 |
The EIBA is pleased to acknowledge the following Official Partners & Suppliers
-(003).png){kind=logo}
|
AMY WALTERS HELPS GROW THE NEXT GENERATION WITH NEW JUNIOR BOWLS SELECTION |
|
The initiative began earlier this
year when Amy was approached about joining a small team to explore
the idea of launching a junior section: "I started playing when I
was eight, so it felt important to be involved in creating something
new for the next generation," she said. After nearly 30 years in the game, the timing also felt right. With Amy's own sons Archie and Charlie beginning to show an interest in bowls, and several club members keen to push the idea forward, momentum quickly built. "There were a few of us who were really keen to get things moving, so it felt like the right time to give it a proper go," she explained. One of the first steps was reaching out to the local village school, inviting pupils to design a logo for the new junior section. A competition was held, a winning design selected, and the logo is now proudly used across club posters and its website. "That connection with the school was brilliant," Amy said. "We're still using the logo today, which is fantastic." By August, the group launched weekly junior sessions, running every Sunday morning for an hour. Supported by a committed band of volunteers, the sessions quickly gained traction. The club also secured vital funding, successfully crowdfunding £3,300, which was then matched through a Sport England grant. "The support from the club members was brilliant," said Amy. "It's meant we can now buy a proper range of bowls and equipment for the juniors." The relationship with the local school continued to grow, evolving from the logo competition into curriculum time on the green. After a teacher enquired about PE lessons at the club, six sessions were delivered to 33 Year 5 pupils - with immediate impact. Amy said: "The children absolutely loved it. We've gone from having five to ten juniors each week to around 30. Recently we have had children attending from every year group in the school." Feedback from parents and families has been overwhelmingly positive, with many admitting they were previously unaware the club even existed. "Parents have told us how much their children look forward to coming each week and how quickly their confidence has grown," Amy added. The junior section is already making its mark within the wider village too. Recently, the club hosted an eight-year-old's birthday party, combining bowls with pizza and skittles in the function room. "The feedback was incredible," Amy said. "They told us it was the best birthday party they'd ever had, which really shows the impact the junior section is already having." At home, the effect has been just as meaningful. Archie and Charlie, whose father Andy is also an international player, have now swapped cricket - previously their favourite sport - for bowls. "They really look forward to their Sunday mornings at the club," proud mum Amy said. Watching the juniors grow in confidence and enthusiasm has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the project. "They all have smiles on their faces, they cheer each other on, and when someone hits the jack they shout 'club' and start chanting, 'Join the club! Join the club!' It's brilliant to watch." Next steps include helping regular attendees take their first steps into competitive play, with plans for friendly matches and discussions already underway with Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club about a fixture against their established junior section. For Amy, the importance of strong junior pathways is rooted in her own experiences. Growing up in the South West during a particularly strong era for junior bowls in Devon and Somerset, she benefited from regular coaching sessions and competitive opportunities. "I remember Sunday mornings at Taunton Deane and lots of local junior tournaments," she said. "That exposure to competitive bowls at a young age made a huge difference." Amy is a decorated player; she won the 2011 Women's Junior Pairs national title, became the Women's Junior Singles champion in 2014, and made semi-final appearances at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in 2015 and 2017. She has also won multiple international honours plus mixed national titles alongside her husband, Andy. Yet, despite her success, it is the inclusive nature of the sport that continues to resonate most. "I love that you can be any age and compete alongside, and against, such a wide range of people," she said. "You make friendships that last a lifetime. I'm incredibly grateful my Dad talked me out of playing snooker and took me down to Wellington Bowls Club instead, it turned out to be a pretty good decision." Sian Honnor. We' d love to know what bowls means to you, get in touch at info@eiba.co.uk Previous Article - Interview with International Junior Team member Lily Adams |
February 2026
 |
Archives |
Accessibility |
Downloads |
Guidance Notes |
Links |
Photos |
Contact Us |
Privacy Notice
 |