We’d like to welcome Alec Soars, General Co-ordinator for the Inter-Island Bowls Tournament onto our list of VentnorBlog contributors who will be keeping you up to date with all things Bowls on the Wight. Ed
In 2005, the Isle of Wight bowls team travelled to Shetland as part of the Island’s International Island Games team. At this event they were moderately successful, bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals.
This was the last time that bowls was to be included in the main Island games for the foreseeable future, as the sport of bowls is not included in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
In 2007, the main Island Games were held in Rhodes, where unfortunately there are no bowls facilities. In an attempt to keep the Island bowlers together, Guernsey undertook the task of organising a bowls tournament. The Isle of Wight participated and were very successful, coming away with three gold and four silver medals and topping the medal table.
At the closing dinner, the Isle of Wight team were asked whether they could organise the tournament for 2009, as the main Island Games were being held in Aland, where once again there are no bowling facilities. On our return, we set up an Organising Committee and proceeded to get the tournament off the ground
We have nine Islands competing, they are; Alderney, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles and Ynys Mon, with both Men’s and Ladies teams
Running the tournament is going to cost about £18,000.00, We have been lucky to find some generous donors and have organised a number of fund raising events, however, we are still some £8,000.00 short of our target. We have some events to run during the year, I give below details of these:
Saturday 18th April Wight Elvis in Concert – Isle of Wight Community Club – Tickets £10.00
Sunday 7th June General Knowledge Quiz – Shanklin Bowling Club – Team of Four £5.00
Saturday 27th June Shadows Tribute Band in Concert – East Cowes Town Hall – Tickets £10.00
Sunday 19th July Bowls and BBQ Afternoon – Camp Hill Bowls Club
Sunday 26th July General Knowledge Quiz – East Cowes Conservative Club – Team of four £5.00
For further information and tickets please contact: Alec G. Soars – General Co-ordinator – 01983 280252 – e-mail [email protected]
Image: stigeredoo
