the green early, and sticking to her personal process before every bowl. 

“The support from Central Otago bowling clubs has been phenomenal… both Alexandra and Omakau [clubs] have done fundraisers… I’ve been overwhelmed with the support I’m getting."

She’s waiting on her NZ Commonwwealth games team uniform arriving and once it does she said it will finally feel ‘real’. 

You can stay up to date with Pam’s overseas sporting adventures by following Bowls Central Otago on Facebook and we’ll bring you news of the Commonwealth para bowls on The Central App as she chases a medal. 

Pam and Bruce Walker together with the Central Otago Intercentre bowling team after winning a regional intercentre competition held at Clyde in mid-March.

PHOTO: Bowls Central Otago

About Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games:

The games takes place July 28 – August 8 in West Midlands, UK. It will be the first time Birmingham has hosted the event, and the third time they have been held in England (London 1934, and Manchester 2002).

5,054 athletes are expected to participate. 283 finals will be played in 22 sports. The number of events for women (136) will be higher than for men (134) – the first time in a major multi sporting event that this has happened.

The number of events available to para athletes has increased from 36 to 42, including the first wheelchair basketball tournament in Commonwealth Games history.