Bowls: A Penny for your thoughts
The Firwood Sports Club hopes to increase the number of women who play for its bowls section.
AFTER eight years of playing bowls, Penny Krauspe’s passion for the sport has only continued to grow and has encouraged residents to sign up and take part.
The 49-year-old initially played for the New Germany Bowls Club, but wanted to be closer to her twin sister, Cindy Roos, and hasn’t looked back since she donned her new team’s colours.
“I must be honest,” she said “Bowls is truly the only sport I have ever played. But with this sport, it just seems to fit with me,” she smiled.
She met her husband at the Brakpan drive-in and, while she can’t remember the movei that was screening at the time, she described meeting him for the first time as ‘unforgettable’.
For their first date the duo met up at a bar called Jugs in Johannesburg on 10 March 1990. Fast forward one and a half years, he proposed and shared their wedding vows a short while later.
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Kraupse chose to drop out of nursing studies after a year and chose to rather build a family.
“I was more interested in getting married and having children,” she giggled. “I would now describe myself as a house wife with hobbies. I am so blessed to have a husband that affords me the opportunity to not have to work so I can enjoy my hobbies, one of which is bowls.”
She has since taken up the title of the ladies competition secretary at the club and invites other women to join in on the sport.
“Bowls used to be a men’s only sport and then women started joining. The problem is that it’s still seen as a men’s sport. Everyone is always welcome and we would absolutely love to have more women join the team,” said a determined Kraupse. “It’s a very social game and it gives me an opportunity to fit in some exercise!”
In the past 12 months Kraupse said she has lost a large amount of weight and it was due to playing bowls and mowing the lawn. “Those are the two physical activities that I do. I remember coming back to the club last year when we were allowed to and people didn’t even recognise me!” she laughed.
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“Even with me being so big, it was a sport I could do. The thing with bowls its that it does not have a weight limit. It’s exercise, yes, but gentle exercise. It also has no age limit,” she said. “I am by no means a great bowler, but I thoroughly enjoy each time I head onto the greens. I do bowl to win, but if I don’t, it also doesn’t really matter.”
She is at the pitch each Tuesdays and Thursday and again on Saturday and Sunday. “League is coming up and I need all of the practice I can get,” she chided.
“I think that everyone needs to try it. The people here are so friendly and they will encourage you as you play,” she said.
Outside of the greens, Kraupse is an avid knitter and set herself a personal goal to knit 100 jerseys for charity during the had lockdown last year. She kicked off in Mark and by the time South Africa hit level 4 lockdown she handed over all of her knitted goodies to be distributed to local charities across the greater Durban area.
To join the club or to try your hand at the sport, contact the Firwood Sports Club on 031 708 3472 or email firwoodsportsclub@gmail.com
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
