Friendship matters for thriving bowls group (From Daily Echo)

Friendship matters for thriving bowls group

6:02pm Friday 9th April 2010 in Local Focus - Thornhill

Thornhill’S short mat bowls group is not your average organisation.

Established over 20 years ago, the club has helped to develop community projects in the area and has encouraged youngsters to participate in a sport that would usually be associated with the older generation.

Long-standing member Jim Staines praised the positive atmosphere at the club and is urging others to attend.

“It’s a friendly club. We don’t take bowls terribly seriously and it’s not a must-win every time we play a match. Having said that, some so-called friendlies get very heated!

“We always welcome new members with no previous experience or ability and there’s a whole mix of people of different ages.”

The club has attracted several youngsters, although the majority of the regular attendees are pensioners.

Mr Staines, 80, insists he is considered one of the younger members: “We have people getting on to 90 still playing!

“It’s really good exercise and there’s a lot of skill involved too.

“The club serves a great purpose in the community as it offers a positive social atmosphere.

“We can’t understand why we don’t get more people who live in Thornhill, we only have around six members that actually live on the estate.” The club is keen to attract new members, if only to help lighten each member’s financial burden.

Mr Staines said: “We pay £65 per night to rent the room, so each member pays about £3 each to play for two and a half hours.

“We always see a lot more people on a Wednesday night, but on Friday it’s sometimes less busy.

“This means that we have to club together to pay the extra required.”

The club’s positive impact has also stretched to Thornhill Baptist Church.

Several years ago the group introduced bowls at the church to encourage the community to attend coffee mornings.

Mr Staines said: “We have three bowling mats at the church which we introduced in an attempt to drum up interest in coffee mornings.

“It’s had a fantastic response; we’ve gone from six members to about 30 which has really benefited the church.”

Thornhill Short Mat Bowls Club meets every Wednesday and Friday between 6.45pm and 9.30pm at Thornhill Primary School, including a break for tea and a catch up.