What a wally this writer is…

 

What a wally this writer is- after mentioning all about changing his delivery method, he spent the highest proportion of time at the Distract Championships watching the MEN.

Ladies , oh ladies please, forgive me for my arrogant male chauvinism. The answers I was seeking was THERE with YOU. It was your lovely styles I finally latched onto during mid afternoon on the final day. Simple – easy – no problem – short step out- smooth follow through, job done.  I’ve cracked it, can’t wait now to put it to the test – THANKS girls.

This writer also mentioned about the Southern softies not being able to handle the Northern ruffians at the highest level of the game. Well, I cheered on the WP Lads and Lassies, but alas – twas ever thus in the end. The ladies got close in their final to finish SECOND best in SA, great stuff, and the men did very well to finish THIRD out of the TWENTY Districts.  

But those big boys from up North fought out the final and Eastern Gauteng edged out Johannesburg with a last end, pulsating finish. Marvellous sport.

Yes marvellous it was – question is – why oh blinking why, are we not SELLING the game to the VERY best of our abilities.

The best players in SA were playing at Constantia all week more or less. The Constantia club put on a superb job of entertaing and marshalling (as always) BUT, where was the sign – a big whopping sign at the main entrance telling all who passed, on one of the busiest mains roads in Cape Town – telling potential players – that there was a NATIONAL TOURNAMENT being played there.???

Come on fellow bowlers lets bang the drum – when the circus comes to town they let you know about it. Bowling is no different in my judgement.

Warwick are the largest sponsors of the game by the proverbial mile , all our regional specialists ARE bowlers and talk the talk where ever they go around 18 of the20 bowling Districts, but we can’t be seen to be telling you how to run the show – or can, or should we??

The Nationals are next on the list – get the drums banging, put out your signs – TELL the people.

If the mountain won’t go to Mohamed ——-etc etc.

Competitive South African bowlers, thanks to the national Talent Identification Programme (T- ID) have a yardstick by which to measure progress, skills and consistency and, more importantly, to use T- ID to earn recognition by regularly submitting results.

How does it work? Have a look …

Players MUST submit T- ID results to their DSCC regularly.

 

Once the National Academy is in receipt of T- ID results, players are invited to area camps then progress to regional camps.

Players have sought a transparent, fair process – now it exists.

Minimum requirement are-

• Every quarter, at least two 20/20 exercises per month, plus at least one full T- ID must be submitted. Indeed, some districts have implemented T- ID as a minimum qualification for selection for district squads … a move to be applauded.
• Players may also request T- ID results be submitted to their district liaison coach.

The programme has been issued in booklet format or downloaded from www.bowlssa.co.za. The only change is the final % calculation to reflect 80% draw and 20% attack – the new schedule distributed allows for that.

A good move all round … now it is up to the players.

All Under- 25 interdistricts events run in Bloemfontein April 4- 8’ the Under- 19, with 29 entries has a new- look format. The women’s Under- 25 has 11 entries and a singles section play 3  x 15- end games Monday- Wednesday and two 15- end games on Thursday. The bye in each session will be filled by sit- out teams of both genders clashing in a friendly. The men’s event has 21 entries in two sections which play 3 x 15- end games Monday – Wednesday and 2 x 15 end games on Thursday. Play will be “cross- section” the bye will play the friendly; medal play- offs over 21 ends.

 

BowlsSA president, Debra Ferguson, is to serve on a World Bowls sub- committee to look into board composition and organisation conditions. A review of the board’s structure, members’ terms of office, committees and their roles and responsibilities, review staffing levels and the affiliation fee structure will be covered.

Excellent TV viewing of bowls continues on DSTV with February’s Warwick/Bowls SA Junior Masters being extensively screened. The show premiered bon March 16 serving as a lead up for interviews and action on players in all sections   It proved excellent viewing with sound voice- over and interviews of players. Repeats should be noted in DSTV’s schedule. March 23’s episode features the main contenders’ games with highlights of their runs to the final, while April 6’s show is a run- up to and the women’s final; the entire game and the prize giving of all women’s events; on April 13, the men’s final and prize giving is screened. On April 20/21 all four films will be screened back- to- back in a two- hour package. Several repeats of each 30- minute film are also scheduled. Not to be missed.

 

Results of the Personal Trust/ WPBA Women’s Muter and Black & White Whisky Men’s Flag finals at Goodwood and Glen CC: Division 1:Durbanville B 3 (42) Milnerton A 2 (31); Division 2: Helderberg B  5 (51), Oakdale A 0 (23); Division 3: Winners: Strand B 31 (+99); runners-up Old Oak B 30 (+59); Division 4: Glen CC C 2 (20), Glen CC B 0 (13); Muter Premier Division winners: Durbanville A; runners-up Goodwood A. Flag: Division 1: Helderberg A 5 (54), Stellenbosch van der Stel 2 (51); Division 2: Old Oak A 5 (68), Camps Bay A 2 (53); Division 3: Gordons Bay 4 (62), Pollsmoor A 3 (63); Division 4: Oakdale B 7 (63); Gordons Bay 0 (53); Division 5: Kuilsrivier B 5 (52), Milnerton D 0 (32); Flag Premier League Winners – Edgemead; runners-up: Glen CC.

 

 

 

 

Notices-

• Milnerton- April 25; 9.30am; Leapfrog Milnerton Mixed Trips; R140 a team; 1^st prize R600; 2 x 15; Jenny- 021 551 0979/083 564 4556; Tish- 021 552 4848.
• Pinelands- Witford- Griffiths/Personal Trust Winter Tournament- Sundays am; June 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24; R80 weekly; any format fours- 3 x 7 ends; skins; 1^st prize- R2 400; session prizes; ; Alex Tame- 0825516482/0215314030 / fax 0215315603.
• Black & White Whisky/S West Freedom Day Mixed Trips; am; April  27; 2 X 14;; R90 a team; one graded skip a side; snowball; Pete Sneller- 0218518819/ Lyn Thomas- 0825656871
• S West/Old Mutual All Day Mixed Trips; prizes; March 29; 9am; 3 X 14; R180 a side (eats/lunch) Entry- As above.
• Strand- R8 000 All Night Rinks; 6pm- 6am; April 1; 8 a team; 6 x 12; R1 000 entry fee; (all night coffee; breakfast Sat; braai fires available); dress optional;; Maximum 14 sides; music, dvds, games (snooker, darts) available all night!’ contact- Gerrard Smith 021 854 3068/082 291 6785 ; alomasmith@telkomsa.net Sussie Boonzaier 021 854 7720/076 036 7286; Lena Roux 021 854 4526/083 273 2761; jan.roux@telkomsa.net Marietjie Erasmus- 021 853 8671/084 657 5886’ e- mail- alie@polka.co.za

 

 

Blog – Yes a BLOG

On year marks get set——

On my travels to the far northern regions its always the JHB bowlers that do their best to wind me up.

Stuff like- your southern softy bowlers – all show and fancy dan strutting, but when it comes down to the hard stuff you lack the true grit.

Then continued with – Oh by the way – why do we always go all that way down there to play in the bloody wind and rain.

Now, I’m not qualified to make judgment on the qualities and performance of top bowlers, I’m only a lowly 2^nd at at arguably the best club in SA.

But the rain jibe was out of order – hells bells it’s been in the 30 degrees for the past month with nere a cloud in site.

So, as I wandered off to watch the Men’s Inter District Championships at my club Constantia, I had to chuckle as the heat wave abruptly ended and the NW wind brought in the chilly swirling rain.

Oh dear, it was the lament of every  seaside town landlady – You should have been here LAST week etc etc.

Actually it was quite refreshing to be in the midst of some good refreshing Lancashire weather. Enough of that, although a look at the logs showed the northern ruffians were swarming all over the top places  on the 4th day.

I was there on a mission – not played for ages due to a back injury. I’m going to change  my delivery. The physio had taken one look at how I delivered and declared it as unbelievably stupid in my case. A spine wrecker.   So what to do?

Now then, apart from injury and selectors block , all the best SA players were before me. I should say I am a hybrid of Bobby Cron and Alan Lofthouse in my adopted style, so who should I watch?

Well the Lads from the North are still leading the way so let’s have a gander at them. Wow, have you SEEN these boys – all built like brick sh- – -  and suntanned like conkers. There’s one about my size, Gerry Baker, hey he’s not bad this bloke, in fact blinkin awesome. Look at that delivery – just what the physio recommended – a very short step with the front foot and woops away it goes effortlessly. I jot all this down for future  reference  and practice. I’ve just remembered what my good mate and bowls scribe Alan Simmonds told me. If you want to see a bowler supreme, go and watch Kevin Cambell. So I sat behind the rink and TRIED to work out just HOW he did it – no messing about with taking aim and steadying on the mat etc. Walk up, a little shimmy of the hip, short step, away it goes, absolutely no problem. Didn’t take any notes He is a one off and a joy to watch, leave it at that. One more to look at, now this young lad is a sportsman supreme a natural ball player, Billy Radloff has won his provincial colours at every sport he’s touched. Let see how he delivers – mmmm yes, smooth nice and easy, no big stride, could be the one for me or part of it- must take notes.

That’s enough for now  - it’s down to practice ‘and being patient – who knows?  A 3rd within 6 months ??

It’s the finals  today – I will report back on how the Southern softies fared against the Northern raiders. Oh yes, the Proteas play the Black Caps today in the ODI

 World Cup. No chokers today chaps surely.

And the award for the sporting code in the catergory “simply the best” is…

Hype and razzmatazz circulated in profusion as Exp South Africa was voted the Sports Agency of the Year and received the award for the Best Use of PR in a Sports Campaign for MTN Last Fan Standing, at the inaugural Virgin Active Sports Industry Awards held at Emperor’s Palace in February.

Hang on guys, anyone heard of bowls, or their main sponsor Warwick? Anyone realise we too put on promotions, structure development. Come up with slogans and conduct constructive PR.

Supporting almost 200 clubs nationwide, backing umpteen tournaments, putting millions into national events and offering superb corporate insurance and money management, Warwick deserve a few awards of their own … so does bowls.

Why, not long ago two rounds of drinks were bought in Pofadder Bowling Club to celebrate a new member … the first in five years.

Just joking; Bowls SA attracted 570+ new members in January alone … how many other sports can rival that? We must be doing something right?

By the way, the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards recognises and rewards the best the South African sport business has to offer in categories that covered marketing, PR, sponsorship, media, advertising and design.

Hello, anyone home; what about bowls? We have more members, win more medals, get more TV coverage (now) and cover a greater range of the population (10-100) than any other sport.

And, BowlsSA are going for a “last man (and woman) standing” record as well … when on April 27, 40 000+ bowlers will set a mark for the Guinness Book of Records for the most bowlers on greens (574 in South Africa) ever in the world in an hour

By the way – how about introducing a “Face of the Sponsors” award?

Bowls’ main sponsors’ CEO has film star qualities … much better looking than all those fuddy-duddies and beaming sycophants that win so many useless awards … not Virgin’s awards , of course … perhaps someone is frightened our Ian WOULD win?

Ho hum!

Anyway the annual Virgin ceremony saw the country’s top-performing sport brands and organisations win recognition for their work … well done Exp South Africa which received six nominations.

The campaigns shortlisted ranged from MTN8 Wafa Wafa Football Tournament to Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition to Sports Agency of the Year.

Their CEO, Sandile Ndzekeli dedicated the award “to our clients …and our committed team at Exp, who are passionate about what they do, day in and day out.”

The MTN Last Fan Standing campaign, which saw South African football fan, Thulani Ngcobo win a 38-match 2010 FIFA World Cup experience during which he set a new Guinness World Record for the most number of matches attended by a fan, was conceptualised and managed by Exp on behalf of client, MTN.
“This campaign attracted massive global attention, which generated R32.9-million of media coverage comprising more than 480 print articles in 62 countries and  200 local and international TV and radio interviews  and 1 036 tweets, all off the back of simple PR idea..

How about bowls? 

The national body’s president is a woman; the youngest (there have been only three) in 100+ years of the code’s existence; in place are development schemes, TV shows, PR, media exposure and organisation that might make any pro outfit blink…. all dreamt up and facilitated by an amateur executive, voted in annually by its peers.

Makes you think? It should!

Watch this space

+++

 

With the national media hinting something may be rotten with the state of the national lottery, it might be a good idea if nearer to home, at any rate, bowlers re-direct their loose change.

WPBA president Rom Delport has finally put together a scheme for the “needy” where he can offer a flutter to thousands of Western Cape players plus raise funds to help send WP representative sides away.

Moreover, whatever is left over might further assist in development, propping ailing clubs and re-furbishing the Littler Fund which does so much for those truly in need.

Brandishing a registration certificate from the authorities that a WPBA lottery is legal, Delport is upbeat, hinting that as much as a monthly injection of R50 000 lurks at the bottom of the “destitute” WP bowler’s pockets.

Participation in the WP lottery will be by means of a monthly stop order, or any other legitimate means of payment of any amount in units of R50. Each unit qualifies for a monthly draw, undertaken and supervised by the association’s auditors.

Says Delport: “10% of proceeds will be donated to Handicapped Bowls and another 10% of the amount raised by individual clubs will be credited to them and paid over in quarterly installments.

“I anticipate our administration costs will be relatively low, so prizes will be extremely attractive.

“If we are fully subscribed, monthly prizes to the order of R10 000, R5 000 and possibly two more of R2 500 are envisaged; details will be decided by the committee.”

Since it annually costs in excess of R180 000 to send district teams away, another R100 000 to maintain junior development and another R350 000 to maintain a secretariat and communications team (the best of 20 SA districts), plus day-to-day ancillary expenses, the move may stave off having to go cap-in-hand to present and potential sponsors.

“We are grateful to all our sponsors and urge member to support them by using product and services made available,” says Delport.

The WPCC veteran, who this year is likely to hand over the presidency to Wilhelm Malan (Thornton) , is a former city ombudsman and likes to have things done his way … this time he has truly triumphed.

Now all that is needed is for WP’s bowlers to come to the party … they might remember their support could mean the difference between their club closing and all enjoying an even more vibrant district.

Don’t forget April 27. Help to set a record for the most bowls delivered in an hour nationwide as part of National Bowls Awareness Day. The feat goes into The Guinness Book of Records. Registered and non-registered players, barefoot or not are welcome. Proceeds – R20 a player – go equally to Disabled Bowls SA and Cansa. (Weekend Argus articles; blogs: www//:warwick.com and thebowlsblog.com).

 

Notices:

• Milnerton: April 25; 9.30am; Leapfrog Milnerton Mixed Trips; R140 a team; 1^st prize R600; 2 x 15; Jenny: 021 551 0979/083 564 4556; Tish: 021 552 4848.
• Pinewood: 2-4-2 Mixed Pairs Tournament – Saturdays pm; March 26, April 2, 9, 16; 2 x 11 ends; R30 a pair weekly; teas, prizes; Alex Tame: 0825516482/0215314030 / fax 0215315603.
• Pinelands: Witford-Griffiths/Personal Trust Winter Tournament: Sundays am; June 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24; R80 weekly; any format fours: 3 x 7 ends; skins; 1^st prize: R2 400; session prizes; Contact: As above.
• Black & White Whisky/S West Freedom Day Mixed Trips; am; April  27; 2 X 14;; R90 a team; one graded skip a side; snowball; Pete Sneller: 0218518819/ Lyn Thomas: 0825656871
• S West/Old Mutual All Day Mixed Trips; prizes; March 29; 9am; 3 X 14; R180 a side (eats/lunch) Entry: As above.
• Strand:  R8 000 All Night Rinks; 6pm-6am; April 1; 8 a team; 6 x 12; R1 000 entry fee; (all night coffee; breakfast Sat; braai fires available); dress optional;; Maximum 14 sides; music, dvds, games (snooker, darts) available all night!’ contact: Gerrard Smith 021 854 3068/082 291 6785 ; alomasmith@telkomsa.net Sussie Boonzaier 021 854 7720/076 036 7286; Lena Roux 021 854 4526/083 273 2761; jan.roux@telkomsa.net Marietjie Erasmus: 021 853 8671/084 657 5886’ e-mail: alie@polka.co.za

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