Have-a-go event gets them on the greens

Wade Brunt (Lytton High School)

BOWLS

THIRTY students from Lytton High School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga took part in the Tairawhiti Secondary School Lawn Bowls Have-a-go Day held at the Gisborne Bowling Club greens yesterday.

The focus was on learning how to play lawn bowls in a relaxed and fun environment.

Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti regional sports director Wade Manson praised the work of the Bowls Gisborne East Coast volunteers, led by youth co-ordinator Anne Day, in looking after the students and teaching them new skills.

Anne Day said the event was “fabulous” and “the kids were amazing”. It was good to see teachers having a go, as well.

“We have good programmes running with the intermediate schools,” she said.

“The aim is to keep those players in the game when they get to high school. They have so many sports to choose from, but bowls has the advantage of being a sport for everyone.

“We are trying to get families more involved. While you can’t have people running around on the greens, we can get out the hula hoops and hacky sacks when we have social events.”

Day said free coaching would soon be available on Friday afternoons for high school students.

“That won’t work for everyone, so we hope to work with groups of three or four as required at times that suit,” she said.

“We also hope to organise coaching for youngsters at Te Karaka and Tolaga Bay, because kids there are already playing.”

Day acknowledged the help of Wade Manson and Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti in organising the have-a-go event.