'It's vital we get more people playing bowls'

Sian Honnor has won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in the sport

Bowls players across the South East are calling for a renewed push to attract younger members, warning the sport's future depends on it.

Sian Honnor, from Herne Bay, a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Bowls England board member, said: "If clubs don't have younger people coming through, then what happens when nature takes its course?

"It's vital that we do everything we can to attract people of all ages."

More than 800 clubs across the UK are taking part in Bowls' Big Weekend, running over the bank holiday, offering free sessions and open days to encourage newcomers to try the sport.

Ms Honnor, who began playing aged seven, said bowls was still battling a reputation problem.

"It's still trying to break down barriers," she said.

She believes one of the biggest obstacles is simply awareness.

"If children don't know about bowls it's because they haven't stumbled across it yet," she said.

"If you have got a club that's got younger members, then it will automatically attract younger members."

'An old person's game'

Surrey under-25s player Ben Morgan, 18, was introduced to the sport at a club open day at the age of 14.

He said people were "quite surprised" when they found out he played.

"Most people haven't even heard of it," he said. "It's just known as an old person's game."

He plays at Addlestone Victory Park Bowls Club and wants to see clubs doing more to reach younger audiences, particularly online.

"I always feel like whenever clubs want more people, they're never advertising – or when they are, it's not in the right way to get younger people."

Mr Morgan plays for Surrey's under-25s team

Jonathan Doust, chair of Gildredge Park Bowls Club in Eastbourne and a board member at Bowls England, agreed that image was a barrier.

"There's an incorrect perception that it's a bit of a boring game," he said.

"There's no logical reason why young people wouldn't play – it's a sport for any age, any physique, and both boys and girls can play together or in separate competitions."

Ms Honnor, who plays for Appleyard Bowls Club in Sittingbourne, said bowls offers something for everyone – whether social or competitive.

"There's something for everybody. You can go down for a drink, have a meal, have a match meet new people."

Or, she said, like her, you can play in a "whole variety of competitions".

Mr Doust said watching young people compete, particularly at national level, revealed a very different side of the game.

"There could be a lot of noise, a lot of cheering, real competition, nail-biting stuff.

"It can be as lively as any sport, but people don't see that."

Mr Doust is a board member at Bowls England

He said the South East was "one of the centres of bowling nationally", but more needed to be done to build connections between clubs and schools – including getting the sport into PE lessons.

'Very rosy future'

Despite challenges, Mr Doust said participation was rising and he remained optimistic, adding: "It's not a dying sport."

He said the sport had seen a growth in the last three years.

"I have utter belief that it's going to continue to thrive," he said. "I think bowls has got a very rosy future."