Tony Bryning is the county’s Chief Development Officer. He presented his report for 2009 to the council meeting on 13 October:
My report last year stated I had managed to set up a clubs schools partnership scheme. I am pleased to report that this has continued to flourish with five schools totalling over 200 children being coached under the scheme. I have two more schools starting up next season with one other in the process of taking up the scheme.
More good news was that Stockport Bowls Development Group under my chairmanship received a grant of £10,000 for the purchase of 70 sets of coloured bowls, jacks, mats, and funding for the coaching scheme. This has proved invaluable in being able to provide each youngster with a set of bowls, whereas previously they had one bowl each, not the most satisfactory way of coaching.
One of my biggest problems is the way in which local authorities operate. To process anything seems to take a lifetime, and there never seems to be any sense of urgency. On two occasions the promotion literature for coaching schemes was put out on the same day as the coaching was about to commence. This happened with two authorities so it seems to be a general malaise of local government.
I have organised five summer coaching courses throughout the county during the school holidays, and have attended four fun days in local parks to offer taster sessions for crown green bowls. These have been well supported in spite of some foul weather at some venues. I am pleased to report that other areas in Cheshire has starting up coaching programmes. Altrincham, Brooklands, Chorlton, Macclesfield, Frodsham and Helsby to mention a few. At the last count there were 1,036 people being coached in the county. Some areas are running coaching courses which are run by clubs. My main concern is they have not joined the B.C.G.B.A. Coaching scheme, so they have no proper knowledge of bowls coaching, no CRB checks, no equipment and most important of all no insurance!
I should express my appreciation to all the coaches involved for their dedication and expertise. A big thank you to the local authorities for providing the funding for the coaching courses. This in part makes up for my previous moan about the local authorities.
Before my wife Sheila went under the knife we had organised our usual pre-season coaching programme for bowlers wishing to take the level one coaching course, I am pleased to report nine bowlers reached this level and there were eleven upgrades from instructor to coach. Unfortunately Sheila has had her foot in a cast for twelve weeks so the coaching programme has been somewhat curtailed by this problem. We are hoping and praying the cast will come off next week.
Our work with the disabled continues to flourish working with visually impaired, deaf, and mental health care. One setback was our attempt to establish a wheelchair based group. When I investigated the cost of wheel chairs suitable for bowling greens I was staggered by the cost: over £2,500, so that project is on hold for the time being.
The Stockport Bowls Development Group continues to step up its activities. The Bowls Festival, now in its sixth year, has increased support and the coaching programme has doubled the number of newcomers taking part. A new event this year was a Ladies’ over 60 competition which was way over-subscribed, which should mean it will become a permanent event in future years.
One cloud on the horizon is the diminishing number of referees. There does not appear to be any planned programme for bringing in new referees. I used to run a coaching programme for referees but was told two years ago that it was the responsibility of the Cheshire Referees Society.
Following the decision by the B.C.G.B.A. to reject the proposed development programme at Alexandra Park Stockport, the Development Group has decided to look into funding an artificial green in the park. As well as satisfying a local need it would also provide a four-green venue for the B.C.G.B.A.
When I look back over this years report it seems to one of up and downs, taking one step forward and then in some cases two steps backward, however I look on it as being like a game of bowls: you win some you lose some and you’re never sure what lies ahead. That’s what makes crown green such a fascinating sport.
Clubmark
The main news is that Helsby Community Sports Club is about to achieve Clubmark status. I was involved initially, but then the Runcorn Sports Development has been of great assistance to the club in going for Clubmark.
My own club, Poynton Sports, while wishing to go forward seems to be facing a problem: the setting up of a junior coaching scheme. The club are insisting on a subscription of £30 and we are finding quite a lot of resistance from the juniors, who are only allowed two hours bowling a week. To date I have had two meetings with the club management committee to try and resolve the position but without success so far.
The only other club interested in Clubmark is West Heaton Bowling & Tennis Club. Here the tennis section has achieved Clubmark, but the bowls section like Poynton Sports are struggling to set up a junior section.