On 22^nd November 2023 Serena Bonnell (Australia’s Para Jackaroo) and Ellen Falkner MBE (Bowls Australia’s High-Performance Manager for Para Bowls) broke the Guiness World Record for the longest singles lawn bowls marathon at Club Tweed Heads, NSW, Australia.   The official play time was 33 hours and 12 mins.

Serena said, “This challenge was more to show the community outside of bowls that disability is no hindrance (and promote bowls that it’s great for equality)”.

The previous record breakers were Adam Dally and Carl Rattley both from the United Kingdom.  They played for 32 hours and 34 minutes from 17 – 18^th June 2022 at Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, UK.  They completed this attempt in honour of Earls Barton Bowls Club 100^th year.

Serena explained that to most of the public who have had no insight into para sport, believe it’s not a level playing field against “open” athletes.  Bowls is one of few sports where quite often disability is no hindrance.  “Para bowlers must fight adversity in life but when they play their sport, they can feel on an equal playing field to an extent. This challenge was more to show the community outside of bowls that disability is no hindrance (and promote bowls that it’s great for equality). Most witnesses to this challenge were forced to question their own perceptions and stereotypes as to what they believe is possible for disabled persons within our society.”

Serena highlighted a few key points about this new record:

1. The first time a para player is attempting a record of this nature.
2. The open player is of a high international calibre equally invested in the message.
3. Previous record holders in lawn bowls marathons are male, demonstrating that gender has no boundaries only our mindset does.
4. This is the first time the indoor record has been attempted so currently there is no record holder in this new category.