I have now received some support in completing my application and it is basically the same story but with better structure and more flowery wordings.
Again any comments greatly appreciated.
Slimmer of the Year Application
I have been over weight since I was a teenager, it stems from my first paper-round when I’d buy a bag of chips on the way round and then still go home and have my tea, this habit then developed into a bag of chips on the way home from a night out drinking. I knew I was over weight but being quite tall always convinced myself I ‘carried it well’. I’ve been coming to Scottish Slimmers on and off since my first class at 19 when I chummed my Mum. I don’t remember what I weighed, but I remember losing 9lbs in my first week. The trouble with such a big loss at the start was that the novelty wore off as the weight loss reduced to 2 or 3lbs in a week so over the next 12 years I have been a recurring member – joining, losing about 2 stone, leaving, putting the weight back on…
Having turned 30 in 2008 and following a very difficult year personally in 2009, I woke up on the 2nd of January 2010 hung-over and disgusted with myself. I decided there and then that life is too short and this would be the year I would take action. I went to a Scottish Slimmers class on 11th January run by Morag who I already knew from previous weight loss attempts, I was almost the heaviest I’d ever been at 21 stone 1lb.
I’m fortunate enough to live with my Dad who enjoys cooking and has provided me with exceptional support. We plan our meals together and he prepares most of our meals – trying out different recipes and an approach that really helped was making free soup in large batches for me to take to work for lunch. This has resulted in my Dad losing 2 stone 5.5lbs and reaching his own target weight.
I was an active child and have always enjoyed sports although recently it was more watching than participating. I have used exercise to help me maintain my weight loss, and am now noticing a difference in my performance and have found that my energy levels have really picked up due to the weight loss. I have started playing five a side football weekly and squash fortnightly. I am a grass bowler and losing the inches has allowed me to improve at that - I can bend to pick the bowls up without putting pressure on my lungs. My biggest physical achievement so far has been a sponsored run in June where I ran 1 mile (5 laps) in each of the 12 SPL football grounds. It was physically exhausting but I know that had I attempted this carrying the 4 stone I had lost by then there is no way I could have completed it - in fact I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take part.
I have been posting weekly updates on Twitter and Facebook regarding my weight loss, which has resulted in some really motivational feedback from family and friends. Not only has it kept me focussed, I have inspired other people to take action, which has given me a huge boost and enabled us to develop a network of support.
The biggest change on my life has been due to the increased confidence due to the weight loss which has enabled me to put myself out there more and take more risks without being afraid of the consequences. I had been single for a number of years following a long term relationship and had not really contemplated dating however, in March I met up with an old friend for a drink and, due to my increased confidence this has developed into a relationship.
June 29, 2010
June 28, 2010
Slimmer of the Year Application
Okay so i don't like my application i hate talking about myself and struggle to blow my own trumpet. Here is my application for the Scottish Slimmer of the year award. I really don't know what to think I want the success and the recognition of my hard work. But if my class manager was not so keen for me to go for it I would never think to apply myself, I need to be reassured that it is worth going for.
So would really appreciate any thoughts anybody has to say on the application. It is not just about losing weight, it is how has the weight loss improved your life, have you become more active and have you inspired anybody else with your success.
This is simply my first draft that I am sending to my class manager tomorrow for her thoughts, it has to be submitted by 9th July, all comments greatly appreciated.
Slimmer of the Year Application
I have been over weight since I was a teenager, I joined my first Scottish Slimmer class when I was 19 when my Mum took me along, I have no idea how heavy I was back then all I remember is that in my first week I lost 9lbs. In the following 12 years I have rejoined and usually lost 2 stone and then given up.
This year I woke up on the 2nd of January hung-over and I looked in the mirror, I was disgusted with what I saw and decided that I was going to try again and lose weight. I rejoined on 11th January with Morag who I have worked with before and had success with. I weighed in at almost my heaviest ever at 21 stone 1lb.
I have stayed on the diet religiously with exceptional support from my Dad, he is helping by organising breakfasts for both of us and he has been making free soup in large batches for me to take as lunches. He has also lost weight and has reached his target weight with a loss of 2 stone 5.5lbs.
My success this year has been fantastic, I have used sport as exercise to help me maintain my weight loss, but have really stepped it up as the weight has come off. I now play five a side football every Monday, I have found that my energy levels have really picked up with the weight loss and that allows me to last the full hour. I am playing Squash a couple of times a month and again as the weight has come off I am lasting the length of the game and have really found my mobility around the court has greatly improved in the last few months. I am a bowler and losing the inches has allowed me to improve at that. Even though it is not an energetic game I am feeling better even through games that are lasting 3 hours, also I can bend to pick the bowls up without putting pressure on my lungs.
My biggest success through the weight loss was a sponsored run over the weekend of 5th and 6th of June where I ran 1 mile in each of the 12 SPL football grounds, we did 5 laps of each pitch. It was physically exhausting but I know that had I attempted this with the 4 stone I had lost by then there is no way I could have completed it, as I just would not have been physically able to keep going.
My life has totally changed since I started losing weight in March at 3 stone off I was asked out for a drink by a girl that was unaware of my weight loss endeavours, without the success I would never have agreed to meet her and now we are very happily together as a couple and things are going really well.
Part of my routine and as a motivation to myself to keep going with the weight loss I have been posting weekly updates on Twitter and Facebook, the comments I have been getting back have been brilliant and they have kept me going. There are many comments that include the fact that people are willing to give it a go based upon my success. At work I have been getting comments and questions about my success this has lead a few people to start trying and to keep going because they are trying to emulate me. This has also resulted in a friend from work now joining Scottish Slimmers after years of being overweight as he has seen my success and would like to try and get some for himself.
So would really appreciate any thoughts anybody has to say on the application. It is not just about losing weight, it is how has the weight loss improved your life, have you become more active and have you inspired anybody else with your success.
This is simply my first draft that I am sending to my class manager tomorrow for her thoughts, it has to be submitted by 9th July, all comments greatly appreciated.
Slimmer of the Year Application
I have been over weight since I was a teenager, I joined my first Scottish Slimmer class when I was 19 when my Mum took me along, I have no idea how heavy I was back then all I remember is that in my first week I lost 9lbs. In the following 12 years I have rejoined and usually lost 2 stone and then given up.
This year I woke up on the 2nd of January hung-over and I looked in the mirror, I was disgusted with what I saw and decided that I was going to try again and lose weight. I rejoined on 11th January with Morag who I have worked with before and had success with. I weighed in at almost my heaviest ever at 21 stone 1lb.
I have stayed on the diet religiously with exceptional support from my Dad, he is helping by organising breakfasts for both of us and he has been making free soup in large batches for me to take as lunches. He has also lost weight and has reached his target weight with a loss of 2 stone 5.5lbs.
My success this year has been fantastic, I have used sport as exercise to help me maintain my weight loss, but have really stepped it up as the weight has come off. I now play five a side football every Monday, I have found that my energy levels have really picked up with the weight loss and that allows me to last the full hour. I am playing Squash a couple of times a month and again as the weight has come off I am lasting the length of the game and have really found my mobility around the court has greatly improved in the last few months. I am a bowler and losing the inches has allowed me to improve at that. Even though it is not an energetic game I am feeling better even through games that are lasting 3 hours, also I can bend to pick the bowls up without putting pressure on my lungs.
My biggest success through the weight loss was a sponsored run over the weekend of 5th and 6th of June where I ran 1 mile in each of the 12 SPL football grounds, we did 5 laps of each pitch. It was physically exhausting but I know that had I attempted this with the 4 stone I had lost by then there is no way I could have completed it, as I just would not have been physically able to keep going.
My life has totally changed since I started losing weight in March at 3 stone off I was asked out for a drink by a girl that was unaware of my weight loss endeavours, without the success I would never have agreed to meet her and now we are very happily together as a couple and things are going really well.
Part of my routine and as a motivation to myself to keep going with the weight loss I have been posting weekly updates on Twitter and Facebook, the comments I have been getting back have been brilliant and they have kept me going. There are many comments that include the fact that people are willing to give it a go based upon my success. At work I have been getting comments and questions about my success this has lead a few people to start trying and to keep going because they are trying to emulate me. This has also resulted in a friend from work now joining Scottish Slimmers after years of being overweight as he has seen my success and would like to try and get some for himself.
October 20, 2009
My Family Story
So my family on my Dad's side was always straight forward until a discussion with Auntie Annie brought about some questions.
My surname is Neill which we obviously get from my Father, his father however was Alexander Westwood Neill. Now it turns out that he was raised by Janet & George Neill but he was not their son he was brought into the family after his mother died in Child birth. He was not legally adopted by the Neill family but was raised as their son and took their name, possibly for school and so as not to raise any questions but there was no secret within the family.
So the situation was that that we discovered that we were not infact of the Neill clan we were Westwoods and with no legal adoption there was some slight discussion about whether our name should have been changed. Legally I cannot take the Westwood name as I am second generation Neill registered and therefore it is my family name. But it raised the question of "Auntie Annie" and our cousins Willy and David, while "family" were we actually related and why was my Grandfather taken in by the Neill's.
Well this weekend I found out the truth, we were in Dingwall and we met up with Cousin David, he has become the family historian and has been tracing the family tree, he has got some branches back to 1630, he has found family in the states, Canada and New Zealand, family that has gone to England and Ireland, all over the world, some very tenous links but family that seperated within the 1700's but we are all linked in the ether.
So the discussion was around the family Neill and further back and while it was fascinating there was always the question does this actually apply to my family? were these people from the 18th and 19th centuries anything to do with me all. (this was not really going through my mind but it was a thought I had in the past).
Then David came out with the most recent revelation he had discovered, John Fraser born in 1810, John had 2 daughters Fanny & Margaret.
Margaret Fraser married Adam Moffat in 1871
They had a daughter Janet Moffat (1883 – 1943)
Janet Moffat Married George Neill (1880 – 1971)
They had a son George Proudfoot Neill
George Neill married Annie Dick in 1943
They had 2 sons Willy Neill & David Neill
Fanny Fraser married Alexander Westwood in 1875
They had a son Robert Westwood (1883 - )
Robert Westwood married Catherine Ballantine in 1908
They had a son Alexander Westood
Alexander Westwood married Roy Low in 1941
They had 4 children, Alexander, George, Robert & Margaret
So what happened in history was that Robert Westwood's wife Catherine Ballantine died in childbirth when Alexander Westwood was born (My Grandfather). Robert could not look after the new born baby for whatever reason and his cousin Janet Moffat took him in and raised him.
So George and Alexander were raised as brothers however they were in fact second cousins, my Dad and his cousins Willy and David were raised as 1st cousins but in reallity they were 3rd cousins. So we are still familynot as close as how everybody was raised but closer than suspicions might have been with the partial stories we were told when we were younger. So possibly I should not be a Neill but I am still a branch on the family tree that I have always known.
The connection is my Great, great, great Grandfather John Fraser, born in 1810 nearly 200 hundred years ago.
My surname is Neill which we obviously get from my Father, his father however was Alexander Westwood Neill. Now it turns out that he was raised by Janet & George Neill but he was not their son he was brought into the family after his mother died in Child birth. He was not legally adopted by the Neill family but was raised as their son and took their name, possibly for school and so as not to raise any questions but there was no secret within the family.
So the situation was that that we discovered that we were not infact of the Neill clan we were Westwoods and with no legal adoption there was some slight discussion about whether our name should have been changed. Legally I cannot take the Westwood name as I am second generation Neill registered and therefore it is my family name. But it raised the question of "Auntie Annie" and our cousins Willy and David, while "family" were we actually related and why was my Grandfather taken in by the Neill's.
Well this weekend I found out the truth, we were in Dingwall and we met up with Cousin David, he has become the family historian and has been tracing the family tree, he has got some branches back to 1630, he has found family in the states, Canada and New Zealand, family that has gone to England and Ireland, all over the world, some very tenous links but family that seperated within the 1700's but we are all linked in the ether.
So the discussion was around the family Neill and further back and while it was fascinating there was always the question does this actually apply to my family? were these people from the 18th and 19th centuries anything to do with me all. (this was not really going through my mind but it was a thought I had in the past).
Then David came out with the most recent revelation he had discovered, John Fraser born in 1810, John had 2 daughters Fanny & Margaret.
Margaret Fraser married Adam Moffat in 1871
They had a daughter Janet Moffat (1883 – 1943)
Janet Moffat Married George Neill (1880 – 1971)
They had a son George Proudfoot Neill
George Neill married Annie Dick in 1943
They had 2 sons Willy Neill & David Neill
Fanny Fraser married Alexander Westwood in 1875
They had a son Robert Westwood (1883 - )
Robert Westwood married Catherine Ballantine in 1908
They had a son Alexander Westood
Alexander Westwood married Roy Low in 1941
They had 4 children, Alexander, George, Robert & Margaret
So what happened in history was that Robert Westwood's wife Catherine Ballantine died in childbirth when Alexander Westwood was born (My Grandfather). Robert could not look after the new born baby for whatever reason and his cousin Janet Moffat took him in and raised him.
So George and Alexander were raised as brothers however they were in fact second cousins, my Dad and his cousins Willy and David were raised as 1st cousins but in reallity they were 3rd cousins. So we are still familynot as close as how everybody was raised but closer than suspicions might have been with the partial stories we were told when we were younger. So possibly I should not be a Neill but I am still a branch on the family tree that I have always known.
The connection is my Great, great, great Grandfather John Fraser, born in 1810 nearly 200 hundred years ago.
May 18, 2009
Bowling Update, week commencing 09/05/09
Have decided to update the Bowling on a weekly basis rather than after every game, as I can play quite a few and do not want to bore anybody that may be interested in reading these posts.
Saturday 09/05/09 - Geddes Round 1
The Geddes is a singles competition first to score 21 shots, I won 21-17 a good competitive game, i was in a commanding position half way through and then my opponent pulled it back and it was a close finish. Round 2 has to be played by 08/06/09
Wednesday 13/05/09 (Afternoon) - Championship Round 1
The championship is the premier singles competition in the club, the winner of the competition gets, their name on the honours board where it will stay forever. I won the first round, I was never really winning the game but i dominated the last 3 ends and managed to win 21-16, my opponent had 2 bad ens which allowed me to card 4's at the 3rd last and last ends to sneak the win. the second round has to be played by 08/06/09
Wednesday 13/05/09 (Evening) - Water of Leith 1st 16
Forth league match of the season and we lost again, as a rink we have only won 1 of our first 4 games, we have played quite well but not good enough to win. As a team we got beat 3-2 and currently sitting mid table, we must do better. Next game vs Juniper Green 20/05/09
Thursday 14/05/09 - Edinburgh & Leith Bowling Association (ELBA) Rink Prelim Round
We qualified for this competition as we were beaten in the final of the club competition. There are 6 rounds and we went out in the first round. We were drawn against Portobello at Fountain Brewery, the green was terrible very difficult but we managed to scrape through by getting a shot at the last end and we made it through to the next end. the next round is played on Thursday 21/05/09
Friday 15/05/09 - West of Edinburgh 2nd 16
Second league match of the season for the second league we are part of. We won the match as a team 6-3, as a rink we lost by 2 shots, however this was probably my best performance from a personal level and yet we still lost. Always good to play well but would have been nice to pull off a victory from this performance, next game 22/05/09
Well until I have played next week's games.
Saturday 09/05/09 - Geddes Round 1
The Geddes is a singles competition first to score 21 shots, I won 21-17 a good competitive game, i was in a commanding position half way through and then my opponent pulled it back and it was a close finish. Round 2 has to be played by 08/06/09
Wednesday 13/05/09 (Afternoon) - Championship Round 1
The championship is the premier singles competition in the club, the winner of the competition gets, their name on the honours board where it will stay forever. I won the first round, I was never really winning the game but i dominated the last 3 ends and managed to win 21-16, my opponent had 2 bad ens which allowed me to card 4's at the 3rd last and last ends to sneak the win. the second round has to be played by 08/06/09
Wednesday 13/05/09 (Evening) - Water of Leith 1st 16
Forth league match of the season and we lost again, as a rink we have only won 1 of our first 4 games, we have played quite well but not good enough to win. As a team we got beat 3-2 and currently sitting mid table, we must do better. Next game vs Juniper Green 20/05/09
Thursday 14/05/09 - Edinburgh & Leith Bowling Association (ELBA) Rink Prelim Round
We qualified for this competition as we were beaten in the final of the club competition. There are 6 rounds and we went out in the first round. We were drawn against Portobello at Fountain Brewery, the green was terrible very difficult but we managed to scrape through by getting a shot at the last end and we made it through to the next end. the next round is played on Thursday 21/05/09
Friday 15/05/09 - West of Edinburgh 2nd 16
Second league match of the season for the second league we are part of. We won the match as a team 6-3, as a rink we lost by 2 shots, however this was probably my best performance from a personal level and yet we still lost. Always good to play well but would have been nice to pull off a victory from this performance, next game 22/05/09
Well until I have played next week's games.
Pain, the first part of making a change
I was at the dentist today, this is the first treatment I have had in about 7 years. I did not have a problem with Dentists just moved a couple of times and then never did anything when i moved, just lazy. I decided it was time to bring my life to some sort of order, i have been working on my debt and credit cards, cleaning up my finances and looking into my health. My teeth hurt so i thought about getting that sorted first.
I was there last week, i needed 1 filling and a new crown (lost it about 5 years ago) so the work started today and man I am in pain, the numbness sucks as a whole, the work itself was fine however my gums have been drilled to hell and the ache makes me feel terrible.
But i go back on Friday the 29th and my teeth will be fixed and all for the lovely price of £418.00, so while I have now got to the position of sorting my Teeth, my finances are again screwed, life goes in circles.
I was there last week, i needed 1 filling and a new crown (lost it about 5 years ago) so the work started today and man I am in pain, the numbness sucks as a whole, the work itself was fine however my gums have been drilled to hell and the ache makes me feel terrible.
But i go back on Friday the 29th and my teeth will be fixed and all for the lovely price of £418.00, so while I have now got to the position of sorting my Teeth, my finances are again screwed, life goes in circles.
May 09, 2009
Water of Leith 1st 16 vs Colinton
Well it is a Friday night and we have been out in the League again tonight, third game and as a rink we won, yayy, we managed to win by 3 shots, we were struggling to stay in the game until the last few ends when we managed to make it past the opposition. The team were 3 rinks up one down, however they had a better shot difference in the one rink up so the final score was 3-2 to Currie.
We have now played 3 won 2 and have 8 points from a possible 15, not a terrible start but we must get better if we want to challenge.
Anyway better go on that short note as i have the first round of the Geddes trophy, a singles competition see how i get on in that i do feel that I am getting better as the games progress but i must be careful and concentrate.
10am on Saturday We will see how this goes.
We have now played 3 won 2 and have 8 points from a possible 15, not a terrible start but we must get better if we want to challenge.
Anyway better go on that short note as i have the first round of the Geddes trophy, a singles competition see how i get on in that i do feel that I am getting better as the games progress but i must be careful and concentrate.
10am on Saturday We will see how this goes.
May 07, 2009
Bowling an explanation
I will probably be posting a lot about bowling and as marius has asked for an explanation, I will see if I can explain for the non-player.
Bowling is played on a green which is a square of grass which is flat (or supposed to be). The version I play is known as Lawn Bowls, there is a slight variant known as crown bowls, the real main difference to crown bowls is no rinks, a rink is explained below.
A bowling green
http://northendensocialclub.co.uk/images/imag0002.jpg
The square is surrounded by a ditch, which is usually about 2 inches deep and lined with stones or carpet.
The object of the game is to get closest to the white or jack, usually a small ball about 3 or 4 inches in diameter and the bowls are about 7 or 8 inches in diameter you have between 2 and 4 bowls depending on the format of the game. The bowls are round and have what is known as a bias, this means that one side is weighted and the weights can vary. This means that the bowl is thrown out so that it will bend back to the jack. and travels in an arc, this again can vary depending on the flatness of the green.
Image of bowls and a jack.
http://www.kclsport.com.au/admin/editor/assets/service/bowling%20greens/img_0641.jpg
You place the mat, a rubber mat about 2 feet long 1 foot wide which you must throw from. You throw the jack to the preferred length there are minimums and maximums but the minimum is 23 metres. maximum is 2 metres from the ditch which can be different depending on the green you are playing on. So the jack is set to the middle of the rink and you then take turns throwing the bowls to try and get as close to the jack as possible. After all the bowls have been thrown the closest bowl wins the shot and you get as many shots as bowls you have closer than your opponent. e.g. 2 bowls closer than your opponent 2 shots and so on.
When all the bowls have been thrown and the shots decided this is called an end, you can play to either a shot total or a prescribed number of ends.
Singles - one person v another person usually you have 4 bowls each and you play ends until somebody reaches 21 shots.
Pairs - 2 people v 2 people, 4 bowls each you play 17 ends.
Pairs - 2 people v 2 people, 2 bowls each you play 21 ends.
Triples - 3 people v 3 people, 3 bowls each you play 15 ends.
Rink - 4 people v 4 people, 2 bowls each you play 17 ends.
Sometimes games can be different such as 2 bowl singles, 2 bowl triples, 3 bowl pairs and 21 ends in the rink game.
League format, the leagues I play in is 4 Rinks, 17 ends 1 point per rink and 1 for the overall team score. Therefore you are playing for 5 points and the score can be split such as 3-2. Another league i play in is the same format but 2 points for a winning a rink and 1 for the aggregate so playing for 9 points.
The green is usually divided in to 6 rinks, this means it can be played north to south or east to west. The rinks are measured to mins and maxs but can vary per green. If a bowl goes outside the rink then it is a dead bowl and taken off, if a bowl goes into the ditch at the end of the rink then it is also considered dead. If the bowl touches the bowl then it is considered a toucher or chalker as it is marked with chalk, either a stick or spray. If this bowl then goes into the ditch it is still considered live. If the jack goes into the ditch it is considered live, if it goes out the side of the rink then it is a 'burnt' end and in most cases has to be replayed.
Therefore your league team is 16 players, divided into 4 rinks of 4, there is a prescribed order that is played in, always you bowl your opponent bowls, in the rink game there are 16 bowls on the rink in play.
The Lead - He is responsible for setting the mat, in the middle of the rink minimum 2 metres from the ditch and 23 metres from 2 metres from the opposite ditch. He also throws the jack to the preferred length a skill in it's own, he then plays first.
The second - he throws second and is also responsible for keeping the score card and responsibility.
The third - Can you guess when he goes? Of course after the second, he obviously has 8 bowls on the rink before he plays so has to be a more skillful player to navigate the bowls that are perhaps not that close to the jack.
The Skip - Last to bowl and usually the best player in the rink, he has 12 bowls to navigate and as he is last if not holding the shot might have to take action to sort this out, they are usually considered the capt of their rink. It is also up to them to tell the first three what they should attempt to do with their bowls.
As you can see it seems like quite a lot to take in, essentially it is a simple game about being closest to the jack at the end of the end you are playing and scoring more shots than your opponent. tactics can come in at the end of the game as you might be losing but your team is winning then it is important to make sure the aggregate score comes in your favour.
Bowling is played by men and women from 10 years to 80 years, but no maximum if you are fit enough to play. We will play in any weather as long as the rain has not flooded the green or that it will cause damage to the green. The leagues i play in are male leagues, but i am representing my club in the mixed pairs Scottish qualifiers, i am essentially 10 games away from being the Scottish champion in that game, but we will not get carried away still have to win the first game.
Bowls is played at club level, you can proceed to county when you are selected to play for your area, then there is the international level.
I have played bowls since i was 13 and as I am now 31 i have been playing for 18 years and I love it, my dad and 2 uncles also play, so a family game and the club is a community where you know people, there are fights and good times but it is a place to socialise, which is a big part of the game, usually a couple of drinks are taken during the game and a couple after where you and your opponent celebrate and commiserate together.
The best part for me in the league i a in I have played and beat Scottish International players and county players, they are better because they have the consistency to play well all the time, but sometimes you can beat them, everybody has an off day.
Bowling has for a long time been a game for the older generation, some of the babes that play bowls.
http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/media/image/p/o/bowls_(o)_large.jpg
You also play indoor bowls which is played in the winter, same basic rules but you have no weather to contend with and you play on a carpet, which is like playing on a snooker or pool table sometimes, same game different sport altogether.
Well writing that was harder than i thought it would be but there is the game of bowls, i hope you now have an understanding of what i do every Wednesday and Friday fro 16 weeks every summer and will celebrate with me when I win and commiserate when I lose.
Any questions please feel free to comment and i will try and answer them.
Yours in bowling Andrew
Bowling is played on a green which is a square of grass which is flat (or supposed to be). The version I play is known as Lawn Bowls, there is a slight variant known as crown bowls, the real main difference to crown bowls is no rinks, a rink is explained below.
A bowling green
http://northendensocialclub.co.uk/images/imag0002.jpg
The square is surrounded by a ditch, which is usually about 2 inches deep and lined with stones or carpet.
The object of the game is to get closest to the white or jack, usually a small ball about 3 or 4 inches in diameter and the bowls are about 7 or 8 inches in diameter you have between 2 and 4 bowls depending on the format of the game. The bowls are round and have what is known as a bias, this means that one side is weighted and the weights can vary. This means that the bowl is thrown out so that it will bend back to the jack. and travels in an arc, this again can vary depending on the flatness of the green.
Image of bowls and a jack.
http://www.kclsport.com.au/admin/editor/assets/service/bowling%20greens/img_0641.jpg
You place the mat, a rubber mat about 2 feet long 1 foot wide which you must throw from. You throw the jack to the preferred length there are minimums and maximums but the minimum is 23 metres. maximum is 2 metres from the ditch which can be different depending on the green you are playing on. So the jack is set to the middle of the rink and you then take turns throwing the bowls to try and get as close to the jack as possible. After all the bowls have been thrown the closest bowl wins the shot and you get as many shots as bowls you have closer than your opponent. e.g. 2 bowls closer than your opponent 2 shots and so on.
When all the bowls have been thrown and the shots decided this is called an end, you can play to either a shot total or a prescribed number of ends.
Singles - one person v another person usually you have 4 bowls each and you play ends until somebody reaches 21 shots.
Pairs - 2 people v 2 people, 4 bowls each you play 17 ends.
Pairs - 2 people v 2 people, 2 bowls each you play 21 ends.
Triples - 3 people v 3 people, 3 bowls each you play 15 ends.
Rink - 4 people v 4 people, 2 bowls each you play 17 ends.
Sometimes games can be different such as 2 bowl singles, 2 bowl triples, 3 bowl pairs and 21 ends in the rink game.
League format, the leagues I play in is 4 Rinks, 17 ends 1 point per rink and 1 for the overall team score. Therefore you are playing for 5 points and the score can be split such as 3-2. Another league i play in is the same format but 2 points for a winning a rink and 1 for the aggregate so playing for 9 points.
The green is usually divided in to 6 rinks, this means it can be played north to south or east to west. The rinks are measured to mins and maxs but can vary per green. If a bowl goes outside the rink then it is a dead bowl and taken off, if a bowl goes into the ditch at the end of the rink then it is also considered dead. If the bowl touches the bowl then it is considered a toucher or chalker as it is marked with chalk, either a stick or spray. If this bowl then goes into the ditch it is still considered live. If the jack goes into the ditch it is considered live, if it goes out the side of the rink then it is a 'burnt' end and in most cases has to be replayed.
Therefore your league team is 16 players, divided into 4 rinks of 4, there is a prescribed order that is played in, always you bowl your opponent bowls, in the rink game there are 16 bowls on the rink in play.
The Lead - He is responsible for setting the mat, in the middle of the rink minimum 2 metres from the ditch and 23 metres from 2 metres from the opposite ditch. He also throws the jack to the preferred length a skill in it's own, he then plays first.
The second - he throws second and is also responsible for keeping the score card and responsibility.
The third - Can you guess when he goes? Of course after the second, he obviously has 8 bowls on the rink before he plays so has to be a more skillful player to navigate the bowls that are perhaps not that close to the jack.
The Skip - Last to bowl and usually the best player in the rink, he has 12 bowls to navigate and as he is last if not holding the shot might have to take action to sort this out, they are usually considered the capt of their rink. It is also up to them to tell the first three what they should attempt to do with their bowls.
As you can see it seems like quite a lot to take in, essentially it is a simple game about being closest to the jack at the end of the end you are playing and scoring more shots than your opponent. tactics can come in at the end of the game as you might be losing but your team is winning then it is important to make sure the aggregate score comes in your favour.
Bowling is played by men and women from 10 years to 80 years, but no maximum if you are fit enough to play. We will play in any weather as long as the rain has not flooded the green or that it will cause damage to the green. The leagues i play in are male leagues, but i am representing my club in the mixed pairs Scottish qualifiers, i am essentially 10 games away from being the Scottish champion in that game, but we will not get carried away still have to win the first game.
Bowls is played at club level, you can proceed to county when you are selected to play for your area, then there is the international level.
I have played bowls since i was 13 and as I am now 31 i have been playing for 18 years and I love it, my dad and 2 uncles also play, so a family game and the club is a community where you know people, there are fights and good times but it is a place to socialise, which is a big part of the game, usually a couple of drinks are taken during the game and a couple after where you and your opponent celebrate and commiserate together.
The best part for me in the league i a in I have played and beat Scottish International players and county players, they are better because they have the consistency to play well all the time, but sometimes you can beat them, everybody has an off day.
Bowling has for a long time been a game for the older generation, some of the babes that play bowls.
http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/media/image/p/o/bowls_(o)_large.jpg
You also play indoor bowls which is played in the winter, same basic rules but you have no weather to contend with and you play on a carpet, which is like playing on a snooker or pool table sometimes, same game different sport altogether.
Well writing that was harder than i thought it would be but there is the game of bowls, i hope you now have an understanding of what i do every Wednesday and Friday fro 16 weeks every summer and will celebrate with me when I win and commiserate when I lose.
Any questions please feel free to comment and i will try and answer them.
Yours in bowling Andrew
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