Special Olympics bowler Matthew Smith points out his ball’s close proximity to the jack, watched on by Paul Walker and Russell Vincent.
Young people in Te Awamutu are taking to bowling with unaccustomed zeal – and the man largely responsible is former Te Awamutu News Person of the Year Paul Walker.
Enjoying their first crack at lawn bowls are youngsters, Mackenzie Harris and Marie Wing, both 12, Presley Saunders, 11, and Anne Burrows, 10. Behind them are Mackenzie’s nan Nellie Harris and Marlene Walker. Photo: Viv Posselt
He’s had his eye on bringing through a new generation of indoor bowlers for a while. That was at the nub of an interview The News did with him when he won our Person of the Year title in 2023.
Roll on two years, and with a little help from some friends, it seems he is well on his way to succeeding. Growing alongside the numbers of competitors is the respect now being shown Te Awamutu’s young players as they compete around the region, and the increasing willingness of seasoned players to pass on their knowhow.
Organisers and winners of last Friday’s indoor bowls triples competition, from left, organiser Paul Walker, Te Awamutu Lions’ Brendon Hand, junior club player Cruze Hardwidge and Special Olympics indoor bowls team Jordan Johnson. Photo: supplied
Paul Walker flanked by bowlers at the event, Te Awamutu College students Calais Hardwidge, 17, and her brother Cruze Hardwidge, 13. Photo: Viv Posselt
Walker organised an event at Te Awamutu Bowling Club last Friday, a first gathering of its kind that brought together members of several of the town’s bowling groups, with the outdoor bowlers on hand to help with guidance and equipment.
His initial plan was to put on an end-of-year (indoor bowling season) event for members of the Te Awamutu Junior Bowls Club, with a meal thrown in for good measure. He then invited bowlers with the Te Awamutu Special Olympics group to join in; Walker coaches a small group of those players at Te Rahu Hall on Thursday afternoons, among them two from Cambridge.
“I wanted this event to give them an opportunity to experience outdoor bowls and demonstrate their ability at indoor bowls to the members and parents of the Junior Club,” he said.
President of the Te Awamutu Indoor Bowling Club, and Te Awamutu Lions Club member, Brendon Hand, pictured before last week’s indoor session. Photo: Viv Posselt
The upshot was an afternoon spent testing their mettle on the outdoor green then moving inside for a meal followed by some fun competition on the indoor mats. Also there were players who are now at Te Awamutu College.
Walker’s move to attract more young people to indoor bowls – and thereby ensure its longevity – has been made possible due to his and various helpers being able to work with Te Awamutu Intermediate School pupils regularly. The arrival of Margaret Taylor from Tauranga three years ago led to the establishment of a Junior Club at the school, and the club’s subsequent involvement with the Aims Games.
Marlene Walker said: “We ended up taking 10 to the Aims Games this year, two more than last year. Out of those 10, two got through to the last eight, which is great given there were 241 bowlers competing. None of our kids disappointed.”
Paul Walker, left, with Te Awamutu Lions Club member and president of the Te Awamutu Indoor Bowling Club, Brendon Hand, during Friday’s event. Photo: Viv Posselt
Trish Lapthorn with daughter Kate, were there supporting the Special Olympic players. Photo: Viv Posselt
Supporting the Special Olympic bowlers last Friday, as she does throughout the year, was Trish Lapthorn. Her daughter Kate has been playing for 18 months and told The News she ‘really loves’ the sport.
Lapthorn described the support Walker gives the group as ‘amazing’.
Nellie Harris was there supporting her grand-daughter Mackenzie Harris. She said many of the youngsters involved don’t play other sports, and some are now even entering tournaments around the region.
Brendon Hand, who is president of the Te Awamutu Indoor Bowling Club and a member of Te Awamutu Lions Club, said his Lions club had given $1500 towards Walker’s efforts to grow the sport.
That money has gone towards funding venue costs for Junior Bowling Club members to be able to play indoor bowls outside of the Intermediate School. It covers those costs at the Te Awamutu Bowling Club.
“It is because of that grant that we are able to use this facility,” Walker said, “and we’re very grateful for that.”
He said the Junior Club will continue meeting on Tuesday afternoons and urged any young people keen to give it a try to come along.
See: Paul’s on the money
Special Olympics bowler Matthew Smith points out his ball’s close proximity to the jack, watched on by Paul Walker and Russell Vincent. Photo: Viv Posselt
