South East bowls players motivate others to sign up with the sport
Jacob Panons BBC News, South East< img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8445/live/0cdb6500-37f7-11f0-b03d-23713b9a6cf0.jpg.webp"alt=" Getty Images A woman with dark hair bound in a bun smiling at the video camera. She is holding up a gold Commonwealth Games medal to her mouth.
“/ > Getty Images Sian Honnor has actually won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in the sport Bowls players across the South East are requiring a renewed push to draw in more youthful members, cautioning the sport’s future depends on it.Sian Honnor, from Herne Bay, a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Bowls England board member, stated:”If clubs don’t have younger people coming through, then what occurs when nature takes its course?”
It’s vital that we do everything we can to draw in people of any ages.”More than 800 clubs throughout the UK are participating in Bowls’ Huge Weekend, running over the bank holiday, offering free sessions and open days to motivate newcomers to try the sport.Ms Honnor
, who began playing aged seven, stated bowls was still battling a reputation problem.
“It’s still trying to break down barriers,” she said.She thinks one of the greatest challenges is merely awareness.”If kids do not learn about bowls it’s because they have not stumbled across it yet,”she said.”If you have got a club that’s got more youthful members, then it will instantly draw in more youthful members. “‘An old person’s game’Surrey under-25s player Ben Morgan, 18, was presented
to the sport at a club open
day at the age of 14. He said individuals were” rather stunned”when they learnt he played.”Many people have not even heard of
it,”he said. “It’s just known as an old individual’s game.
“He dips into Addlestone Triumph Park Bowls Club and wishes to see clubs doing more to reach younger audiences,
particularly online.”I always seem like whenever clubs desire more individuals, they’re never marketing– or when they are, it’s not in the proper way to get younger individuals.” Amanda Morgan Mr Morgan plays for Surrey’s under-25s group Jonathan Doust, chair of Gildredge Park Bowls Club in Eastbourne and a board member at Bowls England, agreed that image was a barrier.
“There’s an incorrect perception that it’s a bit of a dull game,” he said.
“There’s no logical reason young people wouldn’t play– it’s a sport for any age, any body, and both kids and girls can play together or in separate competitions.”
Ms Honnor, who plays for Appleyard Bowls Club in Sittingbourne, said bowls offers something for everyone– whether social or competitive.
“There’s something for everybody. You can go down for a drink, eat, have a match fulfill brand-new individuals.”
Or, she stated, like her, you can play in a “entire variety of competitions”.
Mr Doust stated seeing youths contend, particularly at nationwide level, revealed an extremely various side of the game.
“There could be a great deal of noise, a lot of cheering, real competition, nail-biting stuff.
“It can be as vibrant as any sport, however individuals do not see that.”
Craig McKernon Mr Doust is a board member at Bowls England He said the South East was”one of the centres of bowling nationally”, however more needed to be done to build connections between clubs and schools– consisting of getting the sport into PE lessons.
‘Extremely rosy future’Despite obstacles, Mr Doust said involvement was increasing and he remained optimistic, adding:” It’s not a dying sport. “He stated the sport had seen a development in the last three years.”I have utter belief that it’s going
to continue to prosper,”he said.”I believe bowls has actually got an extremely rosy future.”