Is the sport of bowls in terminal decline?


The picture’s a mixed one, as Tom James discovered on a recent investigation in the North-West, where he finds contrasting fortunes for the region’s clubs, and an MP fighting the cause


TODAY, more than ever, professional sport is big business, so much so that we are used to the crucial issues in our top sports adopting prime time billing on our TV screens.


It even raised a few eyebrows when the issue of social networking site, Twitter, and a top football star were mentioned in the House of Commons. Yet, this latest football debacle has not been the only sport causing a stir in the corridors of power in Whitehall as, back in March, the spotlight firmly shone on perhaps the most unlikely of sports - bowls.


When Barrow-in-Furness MP, John


“We’ve done a great deal of local research ourselves into the cost of annual work on a bowling green, and the quotes we’ve attained are nearly half those the council give”


Roy Hooper, Chapel Street Bowls Club


Woodcock, took to the stand to fight for the rights of bowling clubs, not only in his constituency but also across the UK, little did he know that the issue would go on to garner such media attention. In May, bowls was featured twice on the prime time BBC 1 programme, The One Show, first taking on lighter exploration of the sport and how it’s governing body Bowls England were looking to entice younger players to the game whilst, on the second show, the focus lay with the issues raised by Mr Woodcock in the Commons. On 10th May, The One Show presenters and Mr Woodcock met supporters and members of the Chapel Street Bowling Club in Albert Square - overlooked by the Victorian edifice of Manchester Town Hall - where the wily group of senior bowlers


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