23/04/2007 - John Haigh - The Federation

We have during the last few months had contributions from officers who are closely involved with the Federation promoting the organisation and what the benefits to the Spanish bowler could be.  Tony Winterton has even negotiated a deal with Madrid for a corporate fee of 20? against the normal membership fee of 32?.  The outcome from the information I have seen is that whilst we have 3600 bowlers in Spain only just under a 1000 feel it worthwhile joining the Federation. The breakdown is approx 135 in the Costa del Sol, 350 in Almeria and about 500 in the Costa Blanca.  The Federation is the governing body for Spanish bowls and whilst it is a legal requirement for the club to join it is not a requirement for a club member.  So what are the benefits of joining the Federation?    In the Costa Blanca a federated member can enter the annual Federated National Championships, Inter Provincial games, Kings Cup, Copa Comminidad Cup and Linslade Cup.  A proposal in the Costa del Sol is for clubs to have "Open Tournaments" where only federated members may enter - so much for open!   Elspeth Marlow and Tony Winterton have put forward very constructive and sensible reasons for joining yet the response to their advice has been poor.  The number of bowlers entering the Spanish Federated Nationals Championships this year has decreased considerable and will continue to do so in 2008 if the nationals are held in the Costa del Sol.  The real problem for many bowlers is one of the financial cost and many bowlers are on fixed incomes so for the foreseeable future I cannot see the federation numbers increasing unless of course the Championships are held in Torrevieja.

Why do we need a Federation at club level?  In the Costa Blanca we have the Costa Blanca Bowls Association (CBBA) and the South Alicante Bowls Association (SABA) who both effectively provide sufficient opportunities for bowling competition.  The Federation Committee as I have already mentioned introduced the Kings Cup, Copa Communidad Cup and the Linslade Cup which have all been in existence for a number of years. They were originally introduced so that people who joined the Federation had something more than just the Federated National Championships for the monies they paid.  So why do bowlers decline the opportunity of joining the Federation?  Perhaps a reason is misunderstanding the benefits?   Or is the reason simply a question of "value for money"? The Federation offers no protection for an individual federated member if they have unjustly and in many cases illegally been treated by their club.  Remember legally your club is federated yet the individuals running the club may not be members of the Federation a real crazy situation!  Clubs through ignorance or just a believe that they can do what they want fail to take cognisance of their legal responsibilities and more importantly the legal rights of an individual under the Spanish Constitution, Human Rights Act and  Modelo de Deportivos.  These legal responsibilities apparently are of no concern to the Federation nationally or locally - so why join an organisation that has no power or more disturbingly no interest in situations where their members have been discriminated against.  Perhaps the time is right to introduce a Spanish Bowlers Association (SBA) similar to the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) in the UK that would look out for the interests of bowlers.  Perhaps the Spanish National Executive for Lawn bowls should introduce an appeals committee that could revue situations involving suspension or in some cases when members are banned from membership of their club?

Barry Latham, the Assistant Director for Bowling, recounts a conversation he had with a fellow bowler is his letter about the Federation and similarly I also had a conversation with a fellow bowler.   He told me how his belief in this wonderful game of bowls had diminished some what by the actions of his "dedicated band of organisers" in the form of his bowls committee who had turned his life upside down.   His "grave offence" that necessitated a three month suspension was to complain about the time it took to get a cup of coffee!!!  He lives alone and now has the inconvenience of added travelling time and financial expense to play bowls - THAT is unfortunately Barry what sometimes bowling in Spain is all about.