FOUR bowling buddies will smash down obstacles as well as pins this weekend when they strike into the final of a national blind sports competition.

Visual impairment has proved no barrier for the Amigos Swindon – formerly the Three Amigos – a collection of four friends and ten-pin bowling talents who joined up to prove anything is possible in the world of sport.

The members of the newly formed quartet have varying degrees of sight loss but they have made it to the British Blind Sport National Ten Pin Trios Final to be held in Sheffield tomorrow.

There, they will battle it out against 11 other teams from across the UK for a prestigious trophy.

Making up the dream team are newest member David Cole and veterans Shaun Mansbridge, Cliff Moss and team leader Russell Riggs.

Russell, of Freshbrook, said the team were bowled over to reach the finals.

“We have a disability but we still have the ability to do well in whatever we try our hands at,” he said.

“It’s breaking down barriers and we’re really excited and nervous to have reached the finals.

"We’re so looking forward to it.”

Reaching the final of the prestigious competitions ranks the team among the top 12 in the country.

The team practices at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park and also work with the Swindon Bats, a sports and social club for the visually impaired.

Russell said: “The friendship and social life we have as a result of the league is amazing. The camaraderie is brilliant.”

The team are also on a roll of success with their recent triumph in the Hay Moffatt National Invitational Tournament, held in Coventry.

Russell, who represented Great Britain in the 2007 visual impairment world championships, said: “Obviously, we were thrilled to bits to win that tournament but we were especially proud of Shaun who picked up the top individual honour for the fourth year running, that takes some doing against some Great Britain standard bowlers."

“We’re going to be up against some tough talent this weekend.”

Russell, 54, suffers from the inherited and degenerative condition Retinitis Pigmentosa which causes severe visual impairment and leads to total vision loss.

He has suffered from the condition all his life but was registered blind in 1993 and uses a cane when out and about.

“I have a problem with my central vision, the way I would describe it is like looking through a net curtain which is much thicker in the middle,” he said.

“I can see the approach to a bowling lane but someone has to tell me how many pins I’ve knocked down,” he said “I visualise it in my mind and that helps me focus on how to knock them down.”

Blind Ten Pin bowling is a sport growing in popularity with people with all levels of visual impairment able to participate.

If needed, participants can be aided by guiding rails to ascertain the start of the bowling lanes, sighted assistants, barriers and a handicap system.

Russ added: “We would like to say a big thank you to all our supporters and friends who have made our participation possible.

“Go on the lads.”