Bowling Spotlight - Lamar Richardson & Perfect Game
IslandStats.com
Bermuda National Team bowler Lamar Richardson has delivered a thunderous final statement ahead of the International Bowling Federation (IBF) World Bowling Championships, rolling his 14th career 300 game just hours before the squad prepares to travel.
Richardson, is one of the most decorated bowlers in the country, boasting multiple wins at the Bermuda Open and USBC events, alongside Island Games medals. His 14 career perfect games are a testament to the consistency he brings to the high-pressure environment of international play.
Name: Lamar Richardson
Q. On the highly technical oil patterns at international events like the World Championships, what specific adjustments have you focused on in training—both individually and in the Baker format—to ensure ball reaction and pin carry remain consistent on foreign lanes?
A. Adjustments are key. Knowing when and how to move on the lane is always a huge factor. Also, knowing what ball we should be throwing. All bowling balls do something slightly different and an ever-changing oil pattern requires us to be sharp and know when and how to get the best out which ever ball we are throwing.
Q. How have you balanced with the energy of the squad to build team chemistry heading into the Singles, Doubles, and Team events?
A. The team has been in training since the early part of summer. Chemistry is really not an issue when it comes to this team. We bowl together all the time and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses which will play a big role in knowing how to help each other in Hong Kong.
Q. Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth Stadium will host the event. What preparation have you done to simulate the unique conditions, atmosphere, and time difference of competing in a high-pressure Asian venue that is vastly different from Warwick Lanes?
A. The Queen Elizabeth Stadium is where the finals will be held, not the qualifying. Should we make it to the finals, adjusting to lanes built in a stadium is something we will discuss in our team meeting prior.
Q. Team Bermuda achieved a significant milestone by reaching the Round of 16 in the IBF World Cup earlier this year; what specific, measurable team and individual performance goals have you set for the World Championships to build on that success?
A. One goal we have set is to make it to the next round in any one of the 4 events. When LeVinc qualified for the Round of 16 in January at the World Cup, it was amazing for him and this team. We would definitely like to use that as motivation to improve our standing on the world stage. We have some members making their debut at these World Championships so it will be a bit of a baptism by fire, but we are ready and I am confident we will perform well.
Q. Given the comprehensive schedule, which includes Singles, Doubles, Trios, and the Team of 5 event, how are you planning to manage the physical and mental workload to ensure you are sharp and peaking for the crucial final rounds, especially the demanding Baker Format match-play?
A. I think getting acclimatized as quick as possible will play a part. Travelling to the other side of the world (12hrs ahead) with only two days before competition starts is not ideal but is something we will deal with. Plenty of rest between events and doing things that take our minds off of bowling when not in competition usually help with the mental strain that comes with competing at such a high level for hours at a time. As bowlers, being able to "turn on" and "turn off" the mental focus in between shots and in between events is a part of our training. As with most things in life things do not always go as plan but we train for as many of these scenarios as possible.
