The Cloncurry bowler who made headlines across Australia this week has finally recovered from his mammoth world record game.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over 73 hours Shayne Barwick exerted enormous physical effort to smash a new world record, but says he still has a case of the wobbles.
“I only really started to feel normal this morning. The legs are still jelly though,” he said on Wednesday
In the heat and humidity, with only 10 minute breaks every four hours, Mr Barwick admits he doubted he would reach the end.
“Just over the halfway point I said to my mates “I’m over it”. They said “You’re over halfway now so you might as well keep going.” So I did.”, he said.
Much of his success Mr Barwick puts down to massage, with those precious 10 minute intervals spent lying on his stomach.
After three days of no sleep, his relief was coupled with a scary state of confusion.
They wanted me to go to the hospital for some fluids, but I said “I’m going to the pub, I’ll get plenty of fluids there''.
- Lawn bowls legend Shayne Barwick from Cloncurry
“I was definitely relieved, but there was confusion as well. My brain was really foggy. An hour before finishing apparently I turned to one of my mates and asked ‘Where am I?’.”
Mr Barwick was assessed regularly by medics throughout the ordeal, and didn’t let a heart condition stop him from pushing on.
“I was checked on during every one of my breaks. After I finished, they wanted me to go to the hospital for assessment and some fluids. I said ‘I’m going to the pub, I’ll get plenty of fluids there,’ he laughed.
Donations for the cause are still rolling in and at last count they had raised around $8500 towards a new roof for the disability ramp. Large roofing company Delta Panels have donated the panels for the roofing, which will save the club a lot of money.
Mr Barwick would like to send a big thanks to Lee and Kristy Moore, who were with him from the beginning, and police officers Matthew Hows and Steve O’Brien.
“Matthew and Steve finished their shift on Monday at 4am before coming down to the club to bowl with me,” said Shayne.
Playing more bowls is off the cards for a while, but Shayne says the locals will no doubt have him back on the field next week.
“I’m really glad it’s finished, but I’m never doing this again”, he said.