Survey says...Bowling can stop us getting lazier

Post date: Oct 28, 2019 5:08:15 PM

WORRYING statistics locally say that people in Lincolnshire in general and our South Kesteven district in particular, appear to be getting lazier when it comes to keeping active.

According to the Active Lives Survey (May 2018-May 2019), Lincolnshire sits below the national average with 57.9% of its population currently participating in 150 minutes a week of a moderate intensity physical activity (like bowls), compared to England’s 63.2%.

More residents are fairly active at 12.3%, compared to 12.0% nationally, however 5% more of the county's population are inactive (29.8) compared to England (24.8).

Changes from last year’s survey show that while the percentage of Lincolnshire’s active residents dropped from 58.6 to 57.9 this year, there was a positive swing in fairly active with 1.2% more people achieving between 30 and 149 mins of activity. Inactive people dropped slightly.

Improvements were found in residents in Boston and South Holland with City of Lincoln the only district boasting higher active statistics - 4.3% higher than the England average.

South Kesteven, which features, Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings, had drops in their overall levels of physical activity from 2018, from above the national average for those achieving 150 mins + a week, to just 61.1% in 2019, with a small increase in inactive people.

With the facilities we have at Stamford Indoor Bowls, it is up to our members to encourage others - especially friends and family - to come along to our taster and coaching sessions every Saturday morning to give bowls a try and keep active.

FOOTNOTE: While on the subject of well being and how bowls can help even your mental health, you may wish to click on the follow link from the NHS:https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

BW

NOW INDIVIDUAL SUMMER COMPETITIONS, TOO!

Competitive indoor bowlers who wish to contest individual competitions during the summer as well as the winter months will have the opportunity from next April.

The governing body of the national sport - the English Indoor Bowling Association - is introducing men's and women's singles, open pairs and open triples ( any combination, mixed or otherwise) as well as hoping to expand its current Fantastic Fives inter-club team event, launched two years ago.

While it will help indoor clubs develop membership during the quieter summer months, it's a further blow to the outdoor game which is struggling nationwide because of dwindling membership numbers, weather issues and the burgeoning cost of maintaining grass greens.

Entry forms will be available from Friday (November 1). BW

RUGBY COULD BE A DISTRACTION FOR BOWLERS

Despite the likely distraction of England's World Cup rugby final against South Africa inevitably playing simultaneously somewhere in the background, Stamford's men and women bowlers will have to concentrate if they are to proceed to the second round of the national inter-club Denny and Yetton Trophies.

Both matches start at 10 am on Saturday - with two rinks of each at home and away at Barwell and Leicester respectively - when no doubt the rugby commentary will be at fever pitch.

Denny Cup: home - D Hudson, M Linnell, P Edwards, M Dolby; W Aspinall, C Ballard, A Warrington, J Harford; away - P Dalliday, B Warters, T Collins, T Morton; R Allam, N Wright, R Martin, S Law.

Yetton Trophy: home - C Gray, P Birch, R March, S Moir; J Want, M Broadbelt, C Warters, D Mackie. Away - J Brennan, M King, S Suffling, C Ford; E Wallace, M Holroyd, H Holroyd, G Edwards.

Immediately afterwards (2pm), Stamford Men's B host Spalding in a Lincs League Division One match, that was originally postponed and is now back on, despite Spalding earlier playing a Denny Cup match against Leicester.

Team: R Blake, A McNaughton, Mick Smith, T Christie; R Graham, P Banks, R Montgomerie, A Barnes; T Barwell, P Gray, M Owens, M Hebden; P Linnell, D Veasey, D Middleton, K Rippin; D Heffernan, M Dye, K Vinter, D King.

On Sunday Stamford mixed travel to Louth by coach for a Lincs Division One clash and on Tuesday (10am) Stamford field two teams in the national Over 60 double rink - the A team have a rink at home and away simultaneously against March while the B team similarly face Church Gresley (Swadlincote). BW

EGHAM SELECTIONS

The following have been selected for the next round of the Egham mixed competition against Barwell on November 10. Home - J Want, R March, J Holroyd, M Dolby; W Aspinall, M Holroyd, K Bailey, J Harford. away -E Wallace, S Suffling, M Humphreys, R Martin; R Allam, S Moir, C Ford, P Bailey.