your source for WORLDWIDE The Investment Specialists facebook.com/ in the BowlsSouthAfrica news bowling information ® ISSUE 62 - JUNE ‘17 Alan Simmonds Media Officer Bowls South Africa ENTRIES DOWN ALL ROUND BUT There are good years and there are bad years – even for major bowls tournament. This year the Warwick Wealth/Bowls South Africa Women’s Naonal Bowls Championships and its simultaneously run Men’s event, 1 400km away, went without more than a few hiccups. Only major difference was it rained on the boys BGN AND WP in Johannesburg, whereas the sun scorched the girls in Cape Town. MAKE MERRY AT NATIONALS Strange, in fact, since at this me of the year it should have been the other way about. The Western Cape is in the grip of a major drought; not more than four week’s potable water remains in the dams; all incantaons, spells, rain dances and genuine prayers desperately required ASAP. I covered the women’s tournament in Cape Town, so that event will be given major coverage. Most notable fact about both tournaments was another drop in aendance from last year; to be truthful entries were almost in the woeful bracket. I remember playing in the men’s naonals in Pretoria in the late 1980s when 52 secons of 11 teams - more than 2 500 players – competed the fours alone over two weeks. From May 13- 21 this me only 22 secons of six teams – lile more than 500 players spent one week to determine their champions. The women’s event was blighted even more with just 10 secons of six sides - reduced further by late withdrawals - unbelievable. It is a tale of arion to have marred a sport in which South Africa holds its own against the world’s best. Fortunately, Bowls South Africa, realising the impact on the code from a tumbling economy, deaths, security reasons and costs have intervenons in place and the downwards membership spiral has been stemmed. But entry levels to the most popular annual event must be worrying. I would not be surprised if when the hierarchy is renewed and refreshed aer August’s AGM, a complete re-vamp of naonal events, their formats and details is not implemented. SA Women’s Naonal Singles champion Leone du Rand on her way Bowls, represented fully across the South to victory at Durbanville BC JOEL ROEBERT – bronze medallist in the Singles runner-up, Elma Davis Protea Pierre Breitenbach and Carl Smit naonal singles – silver in the men’s pairs he lost 21-20 to the eventual champion Talking about entries I wonder what gets into I heard also of an amazing piece of African community spectrum is a healthy the mind of over-bureaucrac officials? One administrave bungling from the men’s integrated sport and in spite of misplaced instance I know of first hand (there were championships. mumbles from an expected, idenfiable others) was a couple of up-country top class disgruntled few, is an example of good players asked if they could be late entries into A singles play-off match was put on a green at management thinking and forward-going. the singles at a certain club. The greens were 4,35pm – a doubul decision since dusk falls wide open, secons suffered from double early on the Highveld in May. Lo and behold, With the Commonwealth Games approaching, byes, so there was ample space. the game ran out of light, so officials decided one might have thought those in with a should to move the players to a floodlit green. would be eager to strut their stuff before the Their request was refused and then, to cap it eagle-eyed selectors. No so. Many leading all, a local woman on the bank was later given Naturally one player (in the lead) objected, as players were notable by their absence; the permission to take part. I am not dispung the would have I, signed the card and walked off – men’s results in parcular showing many new laws, just ask for consistency and common good for him. faces on the podiums. sense. Says Kallie Haupt, president of Bowls South Africa, whose term of office ends aer a competent, incumbency: “As usual it was top class bowling, this me from unexpected sources, but it was disappoinng for entries to be so sparse. While I am pleased with membership trends, nevertheless we must devise ways to aract players to the naonal tournaments. Travel costs, me, leave taken and accommodaon expenses must be measured carefully against the entertainment factor. Bowls SA will look Protea Sylvia Byrnes and Anita Groenewald (Edgemead BC, WP) naonal pairs champions, closely at the naonals in parcular.” le, with runners-up, Sue Tarr and Liee Jordaan-Van Zyl (Harlequins, Gauteng North) “The camaraderie and excellence connues, but the depth of compeon must be re- invigorated.” Down by the seaside the ladies made merry; but many champions were missing; even Colleen Piketh flied in as a late entry (more about that later), lost and flied out again. The thrilling Esmé Haley did not play, neither did the top Sables ladies such as Proteas Susan Nel, Rika Lynn, didn’t see Tracy-Lee Botha, nor the Boland whizz kids such as Anneke Snyman and several promising younger players. Perhaps Bowls SA might consider re-scheduling naonal events to, where possible, coincide with school and university holidays to allow those keen enough to play and in turn if they Wilson Malobolo and skip Protea Morgan are from a bowl-playing family thereby induce Muvhango (The Nest, KZN) Winners of the Men’s naonal singles champion more to enter? mens pairs Wayne Rimuller (Stella Park BC, Port Natal) The rules make it clear that a match unable to be finished for any reason must be completed on the same rink at another appropriate opportunity. What on earth were the powers that be thinking about? Sport should be fairly contested and not be subjected to the vagaries of officials seeking to complete a draw by any means. Back down south I enjoyed vising the host clubs. Durbanville was a superb HQ. Good greens, excellent catering and facilies, the club president Garth Johnson and the tournament commiee convenor Jan Venter worked relessly as did technical officials, Men’s naonal fours champions: Bernadus van de Spuy, Francois Koen, (skip), scorers, markers and flipboard operators. It Tommie Jamie, Jaco du Preez ( Wingate Park CC, BGN) was pleasing to see old faces watching daily, especially former world champion legendary Jo Peacock, sll slim and trim. Women’s naonal fours finalist: Gordons Bay (le) vs Durbanville some superb touch stretched to 20-10 (19th In a bright match, the SA Pairs was won end). Davis, not unexpectedly, fought back to comfortably by Edgemeads Anita Groenewald 20-15; twice then the champion lay game, and Protea Sylvia Burns (21-8) from able Sue twice Davis played with verve and skill to save, Tarr and former Limpopo player sprightly but it was too lile too late. Liee Jordaan-Van Zyl (Harlequins, Gauteng North) in 20 ends. The winners always led, Eventually the Harlequins player, who also with Byrnes laying a solid foundaon. Tarr, skipped her fours to a semi-final bronze medal never one to shrink a challenge, was soon on LEGENDARY: Jo Peacock and who will represent SA in the World the drive and did in fact create several Constana and Edgemead, Plumstead, Champion of Champions event in Australia turnovers, but with Groenewald also in fine Somerset West, Oakdale, WPCC and Milnerton next year, secured victory with a superb display form a deluge of bowls sealed the Northern all contributed. of drawing bowls, to be warmly congratulated Gauteng pair’s fate. by a terrific opponent. In the end, Western Province and Gauteng To the delight of the local aficionados, the North shared the spoils when the Four finals were fought out on one green; the fours was an all-Cape Town affair. championships concluded triumphantly at sun beaming down on a windless day. Durbanville Bowls Club. The match was decided early, going to the 2017 All Cape Champions, Maggie van Zyl, Before a good bank the coveted naonal René Swanepoel, Lydia Maritz, Margarethe women’s singles tle went to a resurgent Thomas, playing on their home green, who former internaonal Leone du Rand defeated Marina Brink, Trysie Jute, Rona (Harlequins BC, Gauteng North) who Grobler, Helen Gordon (Gordons Bay) 24-12 triumphed 21-15 in a hard-fought 24-end (20 ends) aer leading 19-3 aer 12 ends. superb tussle over Protea Elma Davis (George BC, Eden). Van Zyl, an Inter Districts skip and certainly moving up, may find her reward in green and Davis, who had been SA’s toured force at World gold sooner rather than later. But her team Bowls in New Zealand earlier this year, is as they was most competent and although Senior say, “no easy baby” as her illustrious record Masters mulple medals winner Brink toiled; shows. But try as hard as she could, twice it was in vain. saving with her last bowl when her opponent lay game, eventually had to bow at the knee. The Senior Singles (60+) was a nail-bing event between two former world champions, Du Rand, hailed as a prodigy 15 years ago, producing wonderful heads. dropped out, but returned two seasons ago. This me the le-hander, with a sweet delivery Playing mostly three-quarter length, cool, and great composure had to be at her best. classy Loraine Victor (Wingate Park CC, Gauteng North), edged WPCC’s world star Aer the pair peeled 7-7 (9th end) and 9-9 Men’s Senior Singles Winner: Trish Young 21-18 aer 26 thrilling ends, the (13th end), Du Rand took control and with Richard Haupt (Linden BC, JBA) Northern Gauteng player holding sway - in delighul Nici Neal the Rand Lease (Sables) Protea was queen.