Bowls club ladies green with envy over men’s right to wear shorts
IT’S a gentle sport where participants can compete on equal terms, whatever their gender or age.
But it seems that in flat green bowls equality doesn’t extend to the dress code.
The game has been hit by claims of sexism after officials ruled that men are now allowed to wear shorts when they take to the manicured greens – but women aren’t.
A rule change came into effect in April, at the start of the summer season, which states that men can wear ‘ white or cream trousers’ or switch to ‘tailored shorts’ if they prefer.
But women must wear pleated skirts or dresses, bowling trousers or cropped trousers but do not have the option of shorts.
The rules even dictate what sort of underwear they should sport, namely ‘white or cream undergarments’.
The rules apply to those taking part in intercounty association matches and national championships. Men are allowed to wear grey trousers or shorts in other matches but women are not allowed to wear shorts in any circumstances.
For men and women the outfit must be completed with other approved garments, including tops, socks and blazers.
The English Bowling Federation and the English Women’s Bowling Federation said yesterday that if anyone requested introducing the option of shorts for ladies it would be considered at the annual general meeting in November.
But members said men and women should have automatically been given equal treatment.
One Suffolk female bowler said: ‘It is blatant sexism. I’ve been playing bowls for 15 years. It is a fantastic game but it can be so antiquated. I absolutely want to wear shorts. ‘When it was first announced that shorts would be added to the game, lots of women I know bought pairs of shorts, only to be told at the start of the season that they are for men only. ‘In other countries, men and women get to wear shorts of the brightest colours and, closer to home, female golf players can wear shorts, so why should bowls players be any different?’ Lisa Simpson, women’s secretary for Cleveland, said a ‘ common sense’ approach should have been adopted to promote equality in men’s and women’s dress codes. She added: ‘I know a few of the ladies would like to wear shorts as well. I think it should be brought in for women.’ John Calver, secretary of the California Bowls Club in Ipswich, said there was a lot of solidarity among men towards the women’s dismay. He also warned that the sport needed to appeal to the younger generation to survive. ‘I’m sure ladies would appreciate the choice rather than being dictated upon,’ he said.
‘Many of our players are husband and wife teams and I’m sure the husbands would like to see their wives allowed to wear what they wish. Sadly there are some Victorians in the bowls world who are very old-fashioned and stuck in their ways.’
The revised rules were voted through at the last AGM in November. Flat green bowls has different rules from crown green bowls and in crown green bowls there is a rise in the centre of the green.
Carole Swan, 60, president of the women’s federation, said she was ‘not personally concerned about it, but some are’.
She said: ‘To date, no lady member of a club has put forward a proposal for ladies to wear shorts. The men did and it got passed at the last AGM. So it’s not a ban – it’s just there has been no proposal.’
Any such proposal would have to come through the member’s club and be put forward by the county executive.
Mick Rayson, 71, president of the men’s federation, said he was not aware of any complaints.
‘The rules covering dress code are separate between men and women,’ he said. ‘The women set their own dress code and the men set theirs.
‘The EBF voted at the last AGM to allow the wearing of shorts. The ladies didn’t vote on that because they’ve got their own agenda.’
Mr Rayson added: ‘We are looking at a generational thing here. But we have to move on at the end of the day.
‘The days of wearing trilby hats and ties are long gone, although that used to be the dress code. Things are more relaxed now.’
‘Old-fashioned and stuck in their ways’