Get a life bowls NZ

What a lot of hogwash; what a cheek. Where was John McArdle or Gary Smith of World Bowls? Like Sepp Blatter of Fifa after the Togo incident at the CAF  shooting in Angola … suddenly speechless.

Now, reports the NZ Herald, New Zealand bowlers …”from humble roll-up levels to the game’s elite, have been left bemused by the saga involving Bowls New Zealand chief executive Kerry Clark and one of the country’s greatest players, Gary Lawson …”

Bowls icons Peter Belliss and Rowan Brassey say what the Lawson four did had happened many times – mainly because of weaknesses in the differential points system used to determine quarter-final places.

Said Bellis: “Players get hammered … winning medals is all-important for gaining funding … it puts them under pressure; obviously teams will look to get the easiest playoff matches.”

What happened in Kuala Lumpur, occurred at the world championships in Christchurch in 2008, when New Zealand “dropped a six” on the last end against Ireland and kept Scotland out.

That episode was grumbled about, but went away.

Brett O’Riley, a former president of the Professional Bowls Association, to which most of NZ’s best players belongs, says compared to issues confronting other major sports, the Kuala Lumpur incident was a minor infraction; he alleges it was handled unprofessionally.

What also bewilders New Zealand’s bowlers is how a personality clash between top administrator, Clark, and best player, Lawson, has been allowed to escalate into a major controversy.

“It’s a huge stuff-up, especially with the Games coming up, because what would have been the nucleus of the team has been affected,” says Brassey.

Work and other social issued, just as in South Africa, have seen playing numbers plummet. Many clubs have folded or been forced into amalgamations; one centre, Counties, has become effectively insolvent.

The struggle of clubs has not been helped by ever-increasing Bowls NZ fees In 2007, $21.44 (About R90) of a player’s annual subscription was siphoned off by the national body; in 2008 about R100 and RR120 in 2009.

The sport has undergone a tough time at every level and in every department – as it has worldwide.

Several top bowlers, who remained anonymous, point out this has happened under 16-yeards of Clark – firstly as chairman, then as chief executive. There is regard for Clark’s acumen and as a Commonwealth Games gold medalist. He’s also esteemed by the country’s main funding agency, Sparc.

But there’s less acclaim for him in bowls circles. It’s unlikely to happen; Belliss says: “We seem to have lost the plot in the last 10 years.”

As a journalist and international player who has faced and used similar opportunities in another code – without recriminations – I think NZ bowls is clueless.  If the format permits manipulation of results the onus is on administrators to plug perceived loopholes, not play catch-up in a ludicrous moralistic exercise and expect everyone to shout, “yes, punish the ‘cheats.’”

After all, do not sport bodies always insist “winning is everything.”

Com on Bowls NZ, get a life.

Editor’s note: Thanks to former Capetonian Peter Louw, who lives with wife Lorraine in New Zealand

The New Zealand Herald published the following:

“New Zealand has suspended national fours skipper Gary Lawson and fined him and his teammates after they were found guilty of throwing an end during an Asia-Pacific championship match in Malaysia last August. But Lawson said he and his teammates intended to appeal against their punishments to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand. The matter should have been dealt with in Malaysia,” he said. Bowls NZ chairman John Carter last month confirmed the decision of the judicial committee finding Lawson, Jamie Hill, Shane Sincock and Shannon McIlroy deliberately lost an end at the Kuala Lumpur tournament. New Zealand, who had already qualified for post-section play, led Thailand 15-12 in their last pool match before conceding a four on the penultimate end and another shot on the last, to lose 17-15. To qualify for post section play, Canada then needed to beat Thailand, but unexpectedly lost. They then protested, which Lawson said was informal, but it was taken to the world controlling body, who  asked Bowls NZ to investigate the allegations. The players were dumped from the national squad and lost their high-performance payments.

• A judicial commission has since fined Lawson $A5 000 (about R20 000) and suspended him for six months; his teammates were each fined $A1 000, but not suspended.

Warwick SA Masters a huge success

The Warwick SA Men’s Masters Championships at Wingate Park Country Club was a sponsor’s dream, a gas.

Southern Free State international Wayne Perry defeated SA No 1 Gerry Baker of Southern Gauteng 21-13 in 23 ends in a repeat of the 2008 men’s final and Tracey-Lee Botha (Central Gauteng) prevailing against Bronwyn Webber (Port Natal 21-9 in 19 ends of the women’s final.

An enthralled full bank of Master bowlers, spectators, officials and dignitaries watched as a feast of finalists strutted their stuff; the light drizzle, abating the 30+ Deg C temperatures, a welcome relief; sectional play had been in hot (as high as 39 Deg/C on the bottom C green)  breezeless conditions.

For any journalist it is almost sad when nothing goes wrong … where’s the story? But tournament convener supremo Jeff Terner did everyone proud – great food, organisation and results service from Elbert Broere; technical officials were tops.

As I munched on my roast beef (I think) at the pre-Masters dinner, all participants were given their bags and badges, hats and handshakes; some Proteas even received caps with their “when they were selected” number on. Best speech of the night came from sponsor Warwick’s witty, but watchful Bill Kilbride… don’t underestimate that one!

Trouble is, most of the women wanted to see Ian Kilbride and asked where “the dish” was.

Well, do you agree with the teams announced by Bowls SA president Debra Ferguson to go to India for an eight-nation tourney in April?

I have nothing to say; but lots of people have.

Now the selectors, it seems, no longer have the final word; assessments rule the day and the coaches’ words are almost law; maybe a good idea?

A quick look at how those selected for New Delhi, fared in sectional play (section position, plus shot difference): Men: Baker (runner-up) 1, +34, Johann du Plessis 8 –36; Wayne Perry 1 (champion), +39; Brian Dixon  3 (bronze) +11; Bobby Donnelly 5, -10; Regan Jacobus 7, -30; Women: Colleen Webb-Piketh 2 (bronze), +39; Helen Grundlingh 3, +7; Santjie Steyn 4, -5; Sylvia Burns 5, -6; Susan Nel 4, level; Brunhilde Roussouw 8, -38..

A whoopsie, or two, perhaps?

The men’s final was a quiet affair; both drawing well. It was 10-10 on the 14^th end, then Baker, normally devastatingly accurate, found his backhand had deserted him; something flame-haired Perry was quick to exploit. Pulling away, Perry had a riposte to anything the former three-time champion tried.

Feisty young Botha, also a gold medalist at the African States, mysteriously named only in Central Gauteng’s B women’s interdistrict side (Central Gauteng president Jacques de Villiers pleaded a surfeit of talent, I and many do not wear that), fell behind 9-2 after nine nervous ends, but Webber, who dominated her section, then fell away completely and failed to bother the scorer again as Botha, 21, drawing and chopping with aplomb, became the youngest women ever to win the title.

The Junior titles went to Zaine Roets (Southern Free State) who beat Shaun Lotter (Central Gauteng) 21-9  (20 ends) and Jacqueline Janse van Rensburg, who beat her friend and teammate Janita du Toit, 21-13  (23 ends) in an all WP final.

The Senior Master women’s title went to the holder, stylish Ellie van Coller (Eastern Gauteng, three silvers and two golds in four years) who downed a game Gail van Nikkelen-Kuyper (Kingfisher) 21-13 (22 ends), while in a repeat of last year’s line-up, tall Mike Marnewick (Sables) turned the tables on Kingfisher’s Eddie Fann who was aiming for a hat-trick of victories, 21-18 (23ends)

Other younger players to shine included fourth-placed man Pierre Breitenbach (North West). Junior champion a year ago, the burly star, already a Protea, led his section for a day and a half, then suffered the agony of losing a bronze medal on shot aggregate to the holder, Brian Dixon Jnr (Eastern Gauteng) 1.111 (52.63%) to 1.1 (52.38%) after each had tied on 4 points and + 11 shots; Cape Town’s WP Masters champion, Shaun Addinall, surely a must for India in October, gained an effortless bronze after time off in a new job.

As Ferguson said at the prize giving: “What talent; let’s hope this transfers to the international scene.”

She and her executive can rest assured, South Africa sounded a message to the world we have depth to seriously impact at the Commonwealth Games and at World Bowls in Australia in 2012.

2010 Warwick SA Masters

The 2010 Warwick South African Masters Championships have passed, and we all came away with a head full of thoughts and impressions.

The venue, Wingate Park Country Club, nestles in a valley of soft undulating hills, south east of Pretoria – soon to be named Tshwane. It leaves you with a lasting impression of a magnificent setting, with the terraced FIVE greens and the equally excellent organization of the event.

The thoughts we retained undoubtedly were centered on the standard of bowling provided by the young players.

Make no mistake fellow bowlers –A wind of change is blowing through our game. Youth has started to make its mark and what a place to show, the top event on the BSA calendar.

The star performer without doubt was Tracy Lee Botha, who at 21 yrs of age became the youngest ever winner of the Open Ladies Championship.

In the Men’s open the younger players pushed their more experienced opponents all the way in their games. Next year maybe – I can’t wait to see it.

It could be my old age – but I’m sure even the seniors looked younger – the ladies definitely did.

Western Province can be very proud of its development policy in providing BOTH the Junior Masters finalists – Winner, Jacqueline Van Rensburg and Janita du Toit played a marvelous game that had the crowd on the edge of their seats to the end. We haven’t heard the last of these two ladies.

Take a bow all you people working on your Development Committees for taking this game forward.

Warwick is proud to be supporting bowling development. The writer had doubts in earlier days with a mind conditioned by bowling elders, not any more. The proof was on the greens of Wingate Park, the seeds planted 5yrs ago are now bearing fruit.

Tribute must also be made to that breed of sportspeople with the most thankless of jobs – yes, the selectors, followed by the coaches. They had the courage to select the younger players and pitch them against the more experienced and in many cases Springbok bowlers.

Bowling should be proud of these people instead of always seemingly criticizing them at the “bar committee” meetings.

On my return to the Cape I was met with some very caustic comments. The subject being the VENUE of the BSA Masters. Where should it be held?

That will have to be debated in another Blog but in the mean time let me have YOUR views on the subject. Don’t be an expert at the bar, make your opinions know to all bowlers. I look forward to hearing from you on – thebowlsblog.com

The Bowls Blog has arrived

At last something bowlers everywhere have been asking for, hoping for … a blog where they read, write, moan and marvel … at Bowls Blog .com

Thanks to the Warwick Group and its innovative and industrious chairman and chief executive, Ian Kilbride, a site is up and running and awaiting bowlers (and of course non-bowlers) anywhere in the world who want to just browse or have their say … or both.

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SA Disability Bowls

Spare a thought for and support the less fortunate – bowlers with disabilities. Some are disabled from birth, others, through accident or debilitating illness, are patronisingly identified and as rapidly forgotten, as “the disabled.”

I look at them as being physically challenged … for want of a better euphemism; but boy can they play.

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