Though the weather was somewhat chilly, the glasses of sherry and cups of butternut soup were a warm and welcome kick-off to the 2015 Bowls South Africa Mixed Pairs Championship set to take place at the Hermanus Bowls Club from 10 to 13 June 2015. The official opening ceremony, presided over by Executive Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie, was held at the Club on Tuesday evening, 9 June and well attended by participants, officials and conveners of the event.
In her keynote address the Mayor admitted that she knew very little about lawn bowls but stated that her deep appreciation for the commitment and passion of players and followers of the sport would best be reflected by a quote from “The Etiquette of Marking in Lawn Bowls” by the late John A. Malan – a former Life Member of The Royal Victorian Bowls Association.
To this end she said, “Bowls is a science, the study of life in which you may exhaust yourself, but not your subject. It is a contest, a duel calling for courage, skill, strategy, self-control. It is a test of temper, a trial of honour, a revealer of character. It affords the chance to play the man and act the gentleman. It is a cure for care and an antidote for worry. It promotes companionship with friends, and opens up opportunities for courtesy, kindness and generosity to an opponent.”
President of Bowls South Africa, Alan Freeman, led the welcome followed by Almarie du Toit, President of Boland Bowls, who thanked Hermanus Bowls Club for availing the venue before handing it over to participants and wishing them well for the days of competition that lay ahead.
All games in the Mixed Pairs Championship will be played in accordance with the laws of the sport of Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition and domestic regulations of Bowls South Africa.