Bowling club aims to attract young players

MEMBERS of a bowling club are hoping to get more teenagers and children involved in their sport after winning a 1,000 community sports grant from a Sheffield charity.

Grenoside Park Bowling Club hopes to use the cash from the Sheffield City Trust to throw off the sport’s elderly image and attract more youngsters to join their teams.

Grenoside Park has recently established a new project, investing in additional equipment and encouraging young people to take up bowls and join its junior teams.

Club officials said that more than 30 children have since tried their hand at the game, with 12 keen new bowlers now officially registered with the British Bowling Association.

Two of the club’s members, Daniel Fowler, 12 and Kirstie Macmillian, 13, now play for the South Yorkshire County team and it is hoped more young people will be inspired to follow.

Graham Humberstone, who manages the junior teams, said: “This funding from Sheffield City Trust will certainly help in enabling us to build on the success we have achieved this season and take the club to the next level.

“Apart from the regular competitive games on Saturdays, we have twice-weekly practice sessions after school and every junior member is given an equal chance to play in league games.” SCT was set up by Sheffield Council to provide facilities for leisure and recreation, and a spokesman said it “promotes good physical and mental health and encourages arts and the acquisition, preservation, restoration and maintenance of buildings of historic interest in Sheffield”.

Its subsidiary company Sheffield International Venues (SIV) operates 15 sports, leisure and entertainment venues in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire on behalf of the trust.

Former football referee Uriah Rennie, who is now community liaison manager at Sheffield City Trust, said: “We are committed to getting kids involved in sports and physical activity so we are delighted that the funding will support the further development of Grenoside Park Bowling Club.

“The junior team should be really proud of their achievements this season.”