Question: how do you convince people that Lawn Bowling is
not just a boring game for old codgers to pass a Sunday afternoon?
Answer: get them to try it out.
Well that’s exactly what the Malaga Lawn Bowling community
did at the 2011 Over 50s Show, Estepona and what a smash hit it proved to be,
with over 60 potential bowlers “having a go” and signing up for free drink &
lessons at one of the 10 clubs in Malaga province.
Did we plant a 40 x 40 m bowling green in the grounds of
the impressive Palacio de Congresos? No we obtained a 14.5 m. Short Mat, rounded
up a large enthusiastic group of experienced bowlers from clubs along the coast
and waited for the visitors to arrive. And arrive they did in their droves, with
queues of keen participants at the peak times. Completely new bowlers were
offered basic coaching and prizes were awarded to the best performers.
A courtesy glass of wine was offered to all participants.
Many of the eager participants came from the other
exhibitors, including Suzan Davenport & Marie Thomson from the Costa del Sol
News, Liz Parry from Sur in English and the irrepressible Hannah Murray & Allan
Tee from Talk Radio Europe.
John Muldoon, Director Lawn Bowls Spain, travelled from
Southern Alicante to represent the Spanish Bowling Federation.
Credits must go to John Low, the Show Organiser, for
allocating the considerable space required for the bowling mat, Sheila Graveling
for originally suggesting the idea of the bowling community participation in the
Show, Mike & Judy Old for supervising the project, Greengauge Surfaces, for
supplying the Short Mat & John Morse from Almijara Bowls Club
Nerja, who also kindly agreed to
loan a Short Mat. Finally, the worthy, volunteers including: Mick & Judy Old,
Barry Pemberton, Mick & Lin Jones, Tony & Frances Farmer, Grant & Carol Frost,
Derek Carr, Dave & Hilary Chandler, John & Shirley Owen, Paco, Graham & Rosie
Jamieson, John & Olga Carr, Debbie Martin, Isabella Neilson, Tony & Ros Wright,
Susan Walker, Alan Turner, Hughie Holgate, Janice lvil, Sheila Graveling.
