A Stowmarket bowls club is set to introduce a new era of junior members who will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous successful youngsters.
Rookery Bowling Club started a junior section in 2005/6, which consisted of players from Stowmarket High School and were initially coached by Ann Hawkins, Dorothy Pryke and Mark Royal.
The players – Andrew and Stephen Pulford, Joseph Cross, Jack Pugh, Bramwell Cross, Caitlin and Aiden Riches, Ben Parrish, Hogan Cobbold, Lauren Finbow and Abbi and Beth Manser among others – went on to be very successful, both as team and indvidually.
County and national championship wins followed and a junior bowls tournament was also set up in 2007 by Mr Royal, who himself has six national titles to his name in a successful career spanning more than 20 years.
The new 2018 junior section will follow the same pattern as the previous crop of youngsters from 2006 to 2011, and will be supported by Stowmarket High School.
This will include bowling introduction, taster sessions, coaching, competitions and an open day, and will be designed for the junior bowler who wants to have fun as well as those with their eye on becoming the next national champion.
Mr Royal said: “Our 2006/11 young bowlers were very enthusiastic, hardworking and talented and deserved all they achieved.
“Our new 2018 juniors will have a fun time with us and I am sure will be just as successful.”
Dave Lee-Allan, headmaster at Stowmarket High School, said: “Stowmarket High School are very proud of the achievements of our students, particularly in such a niche sport.
“However, we can take no credit for their success this is totally down to the hard work of the students and the Rookery Bowls Club.
“We are happy to promote the taster sessions in the future to our students and invite Rookery Bowls Club to attend some of our assemblies to speak to pupils.”
Rookery Bowling Club will be starting activities in the spring to encourage new bowlers, both young and old, to come and join them.
Anyone who is interested in joining can contact secretary Shirley Plummer on 01449 774064, email: secretary@rookerybowls.club or visit www.rookerybowls.club
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