Page 33 - Winter 2012

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Does anyone have the time to go from website to website 33
to website absorbing the news? It would take hours and
hours. This is where magazines like SMI play an impor-
tant part. We include the news from as far afield at the
Philippines. Not only that but what we print is permanent
record and not overwritten by subsequent news, which is
what happens with websites.
The bottom line is that in this world of elite sports
grabbing the funding and the publicity, we have a fight on
our hands to promote Short Mat bowls.
As an example, I have offered to send clubs a FREE
introductory copy of the magazine to spread publicity and get more articles etc. but it ap-
pears that some counties do not wish to part with club details, which, whilst it saves me a
lot of money, it means that clubs are being kept in the dark about the wider Short mat world
and are being denied the opportunity for the club news to be published. As Chris Hopkins
said to me “best of luck, even we don’t get the club details”.
Are these counties afraid that their clubs will find out more than they want them to
know? I have accepted these refusals in good heart and also accept it’s every counties right
to refuse but their motives leave me extremely puzzled and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth
continuing with magazine if it is a secret no publicity sport? Perhaps one of the counties
would have the courage to let me know why they don’t want their clubs to get a free intro-
ductory magazine. PLEASE don’t sat it’s the Data Protection Act as this is the usual excuse
quoted.
DEVELOPING OUR SPORT
As well as publicity, this is also an area where we failing to act. I believe very firmly that if
we make Short Mat bowls a true world sport then this will pay big dividends for us in the UK
but we are not doing anything! I recently established contact with someone who is looking
to develop bowls in the Far East, at least the outdoor version. An exchange of emails web-
site links and YouTube short mat Vidoes eventually led to nothing but at least I tried.
The World Short Mat Council should have a development officer on it but there isn’t
one. I’m not talking about a time server who likes to have title and a badge of office but
someone who genuinely tries to introduce Short Mat bowls to other parts of the World. An
uphill battle in areas already committed to the outdoor game, particularly where they gen-
erally have good weather most of the year but what about those areas that do not play bowls
at all or where they do but have mixed weather in their Winter.
Northern Europe is one area on our doorstep to include countries like Norway, Den-
mark, Holland and Germany etc. etc. Thankfully, Belgium and Sweden already play but not
yet in the numbers playing in the UK. However, what chance do we stand when we don’t
even give our sport any publicity? Therefore, for a long time to come, Short Mat bowls
will remain an insignificant minority sport except of course to those who play it.

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