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News in February |
8th March 2003 Gourock Park Member, Joda Reid is doing fanastic in this years National Singles at the Inverclyde Indoor. Joda has reached the Semi-Final stage and will play Ian Broadfoot on the 15th March. With just over a month till the start of the new Season, I am working as fast as possible to get the site prepared. Several pages have still be constructed and as of the last two years, these will include the championship results, were possible, from Grosvenor and IBM Bowling Clubs. I intend to cover as much as i did last year and bring you results from Gourock Park as it happens and I hope I will be able to cover the Scottish, Renfrewshire and G& D competitions. Although due to shift work, i may not be able to bring you on the day reporting of some of these results. However when I know for certain that I wont be able to cover an event, i may ask for your assistance. If anyone fancies being a roving reporter please get in touch. The Sites statistics are continuing to improve, specially the number of visitors over the winter months. Over the last six months, the site has received almost 4700 visits and I hope this will continue to increase over the course of the coming season. |
25th March 2003 The Sport of Bowling has been on the decline over the last decade or so, with some Clubs struggling to keep membership at healthy levels and this has been evident within a few Clubs, even at Gourock Park. However there are some signs of encouragement for the future, most Clubs at grass root level are seeing that its time for some action. John Freeburn and the coaches at the Inverclyde Indoor have successfully started a well attended Junior Section, with coaching and competitions for Kids of School age. There are other Clubs in the area too that are doing positive things to attract some young blood into the game, the Greenock & District Association too have done their bit, by establishing the 'Young Bowlers Championship'. Gourock Park's Junior Coaching sessions were badly affected by last summers appalling weather, but we intend to get this up and running again this Season. At at higher level, I personally think its time that those in charge must take some time out and bring the game into the modern age! Now i dont mean electronic score boards and video replays, but surely they can see that if more is not done to promote the game, then over the next twenty years or so, the decline will just get worse. The Televised Indoor games have at least tried to bring in a fresh new colourful look, it may have been a drastic change,with multi-coloured shell suits and a blue 'green', but it was done with the intention of bringing the game up todate with todays demanding high tech modern world. Now im not saying that the Outdoor game goes the same way, but I do feel that its time the powers that be looked at least in trying to modernise the game. Below I have listed some of the things that I personally think that needs to be addressed. The Bowlers Uniform....... Keep the Club Blazer, shirt and tie, but its time to ditch the old man grey!! Changing the grey to a simple navy colour would in my opinion be more appealing to young people. . Mixed Competion.............Some Lady Bowlers are just as good as the Men, so why keep them apart in Club and National Championships School Visits Just as they do in Football, each association should appoint a community coach, to go around the schools to encourage the game and to set up regular coaching sessions The G&D League opening fixtures are now on the site and they have also announced the dates for the Reid and Fletcher Competitions. The Reid Cup will be played on the 1st July and The Fletcher on the 19th August. |
2003 Index |
