Page 15 - Layout 1

Page 15:Layout 1 01/05/2013 15:58 Page 1

READERS REPLY 15
READERS REPLY
Hi Bob, I read your article about "why are ladies not as com-
petitive as men" with interest in the latest winter issue of Short
Mat International. My immediate reaction was that you obviously
had not obtained the views of your wife on the subject.
In consideration I would like to give you my own personal
observations. Bronagh Malone was a very respected, talented
and excellent member of this club for four years, and her moving
on is sadly missed, but she is a single young lady who could find
the time, and was determined to find the money for all the time
incurred in playing for the English team etc., together with the ex-
treme competitiveness of her nature.
In my experience I find that most women have home com-
mitments of both time and money, and as keen as they may be (as many are) they just cannot
find the means to compete at the very top level.
With regards to men (keeping women in their place!), I have myself played for the York-
shire county league in years gone by, and come across this very problem, having skipped for
the teams I played in I was changed to number three on the fours in my opinion to make the
male skips look good, but complaining does no good accept to brand you as a trouble maker.
I must say I enjoy the magazine each quarter and long may it continue.
Janet Crosby Crossgates SMBC Scarborough

Hi Janet,
my thanks for your reply, as it’s very difficult to get people to comment in print on my
questioning articles. My article heading asked why less successful and not less competitive.
Firstly my wife does not play at and on the question could not put forward a constructive view.
Secondly, I would agree there is probably some discrimination but on a very limited scale in-
deed. However, as to picking skips etc. do men get preferred because they are more as-
sertive and is this where the problem really lays, which brings us back to the point I made.
As to home commitments etc,. I’m sure that some have but I would argue that many
haven’t as we are basically talking about evening bowls. I’m sure there is a large number of
understanding partners who support their wives. Are some men jealous? I’m sure there are
WORTHING BOWLS CENTRE
and I’m certain we all know some WORTHING BOWLS CENTRE
ladies who are better players than
their husbands/partners.
None of this of course answers FOR FOR ALL
my basic question about the lack of CARPETS & OTHER
success and only gives peripheral HANDLING BOWLING
reasons why a few women may be UNITS ONLY ITEMS
held back in some way and I mean FREEPHONE CALL
a very few. 0800 587 01903
Going back to the incident I 8802
quoted about the lady skip being 201345
relegated to a lead, she did not
stand her ground as a man would
have done and I was present and
watched the incident.
She subsequently had a dig at
me as I did not say in my article that
despite the problem of having a
ON-LINE WEBSITE
crap skip she still won the pairs ON-LINE WEBSITE
game and effectively on her own. WWW.WORTHINGBOWLSCENTRE.CO.UK