Pontin’s Entertainment Holidays sponsors 2010 Jedi Festival

Oct 6 2010 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

ENCOURAGING youngsters into sport is one thing, but helping them develop a love of crown green bowling is another altogether.

Traditionally thought of as the type of activity you pick up at the same time as your free bus pass, it’s easy to see why kids might be turned off.

But that hasn’t stopped Wallasey pair Mo and John Evans running teaching sessions every Saturday and Sunday morning, for youngsters aged between six and 18.

Their efforts to bring new blood into the sport, and broaden horizons, prompted the chairman of Wirral Crown Green Bowling, Roy Cooke to nominate the duo for a Your Champions award.

Roy told the News: “They just want to see the youngsters getting into the game.

“John plays but Mo doesn’t and just enjoys looking after the kids and getting them to get into the game and get interested.

“On top of that, they run teams in the junior section of the league and have to arrange games against other teams from the Midlands and the North. It’s great to see people who are really trying to do good and get the kids interested in something.”

The sessions are run by Mo and John between April and September, at Cammell Lairds in Rock Ferry.

They attract dozens of youngsters who are compelled to stay by a developing interest and the “very bubbly and talkative characters”, John and Mo are.

And it’s not just about providing entertainment for the kids. Roy says finding talent amongst the younger generation is vital for the future health of crown green bowls.

Roy said: “It’s helping to try and get the kids into the senior game.

“People tend to think it’s an older man’s game but there’s a lot of 20 and 30-year-olds and we want to keep the game going, with youngsters progressing, otherwise the whole thing would die.”

The closing date for Your Champions nominations is this Friday, October 8. Follow the links at www.wirralnews.co.uk