John McKeag on the Web
Write to me at: john@yourbowls.com

Home   Columns   Nationals Draw   Results   Services   Contacts   Marketing

McArdle gets top spot in World Bowls

(The Citizen -January 27, 2006)

IN just over two years a South African, former Bowls South Africa president John McArdle could be heading World Bowls Ltd the controlling body of bowls following his successful bid to become deputy president.
Voting recently for various positions in the world body - to become vacant at the biennial meeting in Melbourne on March 25 - saw several persons voted into positions they will take up then.
These include Betty Collins OAM, of Australia as president, John McArdle of South Africa as deputy president with Ivan Kantor (Israel) and Eleanor Allan (Scotland) as directors.
Directors Kerry Clark (New Zealand) and Margaret Fettes (Canada) have another two years in office before they come up for election.
In 1992, McArdle took the decision to retire from football refereeing and take up bowls and at the same time use his extensive administrative background in furthering bowls. John is a past chairman of Eskom Club Rosherville, past vice president of the Federation of Eskom Clubs and an honorary life member of these bodies.
His life memberships in bowls show his prowess as an administrator. He is a life member of Alberton Bowling Club, Near East Rand Bowls and Eastern Gauteng Bowls. To have achieved these memberships he served with distinction on the various committees and was fittingly rewarded.
In 1998, he was elected to the executive committee of Bowls South Africa and was elected president in 2001, which position he held until he stood down in 2005.
He is also president of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, Zone VI Bowls Confederation.
In between all his bowls activities he finds time to play golf and is a member of Reading Country Club.

AMONG all the good people in bowls, there continue to be those occasional "nasties" and once again, they have raised their ugly heads by proclaiming it is infra dig for bowlers to play with whom they choose.
Several bowlers have made it known that this year they have joined another club to be able to play bowls with friends or with others more of their own standard. This has meet with vociferous complaint from the "no-gooders" who say they have to play for their club of first choice, meaning the one they play for in district compettions.
I was not sure of the ruling myself so I went to the well of knowledge, Bowls South Africa, and was told a bowler may play for any club he or she wishes in national championships, provided their club of first choice does not require their services, and provided they are full members of the second club.
So this clears the way for the concept of open bowls championships to become a reality. Join another club in addition to your present and make your own choice whom you wish to play nationals for, and with.
Just make sure though you have a letter from your second club that you are a card carrying registered Bowls South Africa player.

JOHANNESBURG Northern Suburbs Bowling Club is celebrating its centenary this year.
During the year, the club will host a number of celebratory function events, and they start the year with the 29th Tower Novices sponsored for the 21st time by Jeff Carter of ESS. The entry this year is 120 -- 75 men and 45 women. For the first time the competition will played at JNSB and the Wanderers.
In 1976 there were 40 entries. The Tower Novices started in 1976 under the auspices of Johannesburg Bowling Club and Bells Whisky.
The club has also been sponsored with new club kit, with R15 000 from Melrose Nissan in recognition of the 100th anniversary

IT is also the 70th anniversary of Regent Hill this year and they are holding a get together of present and former members of the club on February 3 at 6.30pm.
Contact Rodney Kemp for details on (011) 683-8527 or 484-4837 or Alan Varner on (011) 682-3623 or 083-272-6343.

CEDAR Park, are all cock-a-hoop these days, leading the Central Gauteng second division and more than hopeful of a spot in Division 1 next year. But their local events matter and their annual (10th) Independent Plumbing Supplies Floodlit tournament starts on Monday (January 30) with all the big names playing once again.

 

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.