Barry Brennan added to Australian para-sport squad ahead of UK Tour
Uncapped Australian para-sport bowler Barry Brennan (Moama) has been added to the BCiB Jackaroos squad for next month’s tour of the UK.
Brennan was a standout at the recent multi-disability National Championships in Mackay, winning the Men’s Pairs (B8) and Men’s Open Triples gold medals, while narrowly losing to now Jackaroo teammate Josh Barry in the B8 Singles quarterfinals.
Despite being relatively new to the para-sport program, Brennan has been playing the sport for over 40 years and the Australian bowling community may be familiar with his time as coach of the Moama Murray Steamers in the Bowls Premier League.
Brennan’s disability is Multifocal Motor Neuropathy, a form of Motor Neurone Disease which in this particular strain, only effects his left arm (non-bowling arm).
National coach Steve Glasson said he and the Jackaroos playing members were looking forward to welcoming Barry into the fold.
“We’re delighted that we are able to select a fourth para-squad member to join us on our tour of the UK,” he said.
“He was a recent standout at the multi-disability National Championships and the national selectors believe the right candidate to complement our existing talented para-sport group.
“Barry’s inclusion gives us the ability to rotate our para-sport players throughout what will be a busy tour across two countries and against four extremely talented nations.”
(B8: Ambulant bowlers, who have a permanent and irreversible disability, have lost 10 points on the bench test, but have no noticeable impairment of function.)
Article courtesy Domenic Favata – Bowls Australia.
