TAREE Leagues bowler Gilbert Hicks heads to South Australia today determined to defend the pairs championship with Sydneysider Geoff Seton at the National Multi Disability Championships.
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Hicks and Seton won the title when the event was conducted on the Gold Coast last year. However, Hicks said it will be more of a challenge this year.
"They've thrown us all together this year. We'll be up against players with higher classifications,'' he said.
This means Hicks and Seton, who are both in wheelchairs, will be bowling against amputees and other disabilities.
"Some of them haven't got too much wrong with them,'' Hicks explained.
"So that'll make it interesting.''
Hicks will be a member of the NSW team. He'll also contest the triples and the singles.
The triples will start the program and Hicks said NSW will be looking to make up for a disappointing campaign last year.
"We had a new team,'' he said of 2015.
"But we know each other's game a bit better this year, so we're looking to improve. We'll certainly be competitive.''
This singles will be restricted to wheelchair bowlers and Hicks is also hoping for a strong showing.
"I'm in a pretty tough pool - the young bloke who won it last year's there,'' he said.
Play will be on synthetic greens, a surface he's comfortable with.
"We have a few synthetics around here now - at Taree West and Harrington and I don't mind playing on them. And they have good synthetic surfaces down there.''
Hicks expects to lead in the pairs and play second in the triples. He says his form in pennants for Leagues this year - where he's playing in the No 6 grade has been 'average' but hopes he'll lift when play starts at South Australia.
"You meet mates you have for life playing in this (championship),'' he said.
"We have a great time and we give each other heaps. But that all stops when we get onto the green.
"The games are very competitive. It's a great week.''
