The Berea area is home to many bowling greens which uphold traditions established in the 1900s. In a four part series, the Berea Mail will visit bowling clubs in our areas of coverage to find out more about the locals clubs and the members who have bowled through the decades. This week, we visit Durban Bowling Club to chat to an accomplished member of the club.
LAINE King is among the accomplished bowlers who play for the Durban Bowling Club.
King, who hails from Newlands East, started playing bowls in 2003. While he excels in the sport today, he took up bowls reluctantly, thinking the game was better suited to someone of more advanced years than him.
Also read: Durban Bowling Club member bowls through the decades
“My wife, Belinda, started playing long before me. She played with two bowlers from our area and then very cunningly, asked me to take her to bowls one day and that’s how I got into it,” he said. “I was asked to join because I played soccer and they believed I had the hand-eye coordination that you need for the game.”
Now, King is one of the club’s most accomplished players. In the last five years, he has played for Port Natal President’s squad as well as the Port Natal B Team, which was awarded a bronze medal in the SA provincial games. What’s more, King is the singles champion and veterans champion, which he has won two years in a row.
Also read: Durban Bowling Club, established in 1903
“I enjoy the game simply because you can put your skills to the test against top opponents. It’s a fun sport to play,” he said.
King hopes to inspire more community members to take up the sport.
“It is a sport that anyone can play. I am trying to get more youngsters to play. Many clubs would enjoy having new players,” he said.
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