Lawn Bowls
29 June, 2026
Barry medals at Australian Open
Josh Barry returned home to Warracknabeal with a silver medal after finishing runner-up in the Physical Disability Open Men’s Singles event at the Australian Open Bowls tournament.
The 2026 Wimmera Sports Star of the Year Winner attended the two-week tournament, held at the Gold Coast, between June 7 and June 20.
As well as competing in the men’s singles, Barry also competed in the men’s pairs and the multi-disability open pairs events.
Barry had a fantastic start to the singles event, winning his three matches 21-6, 21-5 and 21-4 to comfortably proceed to the knockout stage.
The Warracknabeal Bowling Club member was very happy with how he started the event, before continuing his form through the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals.
“In the sectionals, I only dropped 15 shots over the three games, which was good,” Barry said.
“Then in the last 16 and quarterfinal and semi-final, I was able to win 21-14 in each game.
Barry said he started well in the final against New Zealander Mark Noble, but was unable to maintain his form as the match progressed.
“I was pleased making the final, where I was happy with the first half of my game,” he said. “Then in the second half, I had too many short bowls, and a swirling wind impacted the game.”
Barry partnered with Queenslander Anthony Bonnell in both the men’s pairs and the open multi-disability pairs.
In the men’s pairs, the duo did not progress after winning one of their three sectional games.
In the multi-disability pairs, Barry and Bonnell won one match, drew one, and lost one in their section, narrowly missing progression to the knockout stage.
The Australian para representative enjoyed his time over the tournament, but admits he would have preferred better weather in the Sunshine State.
“I thought heading up there I would get out of the cold, but I ended up needing to buy more clothes when I was there,” Barry said.
“And it was raining for a lot of the time over the two weeks.
“It was a good tournament, and it was good to watch a lot of the other games when I wasn’t playing.”
Barry will immediately return to action this weekend as he trials for the state team that takes on New South Wales in August.
The Warracknabeal bowler is also eying the Australian Championships late in the year, as well as selection into the Australian team for the 2027 World Championships.
“I've got the state trials coming up this weekend in Melbourne, and if I get picked, we play in August against New South Wales,” Barry said.
“There is also the national championships in October, and they will start the selection trials for the world championships in England after the Commonwealth Games."