Tenpin bowler recovers from brutal attack to win tilt at title By Ashleigh Wallace
08/28/07
A student who was left for dead following a brutal assault which horrified Ulster has made an amazing recovery and is now set to represent Northern Ireland in an international sporting competition.
Grant Dugan (21), from Newtownards, has won a place in the Qubica AMF World TenPin Bowling Cup which is taking place in Russia this November.
His sporting success comes just 19 months after he was beaten and stabbed seven times with a broken bottle in an unprovoked attack in Newtownards.
The Queen's University student and a friend were chased down an alleyway in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2005, where Grant was left for dead by his attackers and suffered horrific injuries.
He had to undergo two emergency brain operations during which part of his skull was removed to enable a blood clot to be removed.
His recovery since then has amazed both his family and medics and, as he revealed, one of the things that motivated him to get better was his love of tenpin bowling.
In a closely fought competition held at Dundonald Ice Bowl last week, Grant qualified for the 43rd Bowling World Cup.
The event, which has attracted entries from over 90 countries, is being staged at a 32-lane bowling centre in St Petersburg.
He is the youngest person ever to represent his country at international level and will be the only male competitor from Northern Ireland taking part.
He said: "When I was lying in hospital I kept thinking about the fact I was in the qualifying stages for the European Cup in Luxembourg.
"I missed an important match in January last year while I was still in hospital, but I was back at the club three weeks after getting out of hospital and I ended up competing in the European Cup.
"We played the qualifiers for the World Cup last weekend and I finished second out of 25 people from Northern Ireland.
"The guy who won had to drop out so I'm getting to go instead. I'm absolutely thrilled that I'll be playing for Northern Ireland. It still hasn't sunk in."
Grant was introduced to the sport by his uncle Paul, who has since died from cancer.
He added: "My uncle first took me bowling when I was about 12 so when I play in Russia it will be in honour of him."
Grant's mother, Maud, father, Ken, and sister, Lauren, are extremely proud of his achievements.
Maud said: "Words cannot express how proud we are of Grant after all he has been through.
"When he went back to bowling he was very unsteady on his feet, as people are after major brain surgery.
"He had to get his balance and co-ordination back so it's been a real fight for him, but he was determined to get back to bowling."
Three people were jailed earlier this year for their role in the savage assault on Grant.
Northern Ireland
Republished courtesy of Belfast Telegraph (August 27, 2007)
A student who was left for dead following a brutal assault which horrified Ulster has made an amazing recovery and is now set to represent Northern Ireland in an international sporting competition.Grant Dugan (21), from Newtownards, has won a place in the Qubica AMF World TenPin Bowling Cup which is taking place in Russia this November.
His sporting success comes just 19 months after he was beaten and stabbed seven times with a broken bottle in an unprovoked attack in Newtownards.
The Queen's University student and a friend were chased down an alleyway in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2005, where Grant was left for dead by his attackers and suffered horrific injuries.
He had to undergo two emergency brain operations during which part of his skull was removed to enable a blood clot to be removed.
His recovery since then has amazed both his family and medics and, as he revealed, one of the things that motivated him to get better was his love of tenpin bowling.
In a closely fought competition held at Dundonald Ice Bowl last week, Grant qualified for the 43rd Bowling World Cup.
The event, which has attracted entries from over 90 countries, is being staged at a 32-lane bowling centre in St Petersburg.
He is the youngest person ever to represent his country at international level and will be the only male competitor from Northern Ireland taking part.
He said: "When I was lying in hospital I kept thinking about the fact I was in the qualifying stages for the European Cup in Luxembourg.
"I missed an important match in January last year while I was still in hospital, but I was back at the club three weeks after getting out of hospital and I ended up competing in the European Cup.
"We played the qualifiers for the World Cup last weekend and I finished second out of 25 people from Northern Ireland.
"The guy who won had to drop out so I'm getting to go instead. I'm absolutely thrilled that I'll be playing for Northern Ireland. It still hasn't sunk in."
Grant was introduced to the sport by his uncle Paul, who has since died from cancer.
He added: "My uncle first took me bowling when I was about 12 so when I play in Russia it will be in honour of him."
Grant's mother, Maud, father, Ken, and sister, Lauren, are extremely proud of his achievements.
Maud said: "Words cannot express how proud we are of Grant after all he has been through.
"When he went back to bowling he was very unsteady on his feet, as people are after major brain surgery.
"He had to get his balance and co-ordination back so it's been a real fight for him, but he was determined to get back to bowling."
Three people were jailed earlier this year for their role in the savage assault on Grant.