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Why can’t districts do the same?

The Citizen – April 13, 2006

HAVING recently attended two bowls tournaments – private as opposed to district events they were – where large amounts of money were on offer as prize money got one wondering why if individual clubs can raise over R150 000 can’t districts do the same for their competitions?
And if one looks at the paucity of entries in national tournaments it’s all because of a lack of attractive prize money that makes players look to the private sponsored tournaments rather than the national or district events.
The  excuse always offered for lack of sponsorship is that business has lost interest in bowls and prefers the glamour sports like soccer, rugby and cricket. Of course, they will for those sports present their events so slickly, something that bowls is going to have to learn if they want to compete for the big sponsors’ money.
But these two tournaments’ organisers did not go out and stop searching once they had found one sponsor. No they kept on pushing the envelope and the Atlantic Green Point Trips that ended on Sunday had more than 80 sponsors all who made a contribution and allowed the winning three to go away with a prize of R24 000.
Now weigh that up against the prize money offered at national and district events. There is no comparison and one can only presume, nay know, that club members have done something about getting an interesting package together to interest players from all over the country.
Remember that Cape Town is a long way from Gauteng but that has not deterred players from making the journey in a quest to go home with a healthy cheque.
The time has come in bowls, to not rely on one name sponsor but rather on many, each contributing something well within their means but still amounting to a great deal in the end.

TWO South African bowlers, Lorna Trigwell and Donny Piketh, mother and son-in-law respectively, feature in the top- ranked 12 players in the world. Trigwell is second among the women and Piketh is 12^th in the men’s rankings.
The ranking list is a first off by World Bowls who took into account international sponsored events over four years as their jump off point.
Gary Smith, chief executive of World Bowls said; "This is another step forward in us bringing the sport on to a global basis as well as recognising those who have performed at the highest level over a number of years in what are the top events in the sport.
"We would hope to add other events - which would meet our criteria - to the list in the future, thus giving even more scope for players across the globe to feature in our World Rankings List, which are governed by performance rather than location.
Ireland's Margaret Johnston heads the inaugural women's list, while Steve Glasson of Australia - although level on points with countryman Mark Casey and England's Mark Walton - heads the men's list being the reigning world champion, a title he won at Ayr in 2004.
The listings will be updated following the World Cup event that takes place in Warilla, (NSW) Australia, between 21-28 Aprils.

SINCEREST apologies to Maureen Snashall, Sheena Absalom and Colleen Davies for suggesting they finished runners-up in the CGBA triples. In fact, they won, beating Belgravia’s Sharon Glenn, Dee Tucker and Val Taylor 17-13. Sorry girls.
In addition, the result of the men’s senior event seemed to slip off the end of the page. Aubrey Elin, John Gillis, and Hymie Becker won this one beating Rod Lurie, Arnie Port and Gerald Lampert 16-15 on an extra end. Both teams were from Killarney.

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.