Bowls: Bowled over by youthful fervour

Sep 28 2007 by Peter Guy, Liverpool Daily Post

IF ever a sport was in need of a makeover – it’s crown green bowls. With labour clubs struggling for membership and sought after land being sold off to property developers, Merseyside’s bowling head honchos have taken it upon themselves to revitalise a much-loved fading English sport.

One such veteran of the Merseyside scene is Keith Clemson who, with a group of other dedicated officials, have been scouring the region for budding young bowlers.

Having organised an assortment of taster sessions in Knowsley, Prescot and Huyton during the summer months, Keith has recently visited Liverpool primary and secondary schools to introduce the sport to potential players.

“It has been hard to get kids to take up the sport – perhaps because the profile of the game is not as high as the more obvious sports like football, rugby and cricket – so we’re taking it to them and showing them what a great game it is,” said Keith, who is secretary and treasurer of the Sefton Bowling League.

“We’ve managed to set up numerous days across Merseyside and the results have been fantastic,” he added. “The children really enjoyed themselves – and quite often parents have even got involved too. We’ve been unlucky with the weather, but overall it has been a roaring success.”

Keith took up his position in 2006 after the death of one of the sport’s key figures in Merseyside, Charlie Kennett.

Kennett oversaw the running of the Sefton & District Bowling League, which began in the 1920s attracting member clubs from Crosby to Aigburth, while also holding the position of Merseyside County junior secretary, encouraging juniors of all ages to get involved.

Keith commented: “Charlie was a huge loss to bowling on Merseyside and he is a hard act to follow. But we’re hoping by holding these taster days that we can inject some much-needed youth back into the sport.”

Thus far their dedication has won through with numerous Merseyside clubs setting up their own junior sections or seeing an influx of new potential talent all with the same goal – challenging for honours this season.

Widnes’ Moorfields Bowling Club have entered a junior team in the Federation of Crown Green Bowlers National Championships while The Brooke Bowling Club in Crosby are to set up regular coaching sessions with an open age group.

And Clemson’s sessions also appear to be havng the desired effect on the county scene with Merseyside County Juniors winning their first consecutive matches for the first time since 2003, beating Greater Manchester both home and away (a first for a team from the Liverpool area), and then Cumbria.

There was also victory for Merseyside’s Juniors in the BCGBA eight-a-side competition in Warrington where youngster Chris Halsey’s final delivery pitched within an inch of the jack giving Merseyside victory by a mere two points.

Clemson and his team have also drawn much praise from the various schools they have visited, with 10 children from Birkenhead Park High School enjoying a day at their local club.

Tracey Rimmer, from Park High, said: “Keith was very informative and set up the use of the green, free of charge. The children had not played bowls before and they were taught the correct way to hold and roll the bowl plus the rules of the game. Keith also supplied three engraved medals to the winners.

“He had obviously put a lot of time and preparation into the day and it gave the pupils a fun night of bowling.”

There are clubs all over Merseyside that would welcome new members of all ages, for further information call Keith on 07930928097.