The Dellville Bowling Club was abuzz with excitement on March 8 as young bowlers from the Ekurhuleni Junior District hosted a fundraiser ahead of the upcoming National Bowls tournament.

This year, the Ekurhuleni District will field four junior teams for the Junior National Bowls tournament in Bloemfontein.

Johann Strauss (21) will be skipping for the U25s district team at the Junior National Bowls tournament.

Struass, a member of the Heidelberg Bowling Club league team, made his debut for the EKB U25 side in 2024 and was also included in the U35 squad in 2025.

In celebration of this milestone and in honour of Johann’s late grandfather and namesake, Johann Strauss, former CEO and director of Suikerbosrand Makelaars/Brokers, the company sponsored the district kit bags for both U25 EKB Junior teams.

“Suikerbosrand Makelaars/Brokers doesn’t only invest in the most popular sports, but also supports the finer and more nuanced ones,” said Johann.

Previously, the company sponsored team attire for the jukskei team from Laerskool Tienie Vorster in Nigel, reflecting their belief that lesser-known sports deserve the same recognition and support as mainstream ones.

Lawn bowls, often mischaracterised as an “old man’s sport,” has evolved in recent years, attracting younger players, a trend clearly reflected in the Junior National Bowls tournament.

Some might also recognise this from playing in the very popular Heidelberg Bowling Club Business League, not only a platform for social networking but also an environment that fosters healthy competition.

Thanks to Suikerbosrand Makelaars/Brokers, the U25 EKB teams are now outfitted with state-of-the-art district kit bags and are ready to showcase their skills in Bloemfontein.