It’s not played nearly enough and in consequence does not give those who wish to specialise in the discipline the chance to achieve.

Singles, and more particularly Masters singles, is the highest achievable accolade in bowls, surprising because it is seldom played as a major competition. It should not be so and bowlers should be given more opportunities to prove themselves at it.

In two  major districts that becomes a reality this weekend. Johannesburg Bowls Association (JBA) and Eastern Gauteng Bowls (EGB) are making a feature of  singles  tomorrow and Sunday at their annual Masters tournaments.

The JBA event will be held at Wanderers and Morningside while EGB stage theirs at Edenvale and Kempton Park.

In both cases the open events are at the first and the seniors play at the other venue.

If I were closer to the venues this weekend I would most certainly head for the bowls feast to be enjoyed at the Wanderers where 10 past or current international players will be vying for the titles in the men’s and women’s events.

Much interest will centre on the 2009, 2011 and 2012 national singles champion Esme Steyn in the women’s event but she can expect more than token resistance from South Africa’s young star and two-time national Masters champion Tracy-Lee Botha while the long lasting Pam Landau could surely be the thorn in the side of the other two.

That’s in the B Section. In the A draw another stalwart of South African bowls, Sharon Glenn, is still there pounding the greens and the match between her and another former national singles Master, Colleen Piketh (formerly Webb), should be one of the highlights.

There are five Proteas playing in the men’s competition. Gerry Baker, Jason Evans, Bobby Donnelly, Duanne Abrahams, and JBA newcomer – but no stranger to the top echelon of bowls – Wayne Perry, join seven other chosen bowlers in this contest.

With Baker, Evans and Perry in one section to fight a three-way battle, Donnelly and Abrahams could well count themselves lucky that they could have only one another to stop to have a chance of playing in the final.

Meanwhile, the senior players – those over 60 – will play for their coveted title and the roll call reads like a who’s-who of Gauteng bowls.

Among the men Lewis Klopper, John Ravenscroft, Garry van Rensburg, Neil Carroll, Barry Ireland and Mike Redshaw will be sure to provide exciting bowls while among the ladies, look for Jacqui Atkinson, Brenda Webb, Rose Vermeulen, Win Bonthuys, Jenny Smith and Lynn McKinnon for a possible winner.

 Men Open Section A: G Baker, T Botha, J Evans, T Mazaris, W Perry and P Nelounde.

Men Open Section B: D Abrahams, R Donnelly, J Franks, G Gatti, B Kassel, J Pieterse.

Women Open Section A: S Glenn, T Meyeridricks, H Pembroke, C Piketh, R Tingle, J Janse van Rensburg.

Women Open Section B: T-L Botha, T Herrington, P Landau, C Rossouw, E Steyn, L van den Berg.

Men Seniors: B Elliot, S Friedman, G Gobbo, L Klopper, J Ravenscroft, G van Rensburg. Section B: N Carroll, O Fine, M Finlayson, B Ireland, M Redshaw, I Wilkinson.

Women Seniors Section A: W Bonthuys, G Carris, G Gebhard, L McKinnon, J Smith, K Venter.

Women Seniors Section B: J Atkinson, C Dryburgh, O Maguire, D Palmer, R Vermeulen, B Webb

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IF the fare served up at the Wanderers and Morningside is not to your taste then take a look at what’s going on at Edenvale and Kempton Park when EGB stage their Masters events.

There should be just as much excitement and good play as may be seen at the Wanderers.

Among the names for the men’s event is that of BJ Dixon, for some time the lost soul of EGB bowls but now back in full swing and ready to add another district title to his already awesome haul

Men: G Rees-Gibbs, T Oelofse, M Lewis, T de Scally, C Behrens, A Barrow, G May, M Esmonde-White, BJ Dixon, B Harrison, W Ferguson, S Moriarty.

Senior Men: J Leddra, T Gerber, P Ferreira, R Turton, M Parr, J Drysdale, A van der Muller, B Dixon, D Scholes, A Gibson, J Holmes and T Daley.

Women: E Gerber, E van Coller, R van Eeden, L Dixon, S Jordan, V Ferreira, D Nepgen, W Richardson, CA Mills, C Glanfield, J Coetser and D du Preez.

Women Seniors: G Brown, L Bruton, S Buncombe, A Gibson, P Swanepoel, A Mazaka, M Cousins, A Johnstone, S Balios.

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BOWLS South Africa could well be showing their hand in announcing the  team to play Namibia in a Test series in Windhoek in October.

The names look suspiciously like those to play in World Bowls in Adelaide, Australia in November and early December.

Women: Tracy-Lee Botha, Sylvia Burns, Susan Nel, Colleen Piketh and Santjie Steyn.

Men: Gerry Baker, Bobby Donnelly, Wayne Perry, Clinton Roets and Gidion Vermeulen.

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AT the same time, a South African senior side will play Namibia.

 Women: Ellen Cawker, Wilna McLachlan, Rea Potgieter, Ellie van Coller, Loraine Victor.


 Men: Eddie Fann, Lewis Klopper, Kerry Kyriacou, Daniel Loubser and Mike Marnewick.

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ALSO at the same time Bowls South Africa  have announced the names of the Disability Bowls South Africa team to play in the International Blind Bowls Association championships at Worthing in England in July next year.

B1: Tracy Smith (Tommy Smith), Michiel Kruger (Willie Schoeman).

B2: Gwen Nel (Geoff Newcombe), Jaco van Straaten (Johan du Toit). B3: May Homer (Paul Homer), Herman Scholtz (Annetjie van Rooyen). B4: Princess Schroeder (Graham Ward), Eben Fourie (Hannetjie Smith)