Published on 1st February 2023

Like many sports clubs, Horsham Indoor Bowls Club was heavily impacted by the pandemic. By focusing on a relaxed atmosphere and nurturing newcomers, the club’s membership is now recovering. AAH visited the Broadbridge Heath-based club on its January Open Day and spoke to chairman Peter Ruddle, ladies captain Jan Barnes, coach Ian Coker, secretary Jo Lawrence and new member Andy Williams…

Peter: Horsham District Indoor Bowls Club was built in 1996, when the modern facility set new standards in the county. In the years since, the club has welcomed everyone from novices to national champions. One of the great things about bowls is that it’s a social game where men and women of any age can compete equally. It also provides intense competition for those who crave it. We host internal leagues and competitions, county and national matches for those seeking a greater challenge, as well as bowls-for-fun sessions on Wednesday evenings, with music and an informal atmosphere. So there’s something for everyone. 

Jo: Bowls has a reputation as being a stuffy game with a strict dress code, but this is changing. During one of my first matches, I felt uncomfortable as I kept being told where I could and couldn’t stand, as if bowls etiquette was something I should have naturally possessed! I’ve never forgotten that and we’re more welcoming these days.We’re not as fussy about the uniform either. The dress code is less formal outside of matches, as we want people to relax. 

Ian: Bowls is sometimes perceived as a game for old people in dull uniforms, but that’s not my style; I wear brightly coloured shirts out of competition. Even at the World Championships, you’ll see players in casual clothing chatting to one another, as the game is becoming more informal. We replicate that here. As a Level 1 coach (others at the club include Judith Hitchman, a Level 2 coach) I look after new players. The focus is on fun, as if they enjoy it, they’ll come back. Wednesday night sessions are great for introducing people to bowls, as its gives people a chance to make new friends. 

Jo: It’s important to give people opportunities to form friendships, as they’re more likely to become members if they settle in and enjoy the company of others. In the old days, we had a large membership and perhaps took that for granted. But we need to work harder for new members now, nurturing their game and encouraging the social side too. We give everyone opportunities to play, even running a handicap league so novices can take on experienced players with a chance of winning. We’ve also introduced a new bowlers’ league on Friday mornings, which acts as a stepping stone. It also gives those with natural ability the chance to shine. One lady, who has only been here for a couple of weeks, is already good enough to join the county team.

Ian: When it comes to youth bowls, we’ve had a couple of false dawns. There are a lot of other things that children find more appealing. However, we are developing family sessions on Saturday mornings, where parents or grandparents can come down to play bowls with children. We have coached a couple of families already and they’ve enjoyed it, as there’s a relaxed vibe, with an element of competitiveness too. It’s not for unaccompanied children, but families can enjoy spending time together and we have bowls for them to use. 

Peter: As a community club, it’s important to be inclusive. We host an Alzheimer’s group and the U3A, and recently welcomed a group from St John’s Church in Broadbridge Heath for a bowls evening. We also host short mat bowls. We have an eight-rink green, but often utilise two rinks to accommodate the short-mat format. The short-mat game appeals to different people and we already have about 60 short-mat members.

Peter: One of the ways we attract new members is through Open Days. We held one last summer that attracted 40 people and our January event coincided with the World Indoor Championships, screened on the BBC. People get hooked on bowls in the same way they do with curling during the Olympics, so we attract people who wouldn’t normally play bowls. We also see many people who have previously enjoyed team sports. They still have a sporting mentality, but perhaps cannot continue with rugby, football, cricket or other sports as age catches up with them. We attract a lot of golfers wanting to head indoors for winter, while still getting a competitive fix.  

Andy: People have this idea that bowls is just for people who have retired, but it isn’t. After coaching football, I was looking for something else to do and fancied giving it a try. I went along for a couple of free sessions before Christmas and was made to feel really welcome. After only a few weeks, the county team was a player short and I was selected for a match at Hastings. What I found amazing was that our opponents were encouraging me too. The social aspect of the game is great, whether you play friendly matches or county games, but it also has that competitive element. I've since had the chance to play in a national competition, so within my first year here, I’ve covered the whole spectrum. 

Jo: What’s great about bowls is that there’s a lot of mixing, with ladies able to compete and often beat the men. One of the most enjoyable events is the Australian pairs league on Friday night, as players change position after each end, so there’s more variety and you’re up against different opponents. It means there’s a more sociable feel to matches. In the past, the men’s team has done well, with players like David Miller becoming national champion. In recent years, the ladies’ team has thrived, reaching the quarter-finals of a national competition just before the pandemic. 

Jan: My mum was a terrific bowler, but I didn’t take up the game until I retired as a headteacher. She kept playing until she was in her 90s, so hopefully I have plenty of years ahead of me too! As ladies’ captain, I’m responsible for team selection for county and national competitions, along with the vice-captain. There are usually 20 players at a game, with teams of four playing across five rinks. Some people find matches daunting and assume they’re not good enough or lack the experience, which is why it’s important for us to be friendly and approachable as a club. We don’t set high expectations when it comes to competition, and I tell jokes to keep the mood in the group light!

Andy: I have loved every minute since I joined. I was welcomed with open arms and – after football – it has been the best sport I've been involved with. There’s a bit of banter from my old football friends, but I’d recommend bowls to anyone. You can just have fun if you like, or be as competitive as you can be. 
Jo: It’s an affordable game too. Our membership fee is very low and it’s even lower if you sign up now, with the season ending in September. Compared to a gym, it’s great value. We also have lots of opportunities for people to try the game and see if they enjoy it before committing to buying their own bowls and equipment and signing up for membership. 

Peter: We also have a good food and drinks bar, run by Chris Cunningham. Chris has several strings to his bow, also running a takeaway service and the kitchen at Broadbridge Heath FC. In recent years, our age demographic has decreased too, owing to a spurt of younger members. The average age is around mid-50, whereas it used to be the case that people would take up bowls later in life. There’s new energy and fresh ideas, both on the green and on the club committee, so the future is looking bright.

Visit: Horsham District Indoor Bowls Club, Wickhurst Lane,Broadbridge Heath, RH12 3LZ. For details of membership and club events, visit https://www.hdib.club