Sometimes a good tich is just too good

In sport, biggest is not always best. Ask former Formula 1 midget Jean Alesi; ask Lester Piggott, jockey supremo for 45 years; how about all the great scrum-halves rugby has scrummed for, ask double Grand Slam legend Rod Laver, boxer “Baby” Jake and what about Diego Maradonna and the world’s best gymnasts? Not exactly a collection of giants? Now add Trish Steyn of WPCC.

She’s easily “lost” in a field of corn; I have even seen taller rhubarb. But put her on a bowling green and she stand taller than most.

I suppose to label her a singles only expert is unfair; she’s deadly at any discipline. But put four bowls in her bag and let her loose on a green and her opponents often end up as startled rabbits.

She’s been playing only since 1986; the first four years were formative (she won only eight events!; one at singles.

Since then at every level from district through to world champion class, she has won 16 singles events and been runner-up or secured a bronze medal in another 14. Four big singles events she lost by a shot when looking all over the champion.

And if you add in the 60 other trophies accumulated you see why she is one of that special breed that plays well when alone and planning her strategy.

Unsurprisingly she is brainy. An MBA and a senior post with a UCT post graduate programme expresses the skill, dedication and acumen required to become a world champion.

Let her take you through it all:

“Of all my victories none was more pleasing was beating Judy Howatt (then the world’s top singles player) of New Zealand in Hermanus in

1996 which I think attracted the attention of the SA selectors because I was then chosen to play in an emerging side against Zimbabwe in Harare later that year.

My biggest regret is that I was selected to play singles for South Africa only once (what comes from having to accommodate Lorna Smith, nee Trigwell and Lesly Hartwell) and that was in the African States tournament in Kenya in 2004 when I won the gold medal and was voted Player of the Tournament.

“In my opinion, a really good singles player has to have the ability to get their first two bowls close which is why you usually find that outstanding leads achieve in singles.

“It’s a lonely, thinking game requiring total concentration so necessary attributes are a blinkered approach and an ability not to be easily distracted or rattled.

“It’s a game best suited to introverts, but having said that, you do get the exceptional extrovert – Lorna, who succeeds.

“The best training for a singles player is leading – as I previous mentioned, those first two bowls are vitally important – you must put pressure on your opponent from the start and there’s nothing like nailing the jack with your first bowl to send shivers down your opponent’s spine.

“But, in singles, you also need all the shots – pound on, chop and lie, drive but the draw to the white ball whether it be on the ditch, on the strings, a short, medium or long head is the number one weapon in the singles player’s armoury; if you haven’t got anything between the ears, forget it!

“A never-say-die approach is another must – I dread to think how many times I’ve won games after being really down and out for the count!

“I often hear so-called knowledgeable selectors dismiss players because they are shine with only four bowls so are not suited to the two-bowl game.

“Even today I am still considered by some as only a four-bowl player – which sadly is such a short sighted attitude because everyone is better with four bowls, but successful four-bowl players can draw which makes them ideal candidates for the front rank – desperately sought by WP.

“As far as training is concerned, when I know I have a big singles competition coming up, I tend to practice the 20/20 exercise used by Bowls SA for the TID.

“I also like playing to jacks at different lengths, off centre and drawing to the ditch.

“Trailing the jack can be a huge shot maker so I also practice that – last year in the WP Masters final I was three shots down, but trailed the cat to lie a full house – Cheryl couldn’t get close so there was a turnaround of seven shots.

“I will also play practice singles games against anyone who will play me, good or bad.

“Fitness is also an important aspect often ignored by singles players and bowlers in general. As we all know, games can go on and if a player tires, concentration levels drop.

“I subscribe to Dr Doug Coughlan’s view that players experience burn-out so once the WP fixture list is published, I plan my campaign for the season. As it so happens, I have been unable to play in the trips and fours because of weekend work commitments, but I have played in the 5’s just to keep the competitive edge (we won our section and are into the play-offs on Saturday

“2011 is going to be a heavy year because, apart from the WP Singles, Muter, Pairs, Mixed Pairs, Sevens and, hopefully, the Champion of Champions, there’s also the SA Masters, SA Nationals and maybe the SA Mixed Pairs, so careful planning is essential to maintain fitness, form and sharpness. In the meantime, it’s just a case of rolling-up three times a week after work and on Saturday mornings to get the muscles going and keep everything ticking over nicely.

“There have been many tough matches along the way. I always think of the first time I played in the SA Masters (in 1997 at Edenvale) and my opening game was against Carmen Anderson of Norfolk Island who had just won the World title at Leamington Spa beating the hot favourite, Wendy Line of England. Once I had got over a very bad case of the collywobbles, I realised that she wasn’t happy on short ends and although it wasn’t easy, I managed to win.

“Actually, in that tournament it was definitely a case of ignorance is bliss (the cream of South African bowls was there but what did I know?) because I actually reached the finals and played Hester Bekker for the gold. I came second but gave her a fright by doing what I do best, drawing.

“The late, great Evie Chiat, who couldn’t be at Edenvale, actually wrote out notes for me which I still have and often haul out (very dog-eared now) when I’m in need of inspiration.

“You will recall that the next Masters was played at Hermanus and I won gold by beating Sharon Glen, always a tough cookie. We had some great games.

“Colleen Webb (now Piketh) is always a very tricky customer as she has all the shots – in fact, I personally think she should be playing singles for South Africa. Helen Grundlingh reminds me of a Jack Russell terrier; classy, she works hard at her game, her assessments are always good, but there’s something goes awry when it comes to the crunch – maybe she needs some injection of BMT all top singles players needs.

“I don’t think there is anyone I really hate to play as I see them all as a challenge – I just have to ferret out their weaknesses and play to my strengths. Fortunately, I had a very good grounding in my early years at Camps Bay – to win the singles there you had to get past the cream of SA and WP bowls, Evie, Joyce Gould, Madeleine Smorenburg, Joan Harris, Carol McKay, and Ruth Castles!

“But bowls is a bit like childbirth, you forget the pain after a while!”

Singles – the loneliest game in town?

It is said the toughest athletics crown to win is the shortest – the 100m. It is described, probably with reason, as the loneliest race, both in preparation and from the moment the starter orders “take your marks.”

Bowls singles specialists are likened to that rare breed and I asked some of South Africa’s finest about their views, their records and why they liked to play singles.

Lorna Smith (Trigwell), a former world No 1, international medals, three Warwick/SA Singles crowns and three Warwick/SA Masters champion and all district singles crowns; now re-married and living in Scotland. There this year she won four out of five locals singles events; Champion of Champions, District, East of Scotland and Masters and national runner-up.

Lornski, as she is affectionately known is a tough cookie. She has a great smile and plenty of nerves at times, but when push comes to shove also has plenty of moxie.

Essentially a superb skip and back-ranker, nevertheless, Bowls SA and its coaches and selectors recognised her talent and sensed she preferred the solitude – something she denies to this day.

When asked he kept fit, the great athlete Daley Thompson once said: “I trust in My Maker, my gifts and moderate training,” Lorna says, however:

“Dedication, belief, match temperament, confidence, concentration and lots of practice – at least two hours a day, five times a week,” is my recipe for success.

Her toughest opponent was always World No 1 for a decade Margaret Johnston of Ireland; yet I watched Lorna clobber her twice in as many days in Durban in a Test match series – through sheer determination.

“I actually prefer the comfort of a team, our gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia was a celebration of the human spirit, but I guess singles does take something special, luckily I seemed to have what it takes.

You bet!

The once enfant terrible of the men’s game is a scrawny, argumentative, bright young man from KwaZulu Natal, with a corkscrew action, an arm like a rapier and the accuracy of a striking cobra – Bruce Makkink Twice an SA Masters champion and twice SA Singles gold medalist; twice champion at his District Masters; four times All-Natal Singles; four times District Singles; District Handicap Singles titleholder and a winner of the PBA World Indoor Qualifier Singles.

Let him tell you about singles:

“This is the loneliest discipline in the game of bowls and requires a mindset that is strong with an ability to constantly remain calm and focused and not to give in when it seems as if things are just not going your way.

“Oftentimes, when your opponent is on the brink of winning (needing the one or two shots to grab the game) the will to fight and concentrate that much harder can result in a big come back.

“I have a saying which I constantly repeat during singles matches ‘…You’ve done it before, you can do it again …’

“Having won a number of singles from 1987, I have found a number of my opponents tended to “lift” their games when playing against me – they clearly got great satisfaction (as well they should) from beating a ‘recognised’ player.

“But, here’s the difference…..I will reflect on my game and analyse where things went wrong; was my timing not good (too heavy or short), poor shot selection, not playing the correct line, over-confidence – this last item is probably the underlying reason for most upsets in singles matches.

“My opponents, on the other hand, will in many instances believe because they’ve beaten a recognised player they have won the event – instead of re-focusing and thinking about their next game to ensure that their minds are prepared for their next opponent.

“”Yes, there is pressure and certainly the nerves take a lot of strain; but this isn’t a bad thing as far as I’m concerned – it shows a sense of humility by recognising you are not unbeatable so you have to be at your best. At the same time it is important to accept that when you have been beaten, that you accept the defeat “graciously” and in moving forward and after self-assessing the mistakes made in your previous game are corrected.

“I do a lot of mental preparation, many days before I start a singles competition and then I make an effort to try and maintain this level of mental intensity. I have a book Mind in Sport which I regularly read as a means of preparing myself mentally. It is not about bowls, but gives one great mental principles that can be applied to bowls…..the God-given talent coupled to the mental preparation will in most cases result in success.

“Along with the mental preparation, I put in a lot of time practicing…..probably two to three hours a day. I also plan my practice sessions…..one day I’ll focus on short ends, then long ends, etc. I’ll only play backhand/forehand. Other practice sessions will be the trail, running shot or drive (probably the weakest shot in my arsenal). I will also have singles matches against certain club members….often this is the last two days of my practice schedule. Scores are kept and again, play is analysed after completing the game(s).

“There are no regrets agonies that come to mind when I reflect on games that I lost. I recognise and accept that on the day, my opponent played better and it is simply unfair to take that accolade/achievement away from them. I must just ensure that the next time we compete against each other, the result is reversed. I did, however, face a situation once where I felt that my opponent “robbed” me of a game, but I am so much more aware now (particularly against players who regularly rely on the heavy shot) and this situation will not happen again.

“During play, I constantly look at the scoreboard, not to see what the score is, but to try and assess what scoring shots were played by my opponent…..was it a running shot, forehand/backhand, short/medium/long end and then I look at my scoring shots and compare these to my opponent and then decide that what I need to do…..Do I play short ends (with/without the mat up)….perhaps I need to “kill” my opponents stronger hand, etc. – it’s quite amazing how quick the mind can assess information and then put into action the decisions…..and then of course, also constantly reminding myself “You’ve done it before, you can do it again.”

“No specific player comes to mind whom I don’t like to play against….you know the game is just so fantastic and to be given the ability and opportunity to play against some of the best players in the country is in itself so very gratifying!!! I enjoy the challenge of pitting my skills against my opponents. I also get such great satisfaction from just being on the green and being able to play this phenomenal game.

“My most memorable game was when I played Neil Burkett in the final of the 1998 SA Masters at Helderberg.

“The wind blew a gale and we were playing the best of 3 sets, with the score at one set each, I was 7-5 up in the final set, lying 2, but with Neil to play his last bowl. He had a shot on for game (trail the jack 1m) for a full house. When Neil let his bowl go, there was no doubt in my mind that he had played the perfect shot, but then all of a sudden, with his bowl half way down the rink, the wind picked up speed…..he missed the jack and I had won the SA Masters.

“I was then selected for the 1998 Commonwealth Games; the rest is history.

To be continued ….

Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes (who guards the custodians of the gate)

I wonder if those who are just getting back into the swing of things at their clubs have thought about how they will behave this new season.

With the shortage of members, “old hands” certainly cannot afford to frighten off prospective newies with a curt word, dismissive hand or a complete snub.

The problem of old skips and thirds refusing to step down and make way for those aspiring to be exactly where the incumbents wrongfully remain, persists at many clubs; committees are either part of the system or refuse to do anything for fear of “upsetting influential members or benefactors.”

My good friend Peter Louw in New Zealand sent me a cruel joke regarding skips; I present it to you below:

“Some folk were having a practice rollup when a chap with four dogs arrived at the club.

After some time he was asked if he played the game, to which he replied

No, but the dogs do

This brought some laughter from the players, but he insisted that they did.

“Let them show you” he said instructing his leaping fox terrier to get on the mat.

The dog got its nose behind the bowl, sent it down the green and produced a toucher on the jack.

Then it was the smart spaniel’s turn.

Smoothly It trailed the jack away from the toucher.

Next came a fine black Labrador, who with a drive put the jack in the ditch.

The sleek Alsatian didn’t move.

When asked what the Alsatian was going to do, the reply was:

 

“He does nothing, he’s the skip; he just sits on the bank and whines.”

Maybe a bit far-fetched, but I am sure you get the message.

Club committees must supervise their list of players with care. Old skips (nothing wrong with them physically or mentally perhaps) must be asked for the good of the club to move down.

Trouble is, many refuse or threaten to resign their membership.

My tip to those clubs: Let them go.

If you want new members and your clubs to grow you must allow the up-and-coming to thrive.

After all, the best looking roses every summer are those which have been carefully pruned the spring before.

I asked an aspiring provincial player how she got on at her club.

She told me (she asked to remain anonymous) that whenever she thought she’s was about to be promoted to the back rank, some selector or other, already in that position, came up with an excuse …. You’re doing fine; next season, or not quite ready yet; or we are grooming you for great things etc.

That is simply unacceptable.

If committee members, selected by their peers to ensure fairness and club success behave that way it is they that should be remover from office.

On the basis of they (the selectors) being the custodians of the sides, it is up to the club president and the executive to be those who need to watch the “custodians.”

It is hard enough to attract new players to this wonderful game without, to boot, aggravating those with talent, to give up through sheer exasperation.

True good players know when it is time to make way and to put back by guiding those on their way up … it is killjoys, the selfish and those who have done so little with their livers that the vicarious thrill of being a skip is just too much to relinquish.

Humbug, say I.