Schools league to fire up Namib Park

In a historic moment for lawn bowls in Namibia and at the coast and in the history of Namib Park Bowling Club in Walvis Bay, a very first schools league is being played over the next five weeks.

Four of the secondary schools in Walvis Bay each entered two teams, namely Walvis Bay Private High School, Dolphin Elementary School, De Duine Senior Secondary School and Kuisebmond Senior Secondary School.

Magic Jumbo & Discounters has generously sponsored the schools league to the tune of N$15 000. Monetary prizes will be paid over to the schools to be used towards sports equipment and necessities. The winners prize is worth N$8 000, second place N$4 000, third prize N$2 000 and fourth place N$1 000.

The winner of this schools league will also travel to Windhoek to play against their league winner.

Lawn bowls has traditionally been perceived to be merely a pastime, or only to be played when one reaches retirement age. This is, however, not remotely the case, since the younger one starts the better one’s skills will develop.

Namib Park Bowls Club currently have four junior bowlers of the ages between 12 and 18 years. Cabous Olivier of Walvis Bay High School has already obtained Namibian colours and has participated in international events.

Cabous will be playing the World Singles Bowls Championship in Australia during November this year – taking on the national singles champions of countries all over the world. In 2003, Namibian champion Douw Calitz famously won this world title.

Bowls is a sport for life. One could start playing at around 9 years of age and probably “retire” around 90 years. It is difficult to think of another sport that can be played competitively with there being no age, sex, creed or size dictating who will win on the day.

It is hoped that with this schools league being an annual event, bowls in Namibia will go from strength to strength and that some schools will eventually offer bowls as a serious sports option.