Ekurhuleni bowling legend hands over presidency reigns

Bowls as a sport began in South Africa around 1882 when the initial bowling green was commissioned.

The South African Bowling Association was founded in 1904 as the governing body for the sport of bowls in South Africa.

One of the largest regions was the Gauteng region, which included the East Rand district now known as Ekurhuleni.

This district consists of 21 bowling clubs and boasts some of the best bowlers in the country.

It remains a huge task to ensure that all clubs within the district deliver the same level of excellence as prescribed by EKB District in line with Bowls South Africa.

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For the last five years, the task is spearheaded by Craig Hall, a full-time contracting engineer with a 30-year bowling CV.

Bowling was in the blood as Craig grew up in a home of avid bowling enthusiasts.

True to form, Craig began his bowling journey at Bedfordview Bowling Club (part of the Johannesburg Bowls Association) with Henselite size 5 bowls which were also huge benders.

Some of the clubs that Craig has been a member of include Kleinfontein, Benoni Country Club, Brakpan Mines and Alberton.

Each club still delivers great levels of bowling talent.

It didn’t take long before Craig’s love and discipline for the sport earned him some worthy accolades on the podium.

His greatest achievement was the victor ludorum B district.

Craig’s name became well known not just in the Johannesburg district but within the East Rand too as he ultimately moved to Delville Bowling Club where he played in several competitions and league matches.

This is a superb club situated in the sporting nucleus of Germiston just behind the Herman Immelman Athletics stadium and the Delville swimming pool, consisting of approximately 130 bowling enthusiasts.

Delville Bowling Club is extremely well respected for its long-standing history, outstanding greens and high level of bowlers.

Though his passion lies in playing the game of bowls and being amon his fellow bowlers on the greens, Craig felt that he could make a positive impact in the administration and execution of bowls within a greater portfolio on the East Rand.

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Given this, he ventured into spreading his wings serving as the current president of the Ekurhuleni Lawn Bowls District for the past five years.

Not new to the executive, Craig began making an impact in 2010, 2011 and again in 2016 within the committee.

Described by his colleagues and fellow bowlers as organised, loving, fair and a perfectionist, Craig applied these virtues to his greatest bowling career challenge during Covid-19 when restrictions detrimentally affected the country as a whole.

“Bowlers by nature are socially gregarious people who openly show affection to fellow bowlers. This simply wasn’t allowed purely to keep checks and rules in place for Covid,” said Craig Hall.

“It wasn’t easy to implement the changes needed, however, each club actioned the updated bowling rules for everyone’s safety.”

During Craig’s bowling career, he has seen some of the most incredible talents in the EKB district investing his time into development and transformation thus opening up the sport to even more interested bowlers.

Craig Hall’s journey as president of the EKB will now be handed to Alana Warrender.