Disability Sport Fife is proud of the relationship it enjoys with inclusive bowling clubs throughout Fife. Clubs are located in local communities and accessible to bowlers with a physical, sensory or learning disability. Historically clubs such as Fair Isle, Lumphinnans, Windygates, St Andrews, Abbeyview, Headwell Indoor, Beveridge Park, East Fife Indoor, Strathmiglo, Kinghorn, Burntisland, Cowdenbeath, Lundin etc have supported DSF members in their efforts to develop their skills and abilities as area, national and international champions.
One of the most recent Fife clubs to join the list of inclusive bowling clubs is the Dovecot Bowling Club in Glenrothes. Members Mike and Joan Mowatt attended a DSF workshop for inclusive coaches and that started the ball rolling. The Association of Fife Rotary Clubs provided a bursary for the purchase of essential equipment and a small group of young players jumped at the opportunity to receive quality coaching from club members. The fruits of their labours are already paying dividends.
First to emerge was Briony Clark from Glenrothes who was immediately called up for the Fife bowls squad to successfully defend the 2016 Inter Area Bowls title at the Beveridge Park Bowling Club in Kirkcaldy in July. Briony then went on to compete in her first Fife Indoor Championships at the East Fife Indoor Bowling Club. At that same event Steven Anderson won the first title for the Dovecot bowlers with a win in the men’s section C competition. Newcomers Robert Anderson and Adam Faulds also made a favourable impression in their first Fife championships.
DSF is committed to involving younger players in the sport of bowls and the Dovecot BC development has made a significant impact within a short period. West Fife Community Support Services have committed to a carpet bowls development programme and ten new bowlers competed on the short carpet at the Fife Championships. This was their first experience of the Fife event and they will be back in November in Glenrothes for the DSF Carpet Bowls Championships. Yet again a group of new young bowlers taking up the sport that is regarded by many as one of the most inclusive on the DSF schedule.
Photo: Young bowlers with Mike Mowatt from Dovecot Bowling Club
Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife