It is only in sitting next to the bowling greens that one could comprehend the talent, the tension and the excitement that the sport of lawn bowls holds.
Especially, when it is at a junior tournament where the energy itself is largely distinct from any other level of competition.
This was especially the case when Bowls South Africa held its Junior Championships from 3-6 April in Bloemfontein. Orangia and Oud Studente bowling clubs hosted the tournament.
The team of Thinus van Zyl (20), Ronan Olivier (18), Johandré Britz (12) and Lezandri Hildebrand (17) was able to climb to the top ranks and achieved a silver medal in the U25’s, an improvement on the bronze medal that North West received in this tournament last year.
This tournament sported a total number of 62 fours-teams within the different U15, U18 and U25 age categories, with players as young as 7 years of age participating.
Families, spectators and managers alike gathered around the greens to support their teams in this, albeit youthful, high level competition. It is remarkable how the sport has evolved, not only in the age of its participants, but also the modernized approach and game plan which had developed over the past years.
Overall, the North West Bowls Association was able to select four teams to represent the province during this tournament and they did not disappoint. Three teams competed in the U25 category and another in the U18 category, some of these players having taken up the sport as recent as last year only.
In the u.25 category, the team of JD Delport (19), Aneska Richter (24), Gus Wainwright (18) and Janlu Myburg (17), with Johan Kruger (18) managed an overall 15th position.
The team of Danhard Rossouw (20), Carma Rossouw (22), David Kapindo (18) and Marné Prinsloo (22), with Christian Brits (18) finished in the 23rd position.
At the U18’s the team of Christiaan de Klerk (17), Arnu de Jager (18), Collin van der Linde (14) and Hope Offor (15) managed to end in the 13th position overall.
These achievements are again testament of the inclusivity of lawn bowls, which knows no boundaries in terms of gender, age and ability.
