Bedfordview Country Club hosts bowling tournament

The Bowls SA Perfect Delivery Inter-Districts Open showcased high-level competition, with clubs battling it out for top honours from March 10 to 14.

Hosted by the Bedfordview Country Club Bowls (BCC Bowls), the tournament featured men’s, women’s, veterans and B teams competitions.

Western Province Bowls won the opens in the women’s category, walking away with the gold medal.

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The Johannesburg Bowls Association took home the silver, and Eden Bowls and Port Natal Bowls earned bronze medals.

For the men, the Johannesburg Bowls Association won the gold, Western Province Bowls took silver and Eden Bowls and Bowls Gauteng North earned bronze.

Bowls SA president David Hamer said, “We move our events annually to a different area, and clubs must bid for the privilege of hosting.

“This year, Johannesburg was the chosen location, and it’s been fantastic to see the teams compete at such a high level in this city,” said Hamer.

He praised the tournament organisers. “The tournament has gone well. The Johannesburg president can be proud of the committee that ran the event.

“Though we had rain, the outcome of that was well accepted, and the teams performed exceptionally well. The standard of the bowls is high,” he added.

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Hamer also applauded the association for having their men’s and ladies’ teams make it to the finals.

“The club has fantastic facilities. Johannesburg can be proud of their facilities, and everybody complimented us on our facilities, so thank you very much as well,” stated Hamer.

For Rob Zimmermann, the president of the Johannesburg Bowls Association, they went into finals as the defending champions.

“We had tough competition in the final matchups but were confident in our team’s ability. High-calibre players were involved, with several professionals and experienced bowlers elevating the competition’s intensity.

“With some of the sport’s finest players competing, including several Protea bowlers, the stakes have been high,” said Zimmermann.

The tournament took place in four venues, including the Belgravia Bowling Club and in Morningside, with the finals at BCC Bowls.

“Bowls are traditionally an old man’s sport. However, this year, we saw several quite young players play the game. We have some good black players coming up, which is great,” said Zimmermann.

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The tournament was also a developmental platform for younger players, focusing on youth involvement.

“We have school learners playing in the tournament, and many will soon head to nationals in Bloemfontein.

“For young players, bowls is more than just a game; it helps with concentration and mindfulness. It’s like chess on the grass, requiring precision and strategy. It’s a game that can teach life skills,” he explained.