Well did you ever?
The first of two “Christmas blogs” are designed to make you smile; a chance to reflect on life’s absurdities…
“Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities, has the power to make you commit injustices” … Voltaire
Well I never!!
I honestly never ever thought that I would be reporting the item of news that has just been sent to me.
But before I divulge it perhaps we should go back a few years, in fact we should go to the beginning of the present Century.
That was the year I was introduced to bowling in South Africa. I had played the harder game of Crown Green bowls in NW England – but we won’t go into that again.
Bowls at school level
With talks between Bowls SA and the Ministry of Education stalled on bowls as a schools’ curriculum sporting option, Helderberg’s Paul Cohen decided to go it alone in March. He has met with amazing success.
Recipient of a WP Merit Badge, Cohen had already devoted personal time, money and expertise into successfully managing his U-19 men’s flock to national glory, now he has instigated, unofficially (but with WPBA acquiescence) a thriving schools bowls nursery in which 60 youngsters regularly compete.
New Season
The season opened yesterday and already this morning the men’s and women’s trips are in full cry across the Peninsula. Mind you, entries are not that great, the women’s field in particular, but the enthusiasm will be there.
With interventions in place to try to ensure WP pays its way, bowlers must heed the call to arms and enter district events … the income is vital to assisting the running of the parent body and in particular sending out representative sides to far-flung venues … costing about R160 000 this time.
Ranking System
Bowls seldom has a satisfactory ranking system. Yes, at world level there is some sort of points system for singles. Indeed, our own star Lorna Smith (formerly Trigwell) became No1 without ever winning the event, doing enough to accumulate sufficient ranking points. In Britain there’s some of ranking system and in Australia the cognoscenti seem to know their No1.
BSA’s new administration
At last, Province has decent representation at national level … not unreasonable for the biggest, most progressive and best run district. Sergio Martinengo (Constantia) effortlessly has been elected to the national executive; new BSA president Debra Ferguson has lost little time in assigning the former multi-national CEO to the finance portfolio.
WP Season
The new WP bowls season began with the usual opening day razzmatazz; this time at WPCC, with newly-elected president Ron Delport as host. It was a balmy day, great turnout and a host of past presidents and life members sipped tea … as the Cobras won at cricket and the rugby guys got trashed. Well done to Malmesbury for making the trip … and for WPCC for putting on a wonderful afternoon of treats and surprises.
