Mbombelans bowl over competition at nationals

The Citizen

27-04-2025

For most, accidents that leave one suddenly disabled mark the end of their sporting careers, but two bowlers from Mbombela are determined to prove their impairments were simply the start of their journey.
Jenny Davies, of the Lowveld Country Club (LVCC), and Cielie Willemse, of Nelspruit Bowling Club, are a dynamic duo who work hard, week in and week out, to improve their bowling skills.
Davies, who originally hails from Newcastle but has lived in Mbombela for four years, was in a car accident 10 years ago. She was severely injured during the accident, spending two years in a wheelchair and a further two years on crutches while undergoing extensive rehabilitation. Despite being able to walk four years after her accident, she was officially classified as disabled.
Davies was already a bowler, picking up the sport one year prior to the life-changing accident. 'Your technique changes considerably when you become disabled. It takes a lot of work to find a technique that works for you, given the new challenges,' she said.
Willemse was involved in a motorbike accident 41 years ago, that resulted in the loss of both her right arm and leg. She originally hails from Heidelberg and moved to Mbombela 17 years ago when she became a grandma for the first time.
Unlike Davies, Willemse did not play bowls prior to her accident and only picked up the sport around three years ago. 'I just really got bored of sitting around and not doing anything, so when I saw bowls, I gave it a try and really enjoyed it,' Willemse said. She took to it like a duck to water and quickly became a hotshot bowler.
Although they are from two different clubs, the duo took part in the 2025 South African National Championship for Disabled Bowlers in Johannesburg from April 5 to 13 together.
Willemse competed in the B6 category and Davies in the B8 category. They were able to compete as a pair in spite of belonging to different categories, and managed to earn a bronze medal for their efforts.
Davies doubled down on this with another bronze in the singles competition, making her the only bowler in the whole competition to win multiple medals.
'We're incredibly proud of them and their achievements,' said their coach, also an LVCC member, Charles Davies. 'They competed against Protea bowlers, so to achieve what they did is incredible.'
This year marked the first time that either Davies or Willemse competed in the national championships. They were joined by Janita Steenkamp of Nelspruit Bowling Club, who assists them at every competition they take part in.
These two ladies are already hard at work preparing for their next competition, when the Lowveld takes on the Highveld, and will undoubtedly want to add more shine to their medal cabinets.
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