Development
Development is a key area for the Welsh Bowling Association. It is essential that our activities promote the Sport of Bowls, retain and recruit members, and monitor and update policy to assist our affiliated clubs to maintain a healthy membership. We need to offer new bowlers an opportunity to participate, and have an awareness of the best way to develop.
In the last six months the Welsh Bowls Federation have set up the Clubmark Project involving a team of ten Regional Development Officers, and a Development Director. We are grateful to Sports Wales for funding this initiative with the following main objectives: -
- Helping Clubs to attract new bowlers and members from all sections of our their local community, and with particular emphasis on junior development.
- Helping clubs to achieve a nationally recognised operating standard.
- Helping clubs to modernise their administration structure
- To assist clubs in the Clubmark scheme to retain members for the future.
The Development Director is John Price
Tel no:
Contact details for the Regional Managers can be obtained from John Price, on page 166 of the 2012 WBA Handbook, or from your County Secretaries.
Junior Development
The W.B.A decided in 2010 to promote the formation of Junior Academies, and to provide a pathway for the young bowlers from their early careers to possible selection for the Commonwealth Games Squad.
To assist in this process John Baggott has been appointed Development Administrator and last season three Regional Trials were held at Penylan B.C., Cross Hands B.C. and Llandrindod Wells B. C. to choose twenty- four young bowlers to form the first Under 18 Academy. John was greatly assisted in this task by Team Manager Phil Young, and all the Welsh Selectors.
Liam Bouse (Ystrad Mynach), Ryan Boots (Caldicot), Ben Cloake (Tenby), Jack Davies (Troedyrhiw), Dominic Hardy (Kerry), Ryan Hancock (Tyn-y-Twr), Stefan Harries (Carmarthen), Sean Hawkey (Splott Phoenix) Shane Hill (Porthcawl), Jarrad Jones (Ogmore Vale), Edwards Jelfs (Llandrindod Wells), Tom Jones (Caerphilly Town), James McNair (Llandrindod Wells), Luke Mumford (Kerry), Jo Mower (Beaufort), John Parsonage (Cwmbran Park), Connor Parsons (Murch), Gwynfor Parr (Dinas Powis), Matthew Preece (Melyn-Unt), Scott Loosemore (Porthcawl), Nathan Salmon (Whitchurch), Ben Simmons (Tenby), Aaron O’Sullivan (Havelock Park), Cameron White (Tenby)
In the last few months two very successful training days were held for the Under 18 Academy at Cynon Valley and Islwyn Indoor Centres and we are very grateful for the warm welcome, and assistance we received at both venues. The Coaching Association, and a fitness advisor from Sport Wales must also be thanked for the very informative seminars held during the training days. On each occasion the young bowlers played a Stadium Select Side and the two matches were closely fought, and very helpful in the development of the Academy Members.
All the Academy bowlers will take part in a new National Pairs Tournament on the 17th June at Llandrindod Wells, and on the 20th May at the same venue a game has been organised against a Mid Wales Select Team.
We plan to start an Under 25 Academy this season, and anyone keen to have a trial should contact their County Secretaries, and John Baggott on Tel no: Email:
“ It is an honour to have been granted the opportunity to formulate an Under 18 Squad, many of whom have the potential to become future Internationals. I will endeavour to carry out my responsibilities efficiently and productively for the benefit of the Association.”
Sincere thanks must go to our sponsors:
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Other Sponsors are invited at any time.