The Helderberg Basin is proving that lawn bowls is not only a sport for older people, as demonstrated at Strand Bowling Club where recent years have shown big growth and great success with the sport among the young under the guidance and coaching of Aloma Smith.
A very experienced and accomplished bowler herself, having won numerous titles and competitions in the 30 years that she has been an active bowler, Smith served on the National Executive for SA Bowls in the past and has organised more than one SA National Youth Tournament. She has worked very hard, in collaboration with Strand High School, to develop youth bowling in the basin and give back to the sport she loves.
At present there are 21 learners from Strand High who form part of the programme that was started by Aloma in 2002 and some of them have achieved provincial colours and are representing Western Province on regular basis at national tournaments.
McKensie Knipe represented Western Province at this year’s u-25 Tournament National Tournament and she has also been invited to partake in the Western Province U-30 Masters Tournament.
Wilmien Smuts who moved from Eden District with her parents recently was invited to take part in the Western Province U-18 Championships. If taken into consideration that she is only 13 years old this is a tremendous honour and she is one of the young bowlers with a bright future ahead.
Tristan Crous was part of the Western Province u-18 team that won a silver medal at the recent national championships.
Armand Smit represented Western Province on more than one occasion and has come through the development programmes at Strand Club with flying colours. He qualified as a Level 1 Coach recently and is at present actively involved with Smith in coaching at Strand Club.
Dwaine Timmie, also a past learner in the programme, was a part of the Western Province Team that won silver at the recent South African U-25 Championships hosted by Boland Bowls at Hermanus Club.
Smith invites all pupils from all schools in the basin to contact her on 072 469 8635 if they would like to try their hand at the game.
The programme is run on the third Saturday of each month from 09:30 till 11:30 in the morning at Strand Bowls Club and pupils from primary and secondary schools interested in joining the programme can contact Smith to make arrangements.
