By Shania Callender

Last year, Zach Graham broke new ground at the Zespri AIMS Games, overcoming his low-vision impairment by playing in the indoor bowls division.

This year, he decided to take things up a notch.

As well as his indoor bowls commitments – winning bronze in the Athletes With Disability division at the annual intermediate-aged tournament in Tauranga - the 12-year-old decided to add the cross country to his week.

And while he won the AWD section of that too, he was also enlisted into the Highlands Intermediate relay team, competing against all-comers in the school team race.

The Year 8 student said he was excited to share the news with his classmates at home. 

“I won’t be screaming it out to everybody but I’ll get to be like ‘I got first place in cross country and third place in bowls’!” he said. 

Zach and his dad Peter made the trip from New Plymouth for the week-long tournament, which features nearly 12,000 athletes from New Zealand and the Pacific, and said he had enjoyed having a week off school.  

 He said trying something different by competing in the cross country had been an exciting highlight, as he didn’t compete in the sport at last year’s games. 

But he said he still would put indoor bowls – and chess - over cross country on his favourites list. 

“It’s not as tiring, you can do it for longer, and it doesn’t use your vision as much… and bowls is still exciting. The games can get really close to a matter of points.” 

Zach began playing bowls around three years ago, after going to an indoor bowling club after school. 

“I think I was quite good, and then I just kept going. I did it for AIMS games last year too. It’s been quite fun.” 

He plays regularly with his family at their local bowling club in New Plymouth, and dad Peter said it was a special way to be together as a family. 

“It’s mostly friendly – but there’s a bit of family rivalry there too,” he said. 

Graham said it had been an “exciting” few days at AIMS. He said Sunday’s cross country was a proud moment, and Monday and Wednesday’s indoor bowls games had included some exciting head-to-heads.

Article added: Wednesday 06 September 2023