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Press wide of the mark

The press made quite a mountain out of a decision by the organising committee of the City of Aberdeen bowling tournament in July to release the results, but not the actual score, of some junior matches because they didn't want to embarrass or discourage really heavy losers who had just taken up the sport.

This was not, as the local morning newspaper claimed in an editorial, a decision "plucked out of thin air, probably at the behest of someone who has never played competitive sport, never had children, but has read a book on the subject written by someone famous."
A simple check by the paper would have elicited these facts about the committee, who, incidentally are all volunteers.

1. Every one of them this year has played, or still plays, bowls competitively, some with proven success at a high level, including international games.

2. The committee has a total of about 50 children and grandchildren, which represents wealth of experience in practical parenting.

3. Among the committee are at least two qualified coaches who give their time and talent to foster interest by young people in a sport crying out for them - and a retired primary school headmaster who needs no lessons from anyone in how to deal with children.

Yet, these are the people who stand accused by the newspaper of "wired-to-the-moon thinking" just because they prefer only the outcome of certain games to be published rather than ludicrously one-sided scores.

That is not politically correct censorship. Rather it is sensitivity for the feeling of boys and girls new to a sport, and towards whom the event organisers, knowing how "catty" some children can be at times, believed they had a responsibility to protect against teasing and, perhaps, off-putting comments about the scores.
The committee makes no apology for its stance and deplores not only the newspaper's cheap jibes, but its childish response by omitting any reference at all to the games in question.

Hopefully, the committee's decision may yet see some youngsters stick with the sport and go on to make a name for themselves in it.

Edna Black, Convener

The price of eating

I have enjoyed three days of watching great bowls at the Northfield Complex in Ayr as it was the Ladies Scottish Championships.

The event, however, was slightly marred buy the extortionate prices charged in the cafe. I was charged £6.20 for two rolls and a cup of tea- the price of a scone was also extortionate at £1.05! When you add that to the cost of travelling and entrance money it was an expensive three days.

Margaret Currie, Balonock Bowling Club

Friends Reunited!

My wife Janette and I are members of Millport Bowling Club and enjoyed the Bowl's Abroad article in Issue 15 about Sarasota Lawn Bowling Club. We were surprised and delighted to recognise a couple from Carlisle who are there each year at the same time as us.

We spend October and November is Sarasota and thoroughly enjoy our bowling there.

We have entered many of their fun bowling games. One thanksgiving Janette won a turkey in the " Turkey Shoot" event. Needless to say, it was thoroughly enjoyed by our family at Thanksgiving.

We have become good friends with Joyce and George Smith from Bradenton through meeting them at the club. They travel to Scotland every summer and have come to Millport to play in our Open Pairs Competition.

We lived in Flint, Michigan for thirty years, returning to Millport in 1985 when we retired. Unfortunately we were "too young" at fifty to bowl in Flint as it was a Senior Park. However, Janette's Father visited and was able to bowl there. He brought with him a Millport Pennant and a Millport Bowling Club badge which were put into the display case. We hope they are still there. We plan to visit Michigan this year and since we are now certainly old enough, hope to have a game.

Alex McGeoch, via e-mail

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