Renouf challenges top bowlers to help

CHARLIE RENOUF is scared for the future of indoor bowls because precious few bowlers are prepared to put something back into the sport. The Guernsey Indoor Bowling Association is due to lose three of its current committee to retirement at the annual meeting in April and the president emphasised that it desperately needs new blood on council, as well as more people prepared to help run its Hougue du Pommier headquarters.

'I am very concerned about the manning and the future of the stadium,' said Renouf .

'We just cannot get the volunteers. We pay one part-time cleaner, but everything else falls on the committee and it is unpaid.

'What I would like to see is more of the better bowlers - the people who get the most out of bowls - get involved. We have not got any of the top bowlers on committee.

'To be fair, the top dozen get everything out of bowls and do not put much back in, with the exception of Ali and Ian Merrien, who are fantastic.'

Renouf does a lot of the work at the Guernsey Bowls Stadium himself and is helped by others, who are also retired.

The president, who is approaching his 72nd birthday, estimated that he spent 25-30 hours a week at the stadium, but said he could continue at that pace.

He understands that the younger generations of bowlers have to work during the day, but he is disappointed by their unwillingness to spare any time for the good of the club.

'The majority of the ones doing the work are, naturally, retired so they can be here during the day,' Renouf said.

'One member, Ricky Brehaut, comes down here at six o'clock in the morning every day to hoover the carpet. He is terrific. Anything we need help on he does, and that is what we need.'

Another hot topic of debate facing the sport's membership is whether to continue their affiliation to the World and British Isles Indoor Bowls Councils.

Each year, it costs the GIBA in the region of £1,000 in fees and meeting attendance to be involved with the two councils and while only the elite players qualify to participate in the international events, all of the GIBA membership are hit with the costs.

Several members have questioned whether that is the right way to finance it.

'It would be a sad day if we chose not to continue, but I can understand their feeling of what do we get out it,' said Renouf.