Champion At 92

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30325, 28 December 1963, Page 9

Champion At 92

TF any of Canterbury's budding sporting champions want a lesson on the true meaning of a love of sport they should find a few minutes to call at 86 Bristol street, the headquarters of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, and ask for Mrs L. Irvine.

judged by the usual sporting standards, Mrs Irvine hardly made any impact at all in Canterbury or New Zealand sport this year: her one attainment was to win the pairs competition for blind indoor bowlers in Canterbury.

But the lesson that Mrs Irvine can teach anyone who is prepared to ponder for a moment is that determination and a love of sport is more important than the physical endowments that seem to be regarded as a pre-requisite for sporting success.

Mrs Irvine is 92 and has been partially blind for more than 40 years. Now her weak sight is beginning to fail. Yet two years ago, at the age of 90. she took up indoor bowls as her sport. Many years ago she had played croquet and outdoor bowls when her sight was better.

Asked why she had suddenly decided to take up a sport at the age of 90. Mrs Irvine said it was simply

because she had plenty of time on her hands and wanted to be doing something. “I thought I would give it a go and now I am really enjoying playing. “Next year I am going to enter tor the rinks. Why shouldn’t I? After all, 93 is not the end of the world."