Ferndale Bowls Club bowler honoured by JBA

Queen of the green, Esme Haley has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership by the Johannesburg Bowls Association (JBA).

Haley of the Ferndale Bowls Club recently won the prestigious South African ladies masters bowls championships which qualified her to participate in the world championships.

She began playing bowls at a late age and went on to have a huge and long-lasting impact on the game. After demonstrating an immediate affinity for bowls and climbing the success ladder with aplomb, she was awarded national colours. She has continued to shine, serving as the benchmark for which all players in today’s game strive.

She explained that she started when she was 43 years old because she was involved with other sports. She was inspired by a fun day she went and played in.

“I thought I played well and I enjoyed it, that is why I took it up. Receiving national colours for the first time was an incredible achievement because I was not expecting to get anywhere close to that. The fact that I’m competitive and loved the sport just means I keep on going because I love to play.”

She holds a national record of winning: singles, pairs, fours in multiple South African masters, winner of multiple gold medals at the African States and Commonwealth Games.

“Holding a national record is like ‘wow I am number one in the country’ it’s just awesome and I am very proud.”

With a district record that will be difficult to emulate, she remains the perfect role model of player etiquette both on and off the green.

Haley encourages people especially youngsters to consider the bowls world.

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