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Bowls CEO visits Jerilderie

Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple told Jerilderie Bowling Club president and members to seek shorter forms of the game to attract new and young members on Monday.Representatives of BA were accompanied by Australian coach Steve Glasson and former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Karen Murphy during their visit to the club.Jerilderie Bowls Club president John Bryce said the visit was informative for the club and its attending members.It opened an opportunity to seek advice during to the Coronavirus pandemic and presented a potential chance to organise a return visit by Murphy for coaching sessions.‘‘Today’s visit was excellent, particularly being able to catch up with the Australian coach and one of the best female players to come out of Australia,’’ Bryce said.‘‘We’ve had a bit of feedback and hope to have them back with us again soon. I think we’re right on the money to have a coaching clinic, it looks like things are going to happen here.’’Dalrymple and representatives were excited to check in with clubs and allow members to hear from Glasson and Murphy.‘‘Post COVID-19 we’re trying to get out and visit some of the clubs, talk to them about bowls, Bowls Australia and what BCIB Insurance Brokers does,’’ Dalrymple said.‘‘It gives clubs the opportunity to meet and pick the brains of Glasson and Murphy who are icons of the sport; these visits don’t happen every day.‘‘It’s like having an Australian captain coming to visit a cricket club,’’ he said.Dalrymple explained to club members key strategies as the club seeks to recover from the pandemic.He said exploring the nation-wide short form of the game, Jack Attack, is something that should be utilised for attracting young players.‘‘We came to get to know the clubs and provide them with some guidelines and ideas on how they can make their bowls club better and try and get more people playing, getting them on the greens and help to keep them running in general with the volunteers they have,’’ Dalrymple said.‘‘This may involve trying to run bowls at different times, whether it be after work hours or weekends. It’s about trying to become more inclusive of the community and create opportunities for people to feel welcome.‘‘Jack Attack is a national program which is a shorter version of the game so it can be played within an hour or so.‘‘It’s like the T20 of bowls so that’s one of the messages. How can a club stage Jack Attack successfully? It would be nice to see that out here.’’Bryce said bowls in Jerilderie is up and running with social forms of the game, with more to be instituted as restrictions ease.‘‘At the moment we’re still social bowling on a Sunday and our pennant will likely start in October,’’ he said.‘‘Our social bowls on a Wednesday night will get going again as soon as conditions improve, which will likely be in August.’’