Charles Levy of Port Natal is the one while the other two districts – Johannesburg and Western Province – have none.

The other six come  from districts whose bowls population is less than the big three whose membership makes up 30% of the   28 036 registered players.

Eastern Province, North West, Northern Cape, Sables, Eastern Gauteng and Kingfisher are the others. But I do think there is also a flaw in the way these people – four of them – will take a chair on the Bowls South Africa board on August 26.

Obviously, if all goes according to the book, the two delegates from each of the 20 districts will carry with them a mandate on which candidates they will vote for.

This will have been decided at either the district’s annual meeting where clubs discuss the nominations, or by the district’s executive acting without  the knowledge of their members. It seems the latter prevails.

However, this all  hypothetical that is part of a perfect world and should not be paid too much regard. People, whoever they may be, are easily swayed by the hype when the spin doctors get busy and it not impossible that a carefully planted word here or there changes one’s attitude.

Take this for instance. At the “bosberaad” held the day before the Bowls South Africa annual meeting, each of these candidates are going to have a chance to address the delegates and plead their case. That’s where  the slip comes twixt cup and lip.

One of them stands and makes a brilliant presentation impressing the congregation. One district delegate looks at his or her fellow delegate and says: “We don’t have this guy on our mandate. We need this one.” And so a ballot paper is changed contrary to the wishes of their own district.

Don’t say it doesn’t happen. It does. And it will again. The ballot is secret and no one will know how you voted, right?

What’s needed is a process where the decision taken by a district executive is in the hands of the national secretary well before the annual meeting.

Having now had a sight of the motions to be put to the Bowls SA annual meeting, I do hope that some of them are withdrawn beforehand,  particularly the long diatribe filling three pages of the annual report about the inter-districts and the numerous suggestions on how to change the procedure.
There are others that vex and which we might discuss later, but before that meeting. Not that we’ll really sway the vote.

qqq

JOHANNESBURG Bowls was given a tremendous fillip this week when the news came out that Wayne Perry, bowls international and winner of umpteen national and local events, had joined the Wanderers club.
Perry has moved to Egoli to continue his career and will now grace the  Johannesburg greens. His arrival comes at a good time for the second biggest district in the country as the word is that there will be a couple of places available in their Open team following some possible “retirements” soon.

qqq
JOHN Falconer may not be at the helm of the Delville-Germiston trips this year or in the future but he is still very active.

On Sunday August 12  he is organising a day of bowls – two games of fours – for all sportsmen and women who may have been active in any sport between the late 1950s and early 1970s – or even later if you wish.

Falconer, who calls that period the “Golden Age” of sport in South Africa, feels there are many ex-players and competitors in any sport from that time who may be interested in playing bowls and this informal gathering at Delville will be a perfect opportunity to get people interested in the game.

Call John Falconer on 072-202-8555 or Clive Hancock on 079-840-3566 for details. The cost is only R20 per player for the whole day and includes teas.

qqq
WE were sorry to hear of the death  of Les Rafferty this week. According to a circular from Bowls South Africa he was a past president and life member and secretary of the Southern Transvaal Bowling Association (now Johannesburg Bowls).

Bowls SA added: “He served bowls with distinction and his contribution to our sport over many years was appreciated by all who benefitted from his experience.”

qqq
SPONSORS play such an important part in bowls and they are revered and supported by all. So it was yet another shock to hear that Black & White had decided to no  longer support bowls.

While one can understand they must have their own reasons for this, it must be recorded that the whisky distributors will be sorely missed.

As sponsors of the annual Black & White All Transvaal tournament and the recent All Cape in Cape Town, they added considerably to the enjoyment of the game. They will be missed.