Several members of the ladies’ team at Croesyceiliog Bowls Club told me they’re a group of friends who “rally around” when any of them needs support.
They want to encourage more women to take up the sport and enjoy the exercise and socialising.
Jen Metcalfe, secretary and club captain, said: “We’re very friendly. We encourage everybody to play. We’ve got a little girl, nine or ten, she’s playing, and we’ve got a lady out there who’s 90. Age doesn’t matter. We will help you as much as we can.
“It’s the friendship part of it. You get to meet lots of people. You socialise with lots of people. I love being there with the others, everybody else, and supporting them.”
‘Woodland Road Sports Club’
The club is “tucked behind a hedge” in the grounds of Woodland Road Sports Club. Look out for a sign in a gap in the hedge, walk down the path, and the large bowling green opens out in front of you. Several benches around the green provide a relaxing spot to while away a few hours.
The men’s and women’s teams share a lovely clubhouse with a bar/ kitchen for hot and cold drinks. There’s a lounge room with the walls covered in pin badges, photos, awards, and a wooden board proudly listing all the winners of various in-club tournaments.
A long covered veranda extends the length of the club – to shield you from the sun or the rain.
Founded in 1982
The ladies’ team was founded in 1982 by Jan Hine, Liz Berry, Ann Sutherland, and the late Rose Barr. Ann and Liz both still play at the club – with Liz playing on the green during my visit – while I chatted to former Welsh international and Commonwealth Games sportswoman, Ann.
Ann said: “It’s quite a wide mix of members and ages. It’s a good social sport and it’s competitive. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been to a couple of Commonwealth Games and the World Bowls so I’ve been able to travel.
“I’ve had opportunities to do things that I probably wouldn’t have done.”
The sport has taken her to countries including South Africa, Australia and Portugal. She won bronze medals at both the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 2002 Games in Manchester
She said: I’ve been fortunate to play with good players. It’s good memories. It’s good to see the younger ones coming in, and especially new people and they take to it. We had two sets of sisters start two years ago, and they love it.”
‘Try out bowling’
I asked how she would encourage new members to try out bowling?
“Come down to the green.’ she said, “we’ve got bowls here, the only thing you need is a flat pair of shoes to be worn only on the green.
“There are coaches here. Somebody will come down and get you on the green. Give it a try.
“It’s more skillful and physical than a lot of people think. Everybody is different, but they all support each other. When you’re playing a sport, a team sport, you’ve got to.
“It’s a good social sport, but also gives you quite a lot of exercise. One of the girls said, ‘I didn’t realise how difficult it was and how much I’d ache after playing’.”
Club member Carol O’Dwyer said: “When you’re a member, you don’t just have to play in games. You can come whatever time you like [as long as they’re not a match on the green].
“The first time I bowled, we were on holiday in St Ives in Cornwall. And just behind the hotel, there was a bowling green. My husband was already bowling, and I said ‘I wouldn’t mind having a go’ so we went onto this bowling green and I said, ‘I quite like this’ so when we came back home I joined.”
Contact Croesyceiliog Bowls Club ladies team
Jen said that any women who are interested in joining can pop along to the club on Mondays from 1.30pm to 3pm where a few members will usually be practicing.
If you have any questions, email Jen on [email protected] or call 07572 595456.