The bowls jamboree, which gets under way on Thursday, sees teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as Jersey, competing for the Eve Trophy from Saturday, preceded by the champions of the five nations doing battle for the individual British titles at singles, pairs, triples and fours.
, More than 150 of the world’s best players will be in action at the magnificent Les Creux complex over five days, before they collect their medals and say their goodbyes at the Gala Dinner at The Living Legend next Monday.
‘It’s all coming together, and, although we are all naturally a bit nervous, we’re quietly confident that the event will be a great success and will bring much credit to the JWBA,’ said Silcox.
The Les Creux club, which was opened in 1999, has previously been the venue for the equivalent men’s championships, and for the European team championships, but this is the first time it has hosted this women’s event.
Jersey’s women bowlers have been competing in the British Isles (individual) championships for the past five years, and were invited to challenge for the British team title for the first time at Llandrindod Wells in Wales two years ago.
‘As soon as we got involved in the team event in 2002, we knew we would be in line to host the championships, and we have been preparing ever since, and a lot of hard work has gone into the preparations,’ she added.
The executive officers of the JWBA – President Silcox, Secretary Gail Boswell, Treasurer Pat Henwood, and Senior Vice President Margaret Le Marquand were joined by Jean Jones, Sue Dingle, Margaret Le Sueur and Carol Ruderham to form a steering committee.
‘But we have been supported every step of the way by officers and members of the five Jersey clubs – Les Creux, St Brelade, Jersey BC, Sun BC and St Saviour – who have pulled together, and will provide a band of volunteers to help in every aspect of the organisation,’ Sue explains.
‘Jersey will be providing umpires, markers, scoreboard operators, as well as the match officials, and that will be a big challenge, but the catering will be a huge operation,’ she says.
The JWBA will feed the players, while Les Creux club are responsible for catering for spectators.
Financial help has been received from Jersey’s Department of Education, Sport and Culture, and the British Isles championships will be opened on Thursday morning by Lady Cheshire, wife of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Cheshire.
The identity of the new British champions will emerge on Friday, and the first wood of the international series will be formally delivered by Senator Mike Vibert on Saturday morning.
