WATCH: Success to bowl over
NORTHCLIFF – Fran Louw makes South Africa proud with his tenpin bowling achievements.
Guillaume Francois Marais Louw, more commonly known as Fran, has done what other South Africans have never done before, to land a place among tenpin bowling greats in the Bowlers Journal.
This magazine is the oldest monthly sports publication in the world and reports on international professional bowling. “It is a big honour to have my name in the Bowlers Journal even if it is only a small article. My bowling heroes have featured in this magazine so it is great to even be considered,” said Louw.
He earned his spot in the magazine due to his new title of champion of the 13th Kingdom International in Saudi Arabia where he walked away with 25 000 US dollars. This came after he took the second place in the AMF Qubica World Cup in Las Vegas.
Louw does not plan to slow down this year as his schedule is already full with upcoming tournaments. In July he is off to the Storm San Marino Open and afterwards will travel to Poland. Louw can enjoy a month at home in Highlands North before he sets off to Vienna and Bulgaria but after some more home time, he will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Reno, and Qatar.
When Louw is actually in the country, he is a partner in an industrial plumbing and water-cooler business called Clarity Holdings. Otherwise, he is in the gym and continuously practises at the Northcliff Bowls, that also sponsors him.
Louw began his journey in bowling when he was nine years old. He would join his parents who were recreational tenpin players but the bowling bug bit Louw and he progressed to a professional level.
Now, 21 years down the line, he has accomplished what most South African bowlers only dream of. “Bowling has a stigma and is not taken seriously as a sport because of a couple of beers players tend to have afterwards. Bowlers need to act seriously about bowling or it will not be recognised as a sport. Only hard work will get you to the top,” Louw added.
The digital editor for Northcliff Melville Times, Mark Mansfield, had the opportunity to take a go at the pins with Louw’s professional and tailor-made bowling ball. “As a social player, I did not realise the technique involved in the manner you hold the bowling ball. I learned a lot from Fran in this short time. It was great to experience a well-balanced and polished ball – you could feel the difference,” Mansfield said.
Details: Northcliff Bowls, 011 782 7035/4014.
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