Scottburgh’s 55th August bowling tournament
There will be excitement and drama (and the bowls will change ends more rapidly than a Blue Bulls – Sharks game, and there may be more points scored!)
THIS year’s competition began on Monday, August 4, with registration at various venues in the local area, depending the location where the first games were to be played, and this could be at Amanzimtoti, AMBC (Umdoni Village), Sezela, Umkomaas and Winklespruit, or of course Scottburgh.
The rules and the conditions of play are detailed in the booklet “Scottburgh Bowling Club – August Tournament”, which are issued to each team on registration. The competition comprises two games of 21 ends, each day (Monday to Thursday) and an 18-end game on Friday morning.
The teams have been grouped into different sections and all teams within a section will play each other. The nature of the competition takes each section to different venue every day, so that practically no teams will play at the same venue twice. This year there are some 60 women’s teams and 58 men’s teams taking part, so there has been quite a lot of ‘heavy planning’ behind the scenes at all the local bowling clubs.
We would like to thank all those at our neighbouring bowling clubs for the effort and commitment that has been made to ensure that this competition is a success, so to those on the organising committees at these clubs, we extend our appreciation for your considerable help.
This year, some minor changes have been made to the number of prizes awarded, so that a daily prize for the team with the best ‘shot-difference’ will be allocated. It has also been decided that no team can win more than one prize, so that the prize-giving on the Friday afternoon will take some sorting out.
It is hoped that all teams will return to the Scottburgh Bowling Club on Friday afternoon for the-prize giving ceremony and to meet up with friends that you have seen on a regular basis over the years at this event.
Now that all the plans have been made there really is only one more thing to say, and that’s “send down the jack” and “good bowling, everyone”.
HISTORY OF THE AUGUST TOURNAMENT
THE August Tournament started in 1959, largely as an incentive to attract bowlers and visitors to the town of Scottburgh and the surrounding area in the off-season. The town was much smaller then but it boasted five hotels, which competed for business and for the visitors to the area.
The competition attracted the country’s top class players and participants came from as far afield as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and many inland bowling clubs. The number of teams competing was originally set at 60 women’s and 60 men’s teams and it was largely by invitation only.
The tournament was a resounding success and the Scottburgh Club grew as many people became interested in the area. At one time, the membership of SBC grew to 400 players.
An additional 24 teams were added to the tournament number, so that the maximum number of teams competing was set at 84 (both sections). In recent years the number of participating teams has dwindled slightly, due to the high costs of travel and accommodation. Nevertheless this year the club is pleased to record that, at the 55th August Tournament there are 60 women’s teams and 58 men’s teams.
There are bowlers that have represented South Africa or have been provincial or district players and we are pleased to note that this year there are 23 women veteran and 17 men veteran players in the lineup.
Arranging the tournament is a daunting task and the responsibility falls to a special Tournament Committee. The teams are subjected to an ‘open draw’, but every effort is made to ensure that teams from a common district do not play together, to try to ensure ‘inland clubs’ play against ‘coastal clubs’ as a basis for the tournament.
The total number of teams is divided into five or six ‘sections’ corresponding to the six participating venues (AMBC, Amanzimtoti, Sezela, Scottburgh, Umkomaas and Winklespruit). The teams in any one section play against each other, but at different venues on different days.
On the last day of the tournament all players usually return to the Scottburgh Club house for the announcement of the winners and the prize-giving. Prizes are awarded to both the top women’s teams and the top men’s teams. And this year the team with the best shot difference per day is also going to be rewarded with a prize.
In order to publicise the sport and to attract any new ‘blood’ into the sport, there is an open invitation to any members of the public wishing to know more about the game to come and see how it is played. There will be excitement and drama (and the bowls will change ends more rapidly than a Blue Bulls – Sharks game, and there may be more points scored!). An hour or two watching this fascinating game could change your whole life!
So if you’re tired of watching a sport and want to become part of the ‘team’, feel free to come join us and watch the great bowling spectacle that is now a well known event on the South African calendar, at the Scottburgh August Tournament.
