Club has an eye on finding future stars
WITH England internationals and success at this summer’s Nationals finals, Welford Bowls Club certainly seems to be punching above its weight … and now they are looking to discover the next generation of players with the launch of a junior section.
The village club already boasts some of the best facilities in the region with top class indoor and outdoor facilities and now they are set to encourage more people, both young and old, to try their hand at the sport.
Links have been made with the primary school next door with the hope of encouraging them to join the new junior section whose logo has been designed by one of the pupils.
And, according to one of the club’s England stars, all this helps banish the belief that bowls is all about blazers.
Andy Walters linked up with the Welford club three years ago having made his debut for his country five years earlier.
He said: “There is a traditional image in the sport of old boys wearing flat caps, ties and white shirts. It is nothing like that anymore. Bowls England have relaxed the dress code to say that along with your county shirt, you can wear any colour you want on your bottom half. It means people can come and play in whatever they want to.”
And he explained what attracted him to the club.
“We are fortunate to have some internationals here at Welford, both indoor and outdoor, and that helps to get the club noticed,” he explained.
“There aren’t many clubs that can offer an indoor and an outdoor green. It makes a difference because both are very well maintained and they are of an excellent standard. Good greens attract good players because you want to play on the best surfaces, it is how you showcase your skills.”
Walters and partner Dan Box made it through to the final of the men’s pairs at the Nationals which were held at Leamington only to be edged out by Huntingdonshire pair Ean and Tristan Morton.
But there was better news for Welford’s other international, 18-year-old Lily Adams who, along with partner Emily Kernick, retained their junior pairs title.
Adams, who was capped for the first time by England u18s last year before making the switch to the u25s, explained why she had moved to Welford.
She said: “Having a club that has such a community within it was what drew me. Some of the clubs where I was before were all about social bowling but playing at Welford gives me the opportunity to improve my game. There is a constant desire to get better.
“It doesn't matter what level you want to play - socially with friends and family or with aspirations to go on and represent your country - this is a sport that anyone can play.”
