Latest news with #bowls
The Herald
03-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Sterley, Korkie, Van der Bank crowned EP Masters champions
The highlight of the Eastern Province bowls calendar played out at the weekend as the prestigious EP Bowls Masters tournament was contested across three categories — open men, open ladies, and, for the first time, U25. The tournament, regarded as the pinnacle of bowls in the province, did not disappoint, delivering nail-biting action and showcasing some of the finest talent in the region. Open Men's Final: Sterley claims third title in epic duel The men's final saw an intense battle between two seasoned competitors, Andrew Sterley and Arthur Langley. In a match filled with precision, strategy, and moments of brilliance, Sterley edged Langley 21-18 to secure his third EP Masters title. Langley, himself a former champion and three-time finalist, pushed Sterley to the limit in a game that could have swung either way. Ultimately, Sterley's consistency in the final few ends earned him the victory and further cemented his legacy in EP bowls history.
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."
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Bowler Bloomfield works on Team Niue selection
Bloomfield follows through with her bowls at the New Zealand Nationals in early January 2025. She won the women's pairs title at the event. Photo: New Zealand Bowls Niue's bowler Olivia Bloomfield is continuing to build her own record and hoping she can still make it back into Team Niue Bowls for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She led her fours team to retain their Queensland State women's fours title at the Sunshine Coast over four-days earlier this month. Bloomfield led her Bowls Gold Coast Tweed team through an unbeaten run at the tournament, which featured a total of 20 district teams. Bloomfield is now looking forward to secure her spot in Team Niue. Queensland Bowls said the Gold Coast Tweed women and men have reigned supreme winning back-to-back Division 1 Titles at Club Maroochy. "In the Women's Division 1, Gold Coast Tweed dominated the event by going through undefeated in nine sectional rounds and all three finals games to secure the Val Woodward Perpetual Shield," it said on their page. "They had a scare in the second finals game, scraping home by two shots over Moreton Bay." Olivia Bloomfield, right, with her Bowls Gold Coast Tweed team after they retained their women's title at the Sunshine Coast on Photo: Supplied Bloomfield, who earlier this year said she wants to make it back to the Niue team for the Commonwealth Games next year, said the competition is one of those she has been preparing for in Australia. The other two are the Queenland State Championships Women's Open pairs event on May 20-22 and then the singles competition, scheduled for May 23-25. "I am excited that I was able to skip our team and we were able to retain our title for the second consecutive year," she said. "Now I move on to the open pairs and singles event next week." She said her aim is to keep consistently performing well, hoping that Niue Bowls will be interested in offering her a spot in their national team. Niue Bowls vice president Catherine Papani had told RNZ Pacific earlier this year that Bloomfield, and others residing outside of the island, can represent Niue at anytime. Apart from having an impressive and consistent record, bowlers must also be financial members of the Niue Bowls Association. Papani said they are open to overseas-based Niueans from representing the country, adding that selection of players for World Bowls competitions requires players to be members of the country's association.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Bolwer Bloomfield works on Team Niue selection
Bloomfield follows through with her bowls at the New Zealand Nationals in early January 2025. She won the women's pairs title at the event. Photo: New Zealand Bowls Niue's bowler Olivia Bloomfield is continuing to build her own record and hoping she can still make it back into Team Niue Bowls for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She led her fours team to retain their Queensland State women's fours title at the Sunshine Coast over four-days earlier this month. Bloomfield led her Bowls Gold Coast Tweed team through an unbeaten run at the tournament, which featured a total of 20 district teams. Bloomfield is now looking forward to secure her spot in Team Niue. Queensland Bowls said the Gold Coast Tweed women and men have reigned supreme winning back-to-back Division 1 Titles at Club Maroochy. "In the Women's Division 1, Gold Coast Tweed dominated the event by going through undefeated in nine sectional rounds and all three finals games to secure the Val Woodward Perpetual Shield," it said on their page. "They had a scare in the second finals game, scraping home by two shots over Moreton Bay." Olivia Bloomfield, right, with her Bowls Gold Coast Tweed team after they retained their women's title at the Sunshine Coast on Photo: Supplied Bloomfield, who earlier this year said she wants to make it back to the Niue team for the Commonwealth Games next year, said the competition is one of those she has been preparing for in Australia. The other two are the Queenland State Championships Women's Open pairs event on May 20-22 and then the singles competition, scheduled for May 23-25. "I am excited that I was able to skip our team and we were able to retain our title for the second consecutive year," she said. "Now I move on to the open pairs and singles event next week." She said her aim is to keep consistently performing well, hoping that Niue Bowls will be interested in offering her a spot in their national team. Niue Bowls vice president Catherine Papani had told RNZ Pacific earlier this year that Bloomfield, and others residing outside of the island, can represent Niue at anytime. Apart from having an impressive and consistent record, bowlers must also be financial members of the Niue Bowls Association. Papani said they are open to overseas-based Niueans from representing the country, adding that selection of players for World Bowls competitions requires players to be members of the country's association.
