Lawn Bowls.....

[A Mum]

Do you play or have you played?
(Social, pennants, or tried it once?)

It's a lot harder than people give it credit for and no longer an 'old' persons game

This week has been the biggest event in the Lawn Bowls Calendar - being the Lawn Bowls Australian Open.

We had several South Aussies in the Men's and Women's sections (Which started on Sunday).
And have some representatives in the U18 section (which starts today).

The biggest story from the event so far was when our young 15 year old South Aussie Nathan Pedersen qualified himself to be in the event and then beat the reigning world champion in Safuan Said to knock him out of the competition. Nathan was unfortuntately knocked out in the next match but did well to get down to the final 32 out of 128 who are mostly world class players.

Today sees the start of the U18 section and we have the following SA kids representing us:
Boys: Blake Fiebig & Matthew Northcott
Girls: Cassandra Harvey & Breeanna Dickson

Wishing them all goodluck - I'm sure they'll do us proud

[Mr Beefy]

Filled in at Woodville a couple of months ago in the pennant 3rds. The skipper rolled his eyes when I said I dont play and have only played at publicans days when my main aim is to drink a beer each time I return to the clubhouse end.
The skipper was rubbish and they keep asking me to play again....I think it isn't too difficult to hold your own down in the grades but a lot of skill and tactical nous is required in the upper divisions

[Dirko]

Had a bowl at Lockleys a few times. Good fun. Looking forward to the World Championship to be held there next year. Will be able to stroll down and have a squiz !

http://www.lockleysbowlingclub.org.au/lockleys/

World Champs 2012

[A Mum]

Yes was going to mention that SA (Lockleys) was the host of the World Bowls event 2012

Will be good to see the worlds best bowlers in action

[hearts on fire]

I have done it a few times at school and played against other schools, great fun but it isn't easy.

Reckon when the world championship is played here, i'll be watching a few games myself.

[Gingernuts]

As A Mum has already sussed out, I play regular Saturday pennants for Mt Barker at the moment. I have played lawn bowls since for about 14 years, first started when I was 15.

The best I have ever got to is a handful of games for Adelaide in Div 1 Red (now Premier League), but sadly I couldn't handle the pressure and didn't last very long! There's some pretty hardcore players getting around, my skipper was a bit of a pr1ck and being young and fairly insecure about my game at the time I didn't handle it very well.

There is a lot of junior participation now and most of the top bowlers are aged between 20 and 40.

I love the tactical aspect of the game in particular, calling the right shots and having them come off is a great feeling. The concentration required to play consistently well is pretty intense, I'm ofter exhausted after a game if it's been a tight one.

Great game, I would recommend it to anyone looking for an excuse to get out and about on a Saturday arvo. On the whole it's great socially, some real characters around the place, and for those who like a beer the bar is always open throughout the game.

[A Mum]

Bowls SA has done a bit of a write up on Nathan...
(If you want to read it you'll have to cut and paste the whole thing below - the link doesn't work

http://www.bowls-sa.asn.au/index.php?id=1059&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=2407&tx_ttnews[backPid]=183&cHash=beaa2e4a28

[heater31]

Played a couple of social games at xmas functions & the like. A cricket club of mine also had a night there.


Think I read in a magazine somewhere a couple of years ago the Australian Lawn Bowls team had a younger average age than the cricket team

[gadj1976]

yep, play night owls at Modbury Thursday nights. Love it. Few beers, nice weather, couple of bowls in between. Good night out.

[MightyEagles]

Wedgie has bowled a lawn bowl or two in the last few years.

[Wedgie]

Wedgie has bowled a lawn bowl or two in the last few years.

Yeah, gave it up after 2 years, found it too slow, too easy and too boring. I also drank too much. When you're skipper and stuck with a very old boring person for the entire day to talk to it makes spending a day in the field for cricket exciting. Have my own bowls and might play again one day to spend some time with my old man but no plans on the board.
So far I haven't missed it at all but my old man is a tad annoyed as he reckons I would have been playing for the state in no time if I tried hard enough.
Much prefer World of Warcraft!

[leftarmoffie]

I played pennants last season, loved playing it but work changed my roster so havent played it since. Won a club champion in mens pairs too

[gadj1976]

Wedgie has bowled a lawn bowl or two in the last few years.

Yeah, gave it up after 2 years, found it too slow, too easy and too boring. I also drank too much. When you're skipper and stuck with a very old boring person for the entire day to talk to it makes spending a day in the field for cricket exciting. Have my own bowls and might play again one day to spend some time with my old man but no plans on the board.
So far I haven't missed it at all but my old man is a tad annoyed as he reckons I would have been playing for the state in no time if I tried hard enough.
Much prefer World of Warcraft!

TOO EASY????....mate you need to return to your r00ts! We can bring you down to our level very quickly. See you Thursday night

[A Mum]

One thing I have noticed is that if you are a very good cricketer - you are a very good lawn bowler.

Don't know why this is - just is

[interested observer]

One thing I have noticed is that if you are a very good cricketer - you are a very good lawn bowler.

Don't know why this is - just is

May be the old "Trevor Chappell" thing ???

[A Mum]

[mighty_tiger_79]

this could get out of hand.......

i can see an safooty lawn bowls comp

A MUM the secretary

[Iron Fist]

I played it as my year 12 major subject

I really enjoyed it and thought about playing it as a sport
I think I will when Im probs 30 or so
if my grandpa was still around (he was a good bowler) I would probs play with him just to catch up
atm though, no friends or anyone I know plays so i have no interest!!

As others have said, I didnt find it to hard
if ya played regularly then it would get alot easier!

since I played cricket my whole life
maybe that explains why Im good at A Mum???

[A Mum]

Absolutely

For those of you who have kids under 18
Bowls SA holds 'kids bowls' on the first Sunday of each month usually at Lockey's Bowling Club.

The next one being 7th of March (9.30am start)

It's run by Kelli Wray (Australian bowls team member)

And any kids are welcome to go and give it a try

[gadj1976]

One thing I have noticed is that if you are a very good cricketer - you are a very good lawn bowler.

Don't know why this is - just is

Na, if Wegs is a good bowler, that makes a mockery of the rule. Sorry Wegs.