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Little club with big beliefs

(The Citizen -January 6, 2006)

IF you want to talk about persistence and belief in your club, then consider the members of Old Oak Club in Bellville near Cape Town.
While all around a huge building development of shops, offices and residential blocks threatened to engulf them, the members stood firm and retained their right to continue to occupy the premises their club has stood on for more than 30 years.
There was no animosity as the developers realised the necessity of aiding the club to retain its identity. They acceded to all requests and while removing their B green and taking five metres off the A, built another B green alongside so the 150 or so members of the club could continue to enjoy their bowls.
You can see by the jut of his jaw that president of the club, Barney van Huystseen, is a determined fellow, and talking to him I knew he had a lot to do with taking the club from potential extinction to a comfortable future. Moreover, all this while building goes on and the dust stormed up by the Cape winds can cause havoc to players and the greens. It has been a tough time for the club, but not one member left because of the conditions. In fact, they gained nine in the last year.
There is cherry on the top. The developers still want the piece of ground they have spent nearly half a million rand on setting it right for the club, so they have found an alternative sight not far away where they will build a new clubhouse, greenkeeper's house and greens. That will take a bit of time but club members hope to play on their new
greens and use their new clubhouse by October 2007.

FOR a long time, bowlers have been saying that we need to "jack" up the game. Change the game. Make it more competitive. Make it more interesting. Shorten the game. Lengthen the game. You name it, and that is exactly where it stays.
Not my words these but those of friend Emile Hoffman, one of a few who are prepared to come forward and have their views aired. Let him continue.
"We need a voice in bowls. The problem arises because the wrong people administer this great game of ours. These administrators (in their wisdom) control the game and the bowlers do not get a say, or if they do, are shouted down. In addition, most of the administrators have not played bowls at a competitive level.
I believe this game is not for the blazer brigade, but for the bowlers. After all, levies from the bowlers are used to administer the game.
I just wonder how often, some great ideas from bowlers are squashed at club, let alone at district or National level.
The time is now, to resurrect a players association, a Bowls Players Association (BPA). This association to be similar to the SA Rugby Players Association (SARPA).
A few years back a similar association was in force but (as normally happens) was disbanded as the authorities did not want any input from the everyday bowler - they wanted to make the decisions as they saw fit.
It is time for bowlers to stand up and be counted. With a vehicle like the BPA, ordinary bowlers will have a voice. It will not be a voice for the elite squad or district bowler only, but for every bowler. The game must be given back to the bowlers.
Recognition by Bowls South Africa of the BPA is understood. The national chair of the BPA must have a voice at Bowls SA council meetings.
How often do we hear, or are asked, why certain players who have repeatedly achieved, are not selected for the South African side. We should have our best players representing our country and districts.
There does not seem to be consistency. Players, men and women, who have over years won gold medals for our country, are immediately out of favour - Why?
Similarly, a person can win national titles by the truckload, and yet not considered. It does not make sense.
This does not happen just in the National teams, but at district level as well. Never, will an acceptable reason be given for a blatant omission.
This is where the BPA steps in. Obtain reasons and then give feedback to the players, which they rightly deserve.
Come on bowlers in South Africa - help to get this off the ground. I am willing to do something - are you?"

Younger players benefit by absence of stars

The Citizen - April 28, 2006

Several districts playing in the annual inter-districts tournament in Johannesburg were denuded by the unavailability of many players, but this has been to the benefit of many others who have the opportunity to further their own causes.
The absence of some players has definitely shown in the form of some teams, more particularly Western Province where they have lost four of their top players to retirement and lack of leave left for bowls has become obvious.
Without Neil Burkett, (in Australia), Eric Johannes (no longer available), Kevin Campbell (reportedly retired) and Shaun Addinall (no more leave) they are much less the team they have been.. However, this is not say that the team put together has not acquitted itself well and the younger players drafted into the side have coped admirably with the task.
Not least of these is 40-year-old Peter Harvey, son of one of South Africa’s greatest bowlers, Tommy Harvey, who passed away at the age of 42 in the prime of his bowls career. Just to watch the son play one sees the father in him and that recognizable push delivery is so evident in the son.
Western Province manager, Bobby Cron said Harvey would soon be skipping one of the WP teams in inter-district tournaments.
It was also fortuitous for Western Province that former international Alan Lofthouse was able to make himself available to skip one of the WP fours after it became obvious Neil Burkett would not be back from Australia in time . His experience at this and international level has been a definite factor in helping the WP younger players..
There is a lot of youth in this tournament not least of all from Bloemfontein where we have Clinton Roets, Wayne Perry – both already internationals – Handre Marais who made such an impressions in gaining a bronze medal in the SA Masters, together with Wayne York and Jarred Oracki. With this talent, the future of the game in Bloemfontein looks very alive and well, if not now, as they lead their section after the sixth of the nine rounds.

Talk of younger players brings us to thoughts about upcoming international events and the national selectors are expected to go for youth when they pick their sides for the African States tournament in August. They are due to announce their sides at the end of the inter-districts this evening (Friday).
When I say going for youth I apply that more to the men than the women for there is a definite lack of younger players of established caliber among the women, a matter that should receive the urgent consideration of national and district executives.

So with youth in mind what do you think – and I expect brickbats – of my side for the African States.
Men: Fours: Brian Dixon, Wayne Perry, Duane Abrahams and Handre Marais. Singles: Nic Rusling.
Women: Fours: Loraine Victor, Cheryl Cox, Colleen Webb and Esme Steyn, although I would like to see Leone Durand, recently returned to the game among those names. For the singles there is only Lorna Trigwell.

Men’s national tournament chair Nicky Parker has been at the inter-provincials as a spectator and tells me all is in readiness for the tournament that begins in Cape Town on May 13 with the pairs competition. Headquarters is at Constantia.

One thing the inter-provincials have brought out is that there are some better bowlers on the national executive. National president Piet Breitenbach skips one of the two North West fours while executive member Tys Pringle has the same job for Limpopo.