Calling youth – light up the greens at a special bowls day

BOWLS is not old man’s marbles as the old adage goes – this is according to John Perfect of Stella Park Bowling Club.

The club is inviting all youth under the age of 21 to join in the fun as they host a Youth Bowls Day on Sunday, September 17.

“We are asking adults [21 and older] to bring youth and children under 20 years old. If you are a bowler and have a daughter, son, niece or nephew, bring them along to come and play bowls. In the first tournament, children and adults will play together, and in the second tournament, youngsters will be invited to go and find a friend to play against,” said Perfect.

The Youth Bowls Day promises to be a fun event, aimed at introducing youth to the game. Another Stella Park Bowling Club member, Trevor ‘Vee’ Varkevisser, who is on the Port Natal Bowls committee, said there are less than 10 bowlers under the age of 20 across Port Natal Bowls while Stella Park Bowling Club has less than three bowlers under 20.

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“We have about 80 members at our club and about 2 000 members in Port Natal Bowls,” he added.
For Perfect, youngsters are missing out – he says that bowls offers young people a chance to excel up to national level and to travel.

“For a young person to represent the Sharks or Springboks is a major road to take. If a youngster starts playing bowls, achieves Springbok colours and goes to the Commonwealth Games, they will be ‘A for away’. My grandson who is 13 took up bowls for fun to spend time with me. Now he’s really enjoying the game and excelling at it. By March next year, he could compete in an U15 tournament and represent the whole of South Africa,” said Perfect.

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Bowls is also accessible to those living with disabilities and allow men and women to compete against each other.

“The beauty of this game is that a junior can compete with anyone older because it’s not a physical sport. It’s a sport for all ages, and those with disabilities can play, too. A youngster of 18 can take on a Springbok player and win,” added Varkevisser.
He added that Stella Bowling Club is steeped in history.

“The club opened in 1934,” he said.

• For more information on Youth Bowls Day, contact John Perfect on 081 476 9297.

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