Latest news with #SianHonnor
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It's vital we get more people playing bowls'
Bowls players across the South East are calling for a renewed push to attract younger members, warning the sport's future depends on it. Sian Honnor, from Herne Bay, a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Bowls England board member, said: "If clubs don't have younger people coming through, then what happens when nature takes its course? "It's vital that we do everything we can to attract people of all ages." More than 800 clubs across the UK are taking part in Bowls' Big Weekend, running over the bank holiday, offering free sessions and open days to encourage newcomers to try the sport. Ms Honnor, who began playing aged seven, said bowls was still battling a reputation problem. "It's still trying to break down barriers," she said. She believes one of the biggest obstacles is simply awareness. "If children don't know about bowls it's because they haven't stumbled across it yet," she said. "If you have got a club that's got younger members, then it will automatically attract younger members." Surrey under-25s player Ben Morgan, 18, was introduced to the sport at a club open day at the age of 14. He said people were "quite surprised" when they found out he played. "Most people haven't even heard of it," he said. "It's just known as an old person's game." He plays at Addlestone Victory Park Bowls Club and wants to see clubs doing more to reach younger audiences, particularly online. "I always feel like whenever clubs want more people, they're never advertising – or when they are, it's not in the right way to get younger people." Jonathan Doust, chair of Gildredge Park Bowls Club in Eastbourne and a board member at Bowls England, agreed that image was a barrier. "There's an incorrect perception that it's a bit of a boring game," he said. "There's no logical reason why young people wouldn't play – it's a sport for any age, any physique, and both boys and girls can play together or in separate competitions." Ms Honnor, who plays for Appleyard Bowls Club in Sittingbourne, said bowls offers something for everyone – whether social or competitive. "There's something for everybody. You can go down for a drink, have a meal, have a match meet new people." Or, she said, like her, you can play in a "whole variety of competitions". Mr Doust said watching young people compete, particularly at national level, revealed a very different side of the game. "There could be a lot of noise, a lot of cheering, real competition, nail-biting stuff. "It can be as lively as any sport, but people don't see that." He said the South East was "one of the centres of bowling nationally", but more needed to be done to build connections between clubs and schools – including getting the sport into PE lessons. Despite challenges, Mr Doust said participation was rising and he remained optimistic, adding: "It's not a dying sport." He said the sport had seen a growth in the last three years. "I have utter belief that it's going to continue to thrive," he said. "I think bowls has got a very rosy future." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. 'I flourished playing bowls after a stroke at 47' 'Closing bowling greens would come at a cost to our health' The decorator aiming to become world bowls champion Bowls' Big Weekend Bowls England
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
South East bowls players encourage others to join the sport
Bowls players across the South East are calling for a renewed push to attract younger members, warning the sport's future depends on Honnor, from Herne Bay, a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Bowls England board member, said: "If clubs don't have younger people coming through, then what happens when nature takes its course?"It's vital that we do everything we can to attract people of all ages."More than 800 clubs across the UK are taking part in Bowls' Big Weekend, running over the bank holiday, offering free sessions and open days to encourage newcomers to try the sport. Ms Honnor, who began playing aged seven, said bowls was still battling a reputation problem."It's still trying to break down barriers," she believes one of the biggest obstacles is simply awareness."If children don't know about bowls it's because they haven't stumbled across it yet," she said."If you have got a club that's got younger members, then it will automatically attract younger members." 'An old person's game' Surrey under-25s player Ben Morgan, 18, was introduced to the sport at a club open day at the age of 14. He said people were "quite surprised" when they found out he played."Most people haven't even heard of it," he said. "It's just known as an old person's game."He plays at Addlestone Victory Park Bowls Club and wants to see clubs doing more to reach younger audiences, particularly online."I always feel like whenever clubs want more people, they're never advertising – or when they are, it's not in the right way to get younger people." Jonathan Doust, chair of Gildredge Park Bowls Club in Eastbourne and a board member at Bowls England, agreed that image was a barrier."There's an incorrect perception that it's a bit of a boring game," he said. "There's no logical reason why young people wouldn't play – it's a sport for any age, any physique, and both boys and girls can play together or in separate competitions." Ms Honnor, who plays for Appleyard Bowls Club in Sittingbourne, said bowls offers something for everyone – whether social or competitive."There's something for everybody. You can go down for a drink, have a meal, have a match meet new people."Or, she said, like her, you can play in a "whole variety of competitions". Mr Doust said watching young people compete, particularly at national level, revealed a very different side of the game."There could be a lot of noise, a lot of cheering, real competition, nail-biting stuff. "It can be as lively as any sport, but people don't see that." He said the South East was "one of the centres of bowling nationally", but more needed to be done to build connections between clubs and schools – including getting the sport into PE lessons. 'Very rosy future' Despite challenges, Mr Doust said participation was rising and he remained optimistic, adding: "It's not a dying sport."He said the sport had seen a growth in the last three years."I have utter belief that it's going to continue to thrive," he said. "I think bowls has got a very rosy future."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Worcestershire clubs to host Bowls' Big Weekend
12 WORCESTERSHIRE clubs are among more than 800 who have signed up to get 20,000 people playing bowls across the nation. Bowls' Big Weekend is returning for its fifth year and is set to be the biggest yet, with a record-breaking amount of clubs signed up to take part. Taking place on the weekend of May 23-26, the annual national event is designed to introduce more people to the sport of bowls, with clubs nationwide opening their doors for the bank holiday weekend, offering free taster sessions available to all ages and abilities. The weekend creates a welcoming atmosphere for returning players or those totally new to the game, but also offers a free day out for families. Bowls' Big Weekend is organised by Bowls England, in partnership with Aviva, and is aiming to introduce 20,000 new people to the sport this year. Bowls' Big Weekend has become a staple event in the bowls' calendar, with 129 of the clubs having signed up every year so far. Since its introduction of the weekend more than 60,000 people have registered with their local clubs to take part. Bowls is an accessible sport that offers a place of community, particularly for those with low mobility to maintain a level of physical activity. Cancer Research UK is collaborating with the event this year to help support the game that has been a lifeline for many going through cancer treatment. Sian Honnor, four-time Commonwealth medallist and Bowls England board member, said: "Bowls has so much to offer as a sport, it really is something that everyone can get involved in. "Bowls' Big Weekend is always a brilliant weekend to showcase what our sport has to offer. "People should definitely get down to their local clubs and give bowls a go, and who knows, we might uncover some future talent for the England squad." Participation sign-ups are now open for the weekend with a list of all the clubs taking part available to help find your closest club. To find your nearest club and sign up, visit:
