Visually impaired bowler says the sport saved him

He said the tournament provided "great moral support" to players and showed bowls was "a wonderfully inclusive sport".

"We've got complete novices, people playing their first tournament ever, right up to internationals," Stott said.

David Stott first organised the tournament about 15 years ago after visually impaired players expressed a desire to compete [BBC]

Stott said the visually impaired game was played with a string down the centre of the rink, which those who were partially sighted could judge their angle from.

"For the totally blind, they can feel for the string to judge the distance off," Stott said.

"The markers, rather than remaining silent as they usually do in the sighted game, call the position of each bowl as it comes to rest using the clock system."

Homer said he knew nothing about bowls before taking up the sport.

The tournament is taking place in Weston-super-Mare [BBC]

"I plucked up the courage eventually, went up, had a few goes, and basically got the bug," Homer said.

Homer said getting to the Commonwealth Games would be his top bowls achievement, but added it would "be a one-off thing" as he was "not getting any younger".

"When I lost my sight, you lose your job, you can't drive, you're in a black hole, and then this came along and I haven't looked back," he said.

"I have no idea what I would have done otherwise... you only get one chance at life, so you've got to enjoy it."

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Related internet links

• Visually Impaired Bowls England