W2D-014 Bowling matters-0.txt
Corky's Column

Irish international and tv-commentator, David Corkill, has joined Today's Bowler to pass on his many experiences and give his views on the game and how he sees it developing.

SCOTLAND WITHOUT!

The Home International Series took place in my home town of Belfast with arguably the best team (they were after all the holders) not involved.

Last month former Scottish international Gary Hood gave his views on the decision of his country to pull out of the event and many others have also passed comment.

I personally believe that it was a decision taken in haste.

The reason given was that the financial contribution by Scotland was too high, maybe so. The figure of 35p levied on all bowlers is on top of the £ 10,000 each country pays towards the Championship/Series. Scotland's contribution was therefore £ 33,000 which on the face of it, accepting that England pay a lot more, is substantial.

The issue for me though is not the cost of money terms it is more about the repercussions for the bowlers of Scotland.

The losers in the withdrawal were definitely the bowlers.

Players in the outdoor game compete in many different competitions but for most it is the National Championships that are of the greatest importance.

This is for two reasons.

Firstly, to enable an uncapped player to come to the attention of the national selectors, thus giving them a chance to be selected for the trials (or equivalent) and subsequently for the national team and secondly, to compete in the British Isles Championships.

The decision to pull out of the BIBC Championships in Belfast has made both these objectives obsolete. Unless Scotland decide to go back into the fray next year at Worthing, then the Scottish trials or their equivalent, will be unnecessary.

Most competitive bowlers harbour an ambition to represent their country. The Scots are renowned for being fiercely patriotic, which is a definite strength, but they are also one of the best bowling nations in the world. The ordinary punters trying to break into that level of bowls can, for the time being, pack their bags. Without a full international team, where can they go if they aspire to wear the coveted international blazer?

This will also impact on the teams selected for Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

Of course, a small squad of players have been selected and representatives are to be chosen from the chosen few. How eletist is that option when you have no way to prove your worth at international level?

The current Scottish National title-holders who were due to come to Belfast will now not get the chance and according to all reports were not asked their opinions before they were forced to withdraw.

The issue surrounding the players who qualified for the British Isles Championships is, I believe, a different case in some respects to the international team-members.

They are not subject to the vagaries of selection as they have earned their right to compete by winning the respective national championships. That gave them the right to come to Belfast.

Could they have done so without the backing of the Scottish Bowling Association (SBA)?

Not being a lawyer, I have no idea but are we straying into the area of legal argument? Could the BIBC give them permission to compete? The answer appears to have been NO. But is this a legally correct decision? I 'm not sure as to the constitution of the BIBC but I hope someone has read it very carefully and taken legal advice before issuing the decision.

High Court action relating to bowls is not uncommon. You only have to look back at the fiasco the Irish Bowls Association were involved in when they challenged a player's right to use coloured bowls in the early stages of a national competition.

I have been asked about aggression shown on the green - was it intimidation or natural exhuberance? I replied that I felt so long as no code-of-conduct on player's behaviour or the unwritten rules of sportsmanship were broken it was a behaviour pattern to be encouraged. Noise will never replace skill but there is no harm in unsettling opponents and lifting your own side.

Next month I 'll give an update on the more interesting points of the International Series.
