The members of Somerset West Bowls Club (SWBC) celebrated some great achievements on the greens during the 2023-’24 season in which they also initiated the newly built braai area that will be used by many members and visitors alike.
SWBC entered four men’s teams and three ladies’ teams into the Western Province League this past season, where the Premier Men’s team kept their place in the league.
The Division 1 Men’s team placed second in their section, and the Ladies’ A team won the Division 1 section, securing promotion to the Premier League.
All the other league teams fared well with no relegations. SWBC also entered three men’s teams and one ladies’ team into the Provan League (the local Helderberg Basin Bowls Association league) and the Provan A team (Marthinus Pool, Willie Boshoff and Doug Skeat) came up tops.
SWBC is also very proud of members excelling in the WP Mixed Pairs, two teams (Nina Painter and Stefan Koen; as well as Thea Blatt and Beyers Herbst) reaching the semi-finals.
Koen and Blatt were selected to represent WP in the Men’s WP A and Ladies’ WP Veterans Interdistrict Tournament, and one of four men’s teams (Stefan Koen, Nico Taljaard, Nic Byrne and Beyers Herbst) reached the semi-finals of the All Cape Cup.
Painter and Guild reached the semi-finals of the Champion of Champion Singles in the WP Open and Novices sections respectively.
Somerset West and Helderberg Bowls Club co-hosted a very successful National Bowls for the Disabled Championship in March earlier this year, where they were all humbled by the courage and determination of the participant playing fantastic bowls in very hot weather.
The South African team won the overall title at the 2024 International Bowls for the Disabled World Championship and is bringing home many gold, silver and bronze medals, proving again that bowls is truly a sport for everyone.
The May Business League (every Wednesday evening) has been completed successfully, with 22 teams competing. The Business League, held at various clubs in the basin, is very popular and a great way for companies to connect with each other, have fun, and get introduced to bowls as a sport.
Watch this space for an announcement of a Junior Bowls Academy, starting off on Tuesday 18 June for young participants between the ages of 13 and 16.
SWBC is privileged to have six great bowls clubs in the basin: Somerset West, Strand, Helderberg, Gordon’s Bay, Helderberg Village and Stellenbosch Bowls Club.
Don’t hesitate to visit your nearest bowls club to find out how you can start playing or get involved.
For more information, call Leonie Taljaard on 082 904 9868.
