Kelvin Kerkow

Kelvin Kerkow OAM (born 22 April 1969) is an Australian lawn bowls and indoor bowls player and author.

Kelvin Kerkow
Personal information
Full nameKelvin Ivan Kerkow
Nickname(s)Spike
NationalityAustralian
Born (1969-04-22) 22 April 1969
Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (2011)
Weight75 kg (165 lb) (2011)
Sport
SportBowls
ClubSouth Tweed Sports Club
Medal record
Bowls
Representing  Australia
World Outdoor Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Adelaide singles
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Adelaide triples
Silver medal – second place 2004 Ayr fours
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2006 Melbournesingles
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 1996 Prestonpairs
Gold medal – first place 2005 Great Yarmouthpairs
Gold medal – first place 2009 Great Yarmouthpairs
Asia Pacific Bowls Championships
Gold medal – first place1995 Dunedinsingles
Silver medal – second place1995 Dunedintriples
Silver medal – second place1997 Warillasingles
Gold medal – first place2001 Melbournefours
Bronze medal – third place2003 Brisbanepairs
Gold medal – first place2003 Brisbanefours
Silver medal – second place2005 Melbournepairs

Early life

Kerkow was born in 1969 in Kingaroy, Queensland. At the age of seven, he contracted Guillain–Barré syndrome which led to him being unable to walk for several years.[1][2][3] His parents, Ivan and Joan introduced him to bowls when he was unable to play contact sports due to his limited mobility.[4]

Bowls career

Outdoors he won two bronze medals in the singles and triples in the 1996 World Outdoor Bowls Championship and a silver medal in the fours at the 2004 World Outdoor Bowls Championship.[5] He also secured the 2006 Commonwealth Games singles gold medal in Melbourne.[6] He is also a three times title winner at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championships in 1995, 2001 and 2003.[7]

Indoors Kelvin has won three World Indoor Championships Pairs gold medals. In the 1996 World Indoor Bowls Championship he partnered Ian Schuback, and in the 2005 World Indoor Bowls Championship and 2009 World Indoor Bowls Championship he partnered Mervyn King.[8] In addition he has won the gold medal at the 2007 World Cup Singles in Warilla, New South Wales, Australia,[9] the 2006 Scottish International Open and was twice winner of the Welsh International Open in 2004 and 2005.

Other Achievements
  • Australian Indoor Singles Winner
  • Welsh Master Invitation champion 1997
  • World Bowls Singles Bronze Medallist 1996
  • Australian Representative 1995-2008
  • Gold Coast Winter Carnival Singles 1995
  • Hub of the Hunter invitation Singles 1994
  • Welsh invitation Singles 1996
  • Coolangatta Master of Masters 1993
  • Golden Nugget invitation Singles 1994 &1997
  • Halekulani invitation Singles 1995
  • Mt Isla Invitation Singles 1999
  • Halekulani Invitation Singles 1999

Publications

In January 2009 Kerkow released his autobiography Rolled Gold in which he tells the story of his childhood battle with Guillain–Barré syndrome and how lawn bowls helped him overcome his disability with help from his friend Steve Glasson.[1]

Honours

In 2000, Kerkow was a recipient of the Australian Sports Medal.[10] Kerkow received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010 for his services as a player, coach and mentor.[11] In 2017, Kerkow was inducted as a Legend in the Bowls Australia Hall of Fame.[12][13]

References
  1. Williams, Patrick (25 November 2009). "Kerkow's life on a roll". Tweed Daily News. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  2. "Lawn Bowls". ABC Grandstand Sport. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. Kelly, Greg (19 July 2007). "Kerkow's grand band of brothers". Tweed Daily News. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. Rheuben, Peter (26 April 1992). "Kerkow picks up $3000 windfal". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 92. Retrieved 3 April 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Ireland beats Australia in bowls". The Age. Fairfax Media. 7 August 2004.
  6. "Kerkow wins men's lawn bowls gold". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. AFP. 24 March 2006.
  7. "Asia Pacific Championships Past Winners" (PDF). World Bowls. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. "Kelvin Kerkow profile". World Bowls.
  9. "Past results" (PDF). World Bowls.com.
  10. "Australian Sports Medal entry for Kelvin Kerkow". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 24 October 2000. Retrieved 3 April 2020. Represented Australia at Lawn Bowls
  11. "Medal of the Order of Australia entry for Kelvin Kerkow". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2020. For service to lawn bowls as a player, coach and mentor of junior bowlers.
  12. Rhys, O'Neill (11 September 2017). "Bowler famous for ripping his shirt to celebrate Comm Games gold officially becomes a legend". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  13. "Bowls' greats honoured at Hall of Fame and Awards Night". Bowls Australia. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
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