GETTING THE NEW TALENT ROLLING IN
THE Port Natal novice singles competition in progress at Durban Bowling Club has highlighted the importance of clubs initiating their own lawn bowls promotion strategies and subsequently expanding these into development programmes to include regular coaching for identified talent.
The success of 14-year-old Esti Shore (pictured) has drawn attention to how this policy pays dividends at personal, club and district levels. Following in dad Rob’s footsteps at Stella Park Bowling Club, Esti started playing the game two-and-a-half years ago and was identified as a talent by her club.
Encouraged by coaches Stuart Milligan and Steve Maree, she put in hours of practice to perfect her delivery, line and weight control and has been rewarded with selection into the Under-20 district side to compete in Bloemfontein later this year.
The youngster also made her mark in the district novice singles competition by eliminating her older opposition and progressing to the knockout round involving the top 16 women this Saturday.
Another example of how talent identification and encouragement through a development programme benefits all stakeholders was clearly evident in last Saturday’s game between Charles Krog from Westville Country Club and Troy Garland from Wentworth Bowling Club. Applying skills and strategies worthy of master bowlers, the novices had spectators gasping in awe and applauding in respect as they took turns to draw the almost impossible shot or remove their opposition’s shot bowl to claim the end.
Every supporter and observer walked away with the knowledge that talent of the calibre demonstrated during the morning’s play augers well for the game of lawn bowls.
Clubs need to work towards eliminating the image that lawn bowls is a slow, tedious game played by old folk wearing white by exposing the local community to fun days involving exciting, vibrant games. Direction can be garnered from The Bowls South Africa Guidelines to Bowls Development which is available on their website http://www.bowlssa.co.za