Ron Homer of Yeovil showed remarkable grace following his narrow defeat in the Commonwealth Games bowls final. Despite missing out on the gold medal, the visually impaired bowler, aged 74 and the oldest member of Team England, declared he had no complaints.
Having lost his sight around 30 years ago, Homer has found significant fulfillment through bowls, a sport he took up after being introduced to a visually impaired bowls club in Yeovil. At the Glasgow Games, he partnered closely with Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall, a teammate who navigates the sport with tunnel vision.
The final match was intensely competitive, decided on an extra end where the duo were edged out by Scotland’s Mary Stevenson and Robert Barr. Homer reflected on the experience with positivity.
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“You want the gold, but I’ve no complaints to get a medal,” he said. “It’s been an interesting few days because there were times when I didn’t think we were going to get out of the group stages, so playing for a gold medal was a great result for us. Of course, you want to win, but they just played better at the big moments.”
Homer’s impressive career includes representing England internationally in disability bowls and competing at several International Blind Bowls Association World Championships. He secured his first world title 11 years ago in New Zealand and received the British Empire Medal for his contributions to the sport.
Reflecting on the life-changing impact of sight loss, Homer shared, “When I lost my sight in the mid-1990s, everything changed. I lost my driving licence, I couldn’t work anymore, and it felt like my whole world had collapsed. Eventually, I was assigned a social worker who introduced me to bowls. I joined the club, caught the bug, and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s taken me around the world and now I’m a Commonwealth Games medallist. That’s very special.”
Lewis-Wall, who can only see approximately four metres ahead due to tunnel vision, also expressed satisfaction with their performance. She arrived at Glasgow as a strong contender, having won para women’s gold at the inaugural World Bowls World Cup in Malaysia and a bronze in the para mixed pairs event with Homer.
“Being at the Commonwealth Games has just been fabulous,” she said. “I’m really pleased with how we’ve played, and it’s been a great experience – I’ve no complaints about a silver medal. The next outdoor World Championships are in 2027 in Leamington. We’re looking forward to that, and we’ll keep working hard in the hope of being there.”
The achievements of athletes like Homer and Lewis-Wall are made possible thanks to the support of National Lottery players. More than £33 million is raised weekly for good causes, helping fund sports, arts, heritage, community projects, and the preparation of athletes for events such as the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games across the UK.