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Absence of stars won’t be felt

The Citizen - April 21, 2006

THE absence from many of the “name” players from the SA Inter-District tournaments that begin at three venues on Monday won't alter the spirit of the event nor lower the standard of play.
The A provincial is in Johannesburg with Ferndale as headquarters; the B is in Southern Cape with Knysna as HQ, and the seniors play in Margate.
The absence of names like Neil Burkett, Eric Johannes and Lorna Trigwell – playing in Australia; – Shaun Addinall and Trish Steyn  from Western Province and recently returned from the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne together with another Games combatant Gerry Baker, and Central Gauteng’s stalwart Greg Bingham, who has pulled out because of business commitments, may appear, on the surface to put a dampener of the event.  The upside is that it will give some of the up-and-coming players a chance to shine.
Central Gauteng are still on a high after their distinguished performance last year when they won three gold medals for the week’s effort, two silvers and a bronze and hopeful that can carry that form through to this year.
With two of the best skips in the country in Donny Piketh, now rated No 12 in the world and former Commonwealth Games singles champion Bobby Donnelly their Open side is expected to triumph again given that Western Province have been seriously depleted with none of their current internationals available. Neil Burkett was to have played but decided to stay on in Australia. In an eleventh-hour move former international Alan Johnson has been brought in to skip one of the fours.
Justin Evans, winner of that district's recent Masters and who may be remembered from his days at Kempton Park on the East Rand, skips the other WP side, a young four but tough at that.
Then there are as always Port Natal and Sables who have the players and the ability to upset even the very best on their day. Watch them. There could be surprises especially since their women made such an impression last year in winning the women’s Open title and stopping the Central Gauteng juggernaut that will be without Lorna Trigwell this time round. However, they have an apt replacement in Pam Landau at one time a member of the national squad.
The B and seniors events – in Knysna and Margate respectively -- may appear to take a back seat to the Open event but they are just as competitive with many well known players of old having another bite at the cherry in the senior event, where they say the best bowls is played.
The B provincials always has a certain amount of needle as players endeavour to prove they are good enough to play with the big boys and girls in the Open next time round
If all goes to plan full results of all three competitions will be on the bowls website www.yourbowls.com each day

SOUTH Africa has an extra place in the annual World Indoor Bowls championships at Potters in January 2007 following the decision by the competition’s governing body to reduce the number of seeds in the competition to 20 from the original four.
This means that both the winner and the runner-up in the South African version will make the sponsored trip to England.
In addition South Africa will also have a representative from the Professional Bowlers Association in the International Open at Sheffield in late October; the Scottish International in Perth at the end of November and the Welsh International in February next year.
Two players from South Africa will also be invited to play in the World Pairs at Potters. Normally the two to win the South Africa event are invited.
The Ladies World Matchplay is to be held again and entry is by invitation using the performance of players in the past year as a guideline.

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.