AFTER trying out track cycling by testing the boards at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, disability campaigner Julie McElroy has picked up her second gauntlet.

As Glasgow 2014 promises to deliver the largest ever para-sports programme in Commonwealth Games history, we sent Julie, who has cerebral palsy, to try lawn bowls.

With 22 medal events across five disciplines, para-sports will, for the first time, be fully integrated alongside able-bodied events.

In all, our 2011 Scotswoman Of The Year finalist will try out cycling, lawn bowls, swimming, power lifting, athletics.

MATTY SUTTON reports

WITH confidence still high after tackling our cycle challenge, Julie McElroy was looking forward to the more sedate pace of bowls.

But for the 26-year-old, from Jordanhill, the challenge was much bigger than she expected.

She says: "I thought, 'I am going to be competent at playing this'. I have played Boccia (a Paralympic sport, like bowls, for people with disabilities that have a major impact on motor skills), but this was completely different."

She went to Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre to meet disabled athlete Garry Brown and Ron McArthur, who is assistant head coach at Scottish Disability Sport and the coach for the Scottish Association For Blind Bowlers.

First, Ron asked Julie to complete a series of exercises to get her warmed up and to test her flexibility.

Her cerebral palsy means she has problems with coordination, and is deaf and wears hearing aids.

One of her biggest challenges during the sessions was learning to hold the bowl comfortably.

But Ron talked her through it and explained how to roll the ball through his legs.

Crown Green Bowls is played on a green measuring about 38½ metre (42 yards) squared – the size of the greens at Kelvingrove.

Players bowl in between the markers on the six rink green and the jack – a white ball – must travel at least 25 metres (27yds). Bowls are then rolled towards the jack and the closest bowl wins.

The grass is kept in top condition, cut three times a week to about 2/3mm, which takes the groundsman about an hour.

When the green is used for the Commonwealth Games it will be cut twice a day so the bowls roll at the same speed during competitions.

Next, Julie had her first shot at playing a match. Garry, an international involved in the sport for 20 years, showed Julie how to get the bowl rolling towards the jack.

He also has cerebral palsy, which means his right side is weaker, and he competes in the B7 category, which is for bowlers with minor balance problems.

Garry, 29, of Kirkmuirhill, near Lanark, explains: "It is hard for me to keep my balance when I am throwing and I need to alter my stance to get the bowls as close as I can.

"There are times when I have fallen off the mat. You look silly."

He competed in the world championships in South Africa in 2011, when the Scottish team came second to the home team.

Next up for Garry is qualifying for the Commonwealth Games, where he could compete in the Open Triple event.

He says: "It will be the same competition, but it will be different. Able-bodied people will be watching it and it will follow on from the Paralympics."

Julie says she enjoyed playing lawn bowls but struggled because of the weakness in her hands. She adds: "I need to concentrate on holding the bowls. But I have never had so much fun and laughs on my para-sports journey."

Ron says: "Julie has a fantastic attitude and is a delight to work with.

"People see bowls and think it is simple, but it is more complicated than it looks.

"I love bowls, I think it is the best sport in the world. I would love everybody in Scotland to have the opportunity to play bowls."

l Next time, Julie will try out the long jump at Scotstoun Sports Campus.

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk

At Glasgow 2014 there will be two Lawn Bowls Para-Sport events:

B2/B3 Mixed Pairs

This is for blind/visually impaired bowlers and will be mixed gender.

Organisers anticipate entries from about 14 countries to this event, with one team per country.

One gold medal will be awarded.

B6/B7/B8

Open Triple

This is for physically disabled bowlers, and teams must include both genders.

Depending on the classification and severity of disability, some of these athletes may compete in specially designed wheelchairs that they can bowl from.

Again, organisers are expecting about 12 to 14 countries to enter this event, with one team per country.

One gold medal will be awarded.