Bill Gibb chats to professional ten-pin bowler Verity Crawley
Bill Gibb chats to professional ten-pin bowler Verity Crawley.
VERITY CRAWLEY remembers clearly the time she first set foot on a ten-pin bowling lane.
She was just five and had gone with her parents to pick up her older brother from a birthday party at the centre.
He was keen to keep playing, so Verity ended up staying on at a youth bowling club session.
It led to them going along each Saturday morning – and it started her on a path to a remarkable career.
Now aged twenty-six, Verity is Britain’s only female professional ten-pin bowler, one of the top 10 in the world, and she competes in prestigious televised tournaments all over America.
“My brother, Oliver, is five years older than me and I must have had a competitiveness as I always pushed myself to be good enough to play against him,” Verity says.
“I really enjoyed playing, and when I won tournaments it was lovely to stand on a podium and get trophies.”
Verity’s talent was spotted, and at eleven she was selected to be part of a Team England training programme and later to represent them internationally.
“I’m so grateful to my parents, as they’d be taking me somewhere in the UK to train or compete almost every weekend,” Verity explains.
“It got to the point my friends stopped asking if I was free.”
Verity says she still lacked confidence and never imagined bowling was something she could have a career in.
She was all set to study social work at Winchester University when medalwinning triumph at an event in Denmark brought her to the attention of American colleges.
“That changed everything,” Verity says.
“Within months I was at a university in Florida, studying on a bowling scholarship.
“Bowlers I spoke to here said I’d always regret it if I didn’t go, and I’m so glad I made the move.
“I spent four years competing against other universities all over America and won three national championships.
“After graduating I took the plunge to go professional. In my very first event I made the TV show, and that gave me the fire and drive to continue, feeling that I could compete with the best.
“My biggest goal is to be a world champion.”
Verity has spent the past four years taking part in Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) events.
With a shorter season than men’s events, it can be tough to earn a living, and she worked part-time as a college bowling coach.
“I left that last year so I could fully follow my dream as a professional to compete all over the world,” Verity explains.
While many have enjoyed an occasional social evening bowling, making it to the very top like Verity is something else altogether.
“Bowling is very technical and you study the balls and the lanes and the oils on the lanes,” Verity says.
“The more knowledge you have – on top of the technique and fundamentals – the more of an advantage you have in hitting your mark time and time again.”
Physical prowess also comes into it, and Verity works hard to build up the all-over strength required.
“I can be throwing a fifteen-pound ball down a lane repeatedly for over thirty games,” Verity says.
“The endurance of bowling for eight hours is huge, and you need massive core and leg strength, as well as the arm, of course.”
All the restrictions over travelling and competing in the past year put Verity’s plans temporarily on hold, so she returned to her parents’ home in Bournemouth.
But even there her drive to be the best came to the fore – with the help of rugs and a stuffed toy as a target.
“Even though I am classed as an elite athlete, the bowling centres were closed,” Verity adds.
“So my mum set up a bowling lane in the hallway! I was in everyone’s way, but they didn’t mind as they were happy just to see me train.” ■