Bowls is a game that attracts both women and men. At our club we have lots of couples, some play together when they can, others prefer not to! In this profile we ask a fairly recent couple of recruits for their thoughts on the game of bowls and the club, JANE AND STEVE BISHOP.
How did the two of you get involved in bowls? We used to play golf with Brian Hammond, a member at the bowls club. We kept in touch after we all gave up golf. Brian suggested we tried bowls so we both came down one Friday night and really enjoyed the game and the company and were made to feel very welcome by everyone . Did you join Ottery St Mary Bowls Club at the same time? Yes, we did. It was so nice to do something together which hadn’t happened since we gave up golf. Would you recommend couples to join together? How about actually playing together or against each other? Bowls is a brilliant couple’s game. To share an interest in a sport is special; supporting each other, sharing the pride in a good shot, winning a game and mutual understanding of the frustrations when you have not played well are emotions best shared! What are the advantages of you both sharing an interest in bowls? That’s easily answered! Just spending time together and with like-minded friends. Also being able to talk to each other about games, the people you meet and the places you visit. What do you find most appealing about playing the game? Meeting all kinds of people, from all walks of life who enjoy the same thing you enjoy – a love of bowls. The laughter and support is priceless and the game is very addictive! You have both represented the club in external matches? Do you recall how it felt when you first got involved in playing against other clubs? Terror! Not really but it was nerve racking, yet also enjoyable and the support we got from our teammates was brilliant. It was an eye-opener to discover that anyone can have a bad game no matter how long they have been playing. All of which makes you feel better about getting the weight and line wrong! What about the social side of being a member of the club? Was it easy to get involved? Very, very easy. Brian and his wife Jane were so good at making us feel at home right from the start. The coaches, Gail, John, Terri and Sharon helped so much teaching us, week by week, the rights and wrongs of bowls . All the members were brilliant, friendly and welcoming. Can you identify one particular match that stands out for you so far? Jane first: I recall the quarter finals of the Jubilee Trophy, held at Crediton. I was playing with Margaret, Shirley and Jill against Newton Abbot, a game we won. Victory was all the more satisfying because they were seriously tough and competitive opponents. I won’t talk about the semi-final but at least I played in one within my first year! Steve next: I think just getting to the final of the Fred Burgess trophy competition and the general feeling of constantly trying to improve with each game I played. Finally, what are your bowling ambitions for the future? As we both work, putting our names down for matches can be a bit difficult and frustrating as we would both like to play more to improve our skills. We will keep playing as often as possible and hopefully in our own way support the club both at home and away.
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January 2025
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