page revision date : 31st May 2009
Martin has a vision
for disability sport
Martin Goodall is an inspiration to others who have a disability because he is congenitally visually impaired but enjoys competing in a range of sporting activities and also administers more than his share of activities because he rightly has this vision of an involvement for anyone, irrespective of problems they may have
Indeed, if there is anyone who has a firmer commitment to that belief in the county then pembrokeshiresport.co.uk has yet to meet that person.
Martin might be congenitally visually impaired but is a Welsh champion in his class for visually impaired bowlers, has represented Wales in Glasgow and elsewhere, and also taken part in boccia and New Age Kurling, which is like a land-based version of curling on ice, swims and competes at athletics events like the shot putt.
Recent success and a possible new venture
He recently took part in a competition at Cwmbran, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Saundersfoot and Tenby, where he swam, shot putted and took part in the Boccia, which he won as part of a trio comprising himself, John and Angela Richards – and the team came second overall in the festival of sports.
Martin has also been involved in the new Sports Centre at Haverfordwest where he has provided input into what is needed for people with a visual disability and has already decided that there is possible scope for use of the brand new fitness suite so has kept in touch with Chris Payne so that further discussions can take place – so watch this space!
Setting out with his challenge
Ask Martin about what it is like to be visually impaired and he would answer that it is like living in a goldfish bowl, seeing things indistinctly but having to make the most of other faculties to take part in all aspects of life.
This was certainly the case when Martin took up bowls a number of years ago because he found himself able to judge the speed of greens and the angle of delivering the bowl or boccia ball both equally well. He travelled all over to take part and his determination saw him reap the ultimate reward when he scooped the title of Welsh Champion at indoor bowls.
All the best bowlers in his category had to play each other on a round robin basis and Martin had to arrange individual games against a player from Carmarthen, two from Llanelli and so on up the line, increasing the cost and the time needed to reach a variety of venues. But he decided to give it a go, won his matches in Carmarthen and Llanelli – and surprised himself as followed up by winning every other match to become Welsh champion!
Welsh selection honour
This earned him selection for the Welsh team to compete in Glasgow, a great honour and fitting reward for his efforts. He was required to take a coach with him, so he took mum Eileen and laughingly says that she gave lots of encouragement but without the technical expertise of some of the others. Martin won one game and admits that donning the red shirt of the Welsh team was a very proud moment indeed.
Yet his involvement with bowls came about purely by chance after he received a call inviting him to join a group of partially sighted people trying the game out under the coaching of David Jones and Phil Harries, whom he says adopted the ‘bad cop, good cop’ routine for his tutoring alongside Ella Morgan, Edmund Thomas and Gavin McCoy at Haverfordwest.
Martin took to it straight away, although he says of it,
“Bowls takes about an hour to learn and a life-time to master. It needs patience, tactical awareness, judgement of line and length, plus a touch of the competitive spirit as a bonus.”
London induction
Whilst in London studying for a Physics degree he joined the Charnwood Foxes, a group formed for those with a disability, willing to learn new sports. It was there he saw short mat bowls and boccia for the first time and he came third in the Rotary Championships in St Athan and was delighted that everyone received a medal for their efforts, something that Martin thinks is important.
He was also part of a short mat team which reached the national final in Birmingham and although they didn’t win he was awarded the ‘Sportsmanship Medal’ for his efforts.
Fresh start at home and a firm belief
When he returned to Haverfordwest he helped set up the Tenby Tenderfoots before initiating the same process with John Richards at Haverfordwest Hawks, who meet at the Haverfordwest Leisure Centre on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9pm, where they play boccia, New Age Kurling, foam ten-pin bowling and basketball shooting, using kit Martin obtained from a lottery grant.
So what of the sporting future for Martin at 48 years of age? He will continue to play bowls and take great satisfaction from the fact that he is the only Welsh Champion from Pembrokeshire over the last two decades who is visually impaired and remains committed to his belief that there is something in sport for all to enjoy.
“I want to carry on doing well but am just as keen to encourage others to try their hand. I am competitive by nature and am proud of what I have done and found it great to get out and meet other people, with the result that my self confidence and esteem has grown remarkably. I want that for all disabled people.”
It is a strong message put out by a genuine character and he certainly is an inspiration to others with a disability because he has overcome hurdles to do well – and pembrokeshiresport.co.uk wishes him further success because he really is a genuine character of local sport!
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