Hayward king pin

From: Orange Central Western Daily, Australia - Apr 28, 2003

By Michelle Cook
Tuesday, 29 April 2003

TENPIN BOWLING

ORANGE'S David Hayward has won a swag of gold at the 14th Australian Deaf Championships in Sydney and continued his good form at the 21st Annual National Deaf Championships.

Hayward, who is profoundly deaf, won gold medals at the Australian championships in the men's singles, doubles and teams events and finished fourth in the masters event.

In the singles event he bowled 176, 211 and a high game 245 for a 632 total and the gold medal.

Hayward, 38, teamed with Dean Ainsworth in the men's doubles to bowl a 1158 total to win gold and was part of the NSW men's side which won the teams gold.

He didn't place as well at the National Deaf Championships until he won the masters event and also bowled the men's best overall average for the championships (198.42) for the eighth consecutive year.

Hayward won the masters title in 1996 and finished second in 1997 and 1999.

"I had been waiting to win again," Hayward said through his interpreter, sister Kathy Hayward.

"I was thrilled to win."

Hayward explained there is only one additional rule for deaf bowlers - they are not permitted to bowl with a hearing aide in.

"They must take their hearing aides off. They can have them on in the casual area but on the lanes they have to take them off."

Hayward will travel to New Zealand at the end of May to contest the New Zealand Deaf Championships.

"This is my fourth time I have made the trip to New Zealand," Hayward said.

"I have won the masters, singles and triples competition there before and I would like to win again. I have a handicap of zero, though, which will make it difficult. I will need to keep bowling over my average of 200 to win."

Hayward's commitment to travelling to competitions has paid off with the National Deaf Championships organisers deciding to hold the tournament in Orange in 2004 instead of a capital city.

© Copyright 2000 by Rural Press Ltd