GALLERY: Tournament encourages competitive nature of the game

Bowlers from four districts within Gauteng braved the cold weather for two consecutive days on 25–26 July participating in the U19 and U35 Bowling Tournament at Ruimsig Country Club.

The U19 and U35 teams from Ekurhuleni Bowls, Johannesburg Bowling Association, Bowls Gauteng North and Sables Bowling Association competed with each other.

This tournament was organised to encourage more people to participate in the bowling sport.

“The inception of this tournament is to give players an opportunity which will prepare them for competitive tournaments,” said Sables Bowls president David Parker.

The U19 format was introduced, hoping it will improve the concentration levels of players and ensure the sport was more enjoyable.

“We moved the age group from U25 to U19 after establishing that we were losing many players in that age category,” Parker explained.

According to Gauteng Bowls president Ian Stayt, bowling is the only sport that accommodates everybody.

He explained that regardless of the age group everybody could play.

“It’s a sport with no age boundaries and even physically disabled people can play under the same rules and regulations with the able people,” Stayt emphasised.

He concluded that bowls was a very inexpensive game. “Once the player purchased their bowls, they can play,” he said.

Stayt indicated that Gauteng Bowls had drawn up a mandate to develop the game of bowls at every age group – irrespective of race and gender.

“This is from the National Body down to the districts, hoping that we will eventually develop a school league in all our districts,” Stayt concluded.

Details: Sables Bowling Association 011 679 1716.

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