Margate Bowls Club was delighted to welcome 144 bowlers (36 teams) from various provinces to take part in the 19th Doug Watson Memorial Bowls Tournament recently.
The main sponsor, a champion bowler of another sort, was none-other than former Proteas cricketer, Pat Symcox, from Re/Max Coast and Country, who also played, rather successfully.
A very festive atmosphere prevailed and old and new friendships were either renewed or forged.
Not only were players given a chance to showcase their bowling skills, but, because of the generosity of many interested minor sponsors, holiday raffles were auctioned off, and money was raised for hospice.
Winners were The Aching Joints, namely Kevin O’Donoghue, Fred Hutchins, Liesje de Rosner and Helen Turk. Runners-up were Team Re/Max, represented by Pat Symcox, Deon van Schalkwyk, Charmaine van der Westhuizen and Sandy van Niekerk. In third place were Titaniums, Glen Hatfield, Rhett Butler, Eileen Burt and Lynda Hopkins.
All in all, it was a highly successful tournament and the club has already received entries for next year’s 20th event. Sincere thanks were extended to all who played a part in honouring the late Doug Watson, who died in 2005, in such a spirited manner.
Remembering Doug
Doug was a member at Springwood BC. He came to prominence in 1972, when he became the youngest bowler ever to represent South Africa at the time, aged 29. In that year he won the silver medal in the triples at the 1972 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Worthing. He also won a silver medal in the team event (Leonard Trophy).
Four years later he won the singles, pairs and team gold medals at the 1976 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Johannesburg. He won 14 of his 15 matches to win the singles ahead of Bob Middleton of Australia and David Bryant of England. In the pairs he partnered Bill Moseley as they won 13 of their 15 matches.
His international success was cut short by 1980 because South Africa had been excluded from competing by the IBB. In 1976 he was invited by the Waratah Club of Australia to compete in a bowls competition and the Australian authorities missed the fact that he was competing as a South African national which was not allowed because of their stance against Apartheid in South Africa.
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