Audlem School goes bowling

Audlem and District Bowling Club play most of their competitive games in Shropshire Leagues rather than Cheshire (12 out of 13 teams, in fact, play in the Whitchurch or Market Drayton leagues).

So when they heard about an initiative in Shropshire whereby funding had been obtained to involve local schools in bowling, the Club were quick to organise some sessions in Audlem.

This happily coincided with "Healthy Week" at Audlem St James CE Primary School, in which they engage all their school pupils in a range of activities and encourage involvement in Healthy Activities in the future.

As a result, Pauline Wilson, the Development Officer for Shropshire Crown Green Bowling, came to the Heathfield Road stadium of Audlem Bowls Club on Monday morning this week to give two groups of about a dozen Year5 children from Audlem School, some idea of what crown green bowling is all about. Then on Tuesday morning Brenda Sligo, a Bowling coach from Shropshire held similar sessions for two Year3 groups

Pauline and Brenda came with a large selection of coloured bowls and mats suitable for juniors, together with fun games involving hoops, targets and mini goals – equipment obtained by Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association, through a Sport England grant.

There was a little confusion initially when some of the older boys thought that speed was the essential component to the game, to the danger of life and limb (especially ankles) of the volunteer bowls club members acting as longstops. However they soon grasped the idea and all the children appeared to enjoy the sessions (and who can blame them, out of doors on a lovely sunny day away from lessons?).

Audlem Bowls Club is always on the lookout for new members and it is rumoured that several of the promising youngsters have been offered professional contracts.

Ed – our main picture shows the second group of children to attend the Monday sessions, together with teachers, members of Audlem Bowls Club and Pauline Wilson of Shropshire Crown Green Bowling.

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