Among the 40-plus athletes on the NSW team is Cessnock ten pin bowler, 23-year-old Andrew Stuckings, who is the only male Hunter bowler to make the NSW team.

Andrew has been involved with Special Olympics since 2005 through soccer and swimming, but only picked up a bowling ball three years ago after coach Ellena Morris suggested he give it a go.

Living with an intellectual disability, Andrew said that he loves bowling and that he can’t wait to head to Melbourne for the national competition. 

The national championships will be held from October 20 to 25 with more than 1000 Australian athletes with an intellectual disability representing their state or territory.

Andrew will compete in a mixed competition and will one of the biggest championships he has bowled at to date. 

With competition across 16 Olympic-type sports, the games will be a huge celebration of ability as well as a qualifying event for next year’s Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles where athletes will have the opportunity to represent Australia on the world stage.

Fundraising pages have been set up to help cover the costs of getting each athlete to the championships. 

For more information visit www.specialolym-pics.com.au/nsw and click on the name of the athlete you would like to sponsor.

Andrew also had a successful competition on the weekend at the Bateau Bay ten pin bowling club, where he finished third in the doubles competition and sixth in the singles.