Bowling Along

Last year, amid mockery from friends and family, I took up crown green bowling. I`d had the odd game over the years in parks and always thought it seemed like a laugh. Whilst on my favourite walk through the woods to the Meanwood Valley trail and woods I happened upon Meanwood Bowling Club at one edge of the park and was taken with how pretty it looked. Beautiful green, neatly painted with chairs and hut and lots of flowers planted around the grounds. Really beautifully kept. When I saw that it offered free tasters on a Saturday morning , no gear required I thought "Why not?". First person I met who taught me the basics was one of the best bowlers in the club - Ian. Indeed one of the best bowlers in the area and his way of teaching me the basics really brought me onboard. I was told it would be an expensive hobby joining later in the season but decided to go the whole hog and sign up to join and be able to play in league matches if selected with the dream of playing sometime in my 2nd season maybe if I progressed. If I rememeber rightly it cost me £41 for the season all told and another £35 for a set of used bowls off Ebay. Add a bag for £10 and a couple of odds and sods and I reckon I was set up for less than £100
What do I make of it? Great sport. Easy to pick up and play a game, hard to perfect and be consistent. I am still learning bits of gamesmanship, technique and the runs even on my own green can bemuse me at times but great fun.  Yes they are mainly older players but younger people too and everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. I was absorbed into a team to play in a lowerr league within weeks and won some matches even! Image wise it did make me smile reufully to find that score cards were provided free by a funeral director  (image issue there) but such a social group and wide ranging abilities. Afraid I qualify age wise to play for the veterans this year and have played in another couple of league games so far. Biggest shock was getting to the required 21 in a doubles game and finding we had to play on to 31 - came as a surprise to me!

A few photos showing the layouts / techniques and characters.

Gorgeous green and blossom tree

Practising

Officers watch the cup match

That`s what you hope for!

Sometimes you need a measure!

Match time

Striding out after another winner!

Some move more slowly

Some use flashier bowls

Exasperation?

And measure again!

Slow and steady wins the game

John cannot believe they have won 2

Bright yellow match jacks help when it gets darker later

A cheeky attempt to claim four when it was only 2!

Fill your own caption!

Down boy!

Some like to dance whilst playing

Others just keep going

On it`s way

I`m sure they were in that line in the Full Monty dole office scene! Or maybe it`s the ascent of man image on a bowling green?

And again in a line to check the line

Full Monty again

A silent prayer first often works wonders

Walking off in disgust at his partner`s shot?

"Play better John" says brian

All in all a great game - especially on a summers night. The biggest surprise I got was when I turned up for an early match game in driving rain thinking "better show willing". I took my bowls but no rainproof gear thinking it would be cancelled. Was it hell! All playing in driving rain with full waterproofs and I couldn`t have got wetter in my game if I`d jumped in Meanwood beck!




Another scorching hot day for the Veterans match

The Barefoot Contessa

John has a quick one!

That`ll do nicely