Success for father and son

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34047, 10 January 1976, Page 4

Success for father and son

The adage, ‘like father, like son,’ was given an unusual twist at the national bowls bowls championships in Dunedin last week-end when 52-year-old Bill McConnell, lead for Merv Andrews (Kaikorai), finished third in the pairs and his 23-year-old son. Stuart, was third in the singles.

It was a. fine family effort, although one made less surprising by the strong sporting background of the McConnell family.

Bill McConnell was a very useful Rugby player in his younger days and turned to bowls, a sport in which he has had a fair measure of success, after a w r ar injury ruled out more vigorous pursuits. His wife, Mary, was, as

Mary Stewart, a New Zealand swimming champion in the 1930 s and later a New Zealand women’s surf champion. Her sister, Jean, was one of the country's top swimmers in the early 19505. Mrs McConnell was also a South Island netball representative and more recently has been active in the administrative side of the sport, especially as a referee. Stuart and his brother, Duncan, who is 26, were both born in Canterbury during a period when their father was a school teacher at Springbum. He is now headmaster at Balmacewen Intermediate and this year his two sons will both be on the staff at. Otago Boys’ High School. There is also a girl in the family, Jan, who is 28, and she was prominent in Christchurch drama circles before going overseas two years ago. Both Duncan and Stuart enjoyed successes ii> athletics and Rugby before moving on the bowls. Both have been Otago javelin

champions and Duncan filled placings in both junior and senior national contests. They both represented Otago in lower grade Rugby and Duncan was a South Island schoolboy selection. While both sons are considered to have bright futures in bowls, Stuart has come to light at the national level the quickest. He drew attention to himself for two reasons at the national tournament in Christchurch two years ago, the first being for the lengthy run he had in the singles, which included a win over the leading Canterbury player, Wally Wilkinson (.Beckenham). His other distinguishing feature was his delivery, which would certainly not be found in any text book. He literally stumbles off the mat and when he lets the bowl go his nose is not much higher than his knee.

However, while his delivery is unorthodox to the point of being probably unique, there can be no denying Stuart’s ability.