Spotlight on...
Ros Howarth
Are you into any other sport besides Bowls?
I sometimes play Petanque
What does the sport give you? can you explain how much it means to you and many others?
Bowls gives me a great competitive kick because you are up against it on so many levels. You are playing an opposing team with all the interesting dynamics that can affect their play and can affect your game. You are watching the other team’s mode of play, their habits and their preferred shots. You are playing the quirks and nuances of the mat; you are accommodating your skip’s vision of the end. You are contributing to your team’s morale. You are peering into a crystal ball to try and work out what the opposition are going to do. It is just making me tired to think about how all consuming a game of bowls can be, using all your senses as well as how you bowl your bowl.
Typing this now is making me realise how much I am missing bowling at the moment!
If you look back, what are you most proud of in your career so far?
I have always been involved in the world of art, having exhibitions and selling my paintings, teaching art to adults and children, culminating in being a senior manager in education. However, I have been very happy in recent years to combine producing artwork with running a small business that supports the needs of young people and their families, acting as a facilitator, advocate and mediator.
I have been really fortunate to always be involved in things that I have very much enjoyed and hopefully make a difference.
In bowls, I feel proud of getting to the National Finals four times and playing for the county.
What would you say has been your best experience so far in short mat?
I am not sure if what I am going to say sounds odd! But it is when in a competition you find the opposition has such a good track record and you are the underdog. I love that feeling of complete lack of nerves or hesitancy when the chips are down and your brain seems to urge you to try things you would normally think twice about but “heigh-ho” here goes. I suppose it is the time of great concentration as you completely block out what is going on around you and the adrenaline flows.
What would you say is the most frustrating part of short mat bowls?
Leaving your bowls in your car over a cold night and then bowling with cold hands and cold bowls.
Name three characteristics that you think a good player should have.
• Ability to identify and correct poor play. I think Geoff Cross is absolutely right when he says in answer to a frustrated bowler’s cry “Every time I do that, the bowl goes off!” Geoff asks” why are you continuing to do the same thing?”
• Concentration – I have to give myself a mental talking to between the 5th and 6th end in a League game
• Consistency
Which 3 other people would you choose to be in your four if you could choose anyone you have played with to make to make it up & why them?
• Eleanor Pilgrem (for amazing accuracy and consistency)
• Chris Hasker (for expecting the best of everyone and playing amazing shots in a way no one envisaged)
• Alan Johnson (the enthusiastic newcomer to the Wallingford team who learns at speed)
• I am going to mention Kevin Pickworth my pairs partner for the Nationals whose good humour and true grit make him a delight to play with.
• Last but not least, my long-suffering husband, Kevin,who can spot a sharp intake of breath from me from the other end of the mat but is always encouraging!
Yes, I have more than 3, but its like the Oscars where you have to thank lots of people!!
What discipline do you prefer to play & why?
I don’t really mind but I always get a buzz out of playing singles as it is all up to me to take responsibility for the quality of play.
Where’s the best place you have played? What made it so good?
Tamworth indoor bowls Club, when I played for the ESMBA President’s team against the England team.It was fantastic to play against a younger and more skilful team!
Where do you like to play in Oxfordshire & Why? (Venue)
• Stanford in the Vale – Always a warm welcome and good to have spectators
• Wallingford Regal Centre – I miss the space and the opportunity to play on different mats, I don’t miss the poor heating!
• Cholsey Great Hall – Plenty of space.
If a new player comes to your club, what 3 best tips would you like to teach them?
• Let the bowls do the work by pushing them out and letting them drift back in. Roger Belson first got me doing this many years ago.
• After a poor shot let it go. Margaret Belson taught me that
• Relax and enjoy it! Easier said than done but watch Roger Wiggins.
Have you played that perfect match yet or are you waiting for it?
Is there such a thing? I am always interested in players’ different overviews after a match, but they are usually quite diverse. So, the answer is no I haven’t, and would anyone recognise it if it did exist?
As our Secretary and Safeguarding officer, what are your thoughts about getting back going after such a long-enforced break?
In these strange times, I am really missing Bowls and no amount of quizzes on Zoom can make up for that. I think, however, that we will change the way we hold meetings. Having an OSMBA Committee meeting virtually is so easy compared to dark winter evening’s travel to a venue. I was talking to Lynn Dean who is in charge of ESMBA’s safeguarding on the committee and meetings for ESMBA will most likely change to Zoom.
It is great that most courses for bowls can now be done online including Safeguarding, Coaching etc. Please tell your members.
As our Safeguarding Officer, what one piece of advice could you give all clubs on the Safeguarding agenda?
If a piece of information that disquiets you, comes to light in your club or at a competition venue that affects an under 18 or a vulnerable person, please make sure you talk to your safeguarding officer in your club or email or ring me. Don’t keep it to yourself.
If you had to pick and choose a famous person to start playing bowls, who would you like to see and why?
Banksy, because I would like to see what he looks like and secondly so would the rest of the world so a brilliant promotional spotlight on short mat bowls. He could also graffiti a wall or two that we could sell off!
I sometimes play Petanque
What does the sport give you? can you explain how much it means to you and many others?
Bowls gives me a great competitive kick because you are up against it on so many levels. You are playing an opposing team with all the interesting dynamics that can affect their play and can affect your game. You are watching the other team’s mode of play, their habits and their preferred shots. You are playing the quirks and nuances of the mat; you are accommodating your skip’s vision of the end. You are contributing to your team’s morale. You are peering into a crystal ball to try and work out what the opposition are going to do. It is just making me tired to think about how all consuming a game of bowls can be, using all your senses as well as how you bowl your bowl.
Typing this now is making me realise how much I am missing bowling at the moment!
If you look back, what are you most proud of in your career so far?
I have always been involved in the world of art, having exhibitions and selling my paintings, teaching art to adults and children, culminating in being a senior manager in education. However, I have been very happy in recent years to combine producing artwork with running a small business that supports the needs of young people and their families, acting as a facilitator, advocate and mediator.
I have been really fortunate to always be involved in things that I have very much enjoyed and hopefully make a difference.
In bowls, I feel proud of getting to the National Finals four times and playing for the county.
What would you say has been your best experience so far in short mat?
I am not sure if what I am going to say sounds odd! But it is when in a competition you find the opposition has such a good track record and you are the underdog. I love that feeling of complete lack of nerves or hesitancy when the chips are down and your brain seems to urge you to try things you would normally think twice about but “heigh-ho” here goes. I suppose it is the time of great concentration as you completely block out what is going on around you and the adrenaline flows.
What would you say is the most frustrating part of short mat bowls?
Leaving your bowls in your car over a cold night and then bowling with cold hands and cold bowls.
Name three characteristics that you think a good player should have.
• Ability to identify and correct poor play. I think Geoff Cross is absolutely right when he says in answer to a frustrated bowler’s cry “Every time I do that, the bowl goes off!” Geoff asks” why are you continuing to do the same thing?”
• Concentration – I have to give myself a mental talking to between the 5th and 6th end in a League game
• Consistency
Which 3 other people would you choose to be in your four if you could choose anyone you have played with to make to make it up & why them?
• Eleanor Pilgrem (for amazing accuracy and consistency)
• Chris Hasker (for expecting the best of everyone and playing amazing shots in a way no one envisaged)
• Alan Johnson (the enthusiastic newcomer to the Wallingford team who learns at speed)
• I am going to mention Kevin Pickworth my pairs partner for the Nationals whose good humour and true grit make him a delight to play with.
• Last but not least, my long-suffering husband, Kevin,who can spot a sharp intake of breath from me from the other end of the mat but is always encouraging!
Yes, I have more than 3, but its like the Oscars where you have to thank lots of people!!
What discipline do you prefer to play & why?
I don’t really mind but I always get a buzz out of playing singles as it is all up to me to take responsibility for the quality of play.
Where’s the best place you have played? What made it so good?
Tamworth indoor bowls Club, when I played for the ESMBA President’s team against the England team.It was fantastic to play against a younger and more skilful team!
Where do you like to play in Oxfordshire & Why? (Venue)
• Stanford in the Vale – Always a warm welcome and good to have spectators
• Wallingford Regal Centre – I miss the space and the opportunity to play on different mats, I don’t miss the poor heating!
• Cholsey Great Hall – Plenty of space.
If a new player comes to your club, what 3 best tips would you like to teach them?
• Let the bowls do the work by pushing them out and letting them drift back in. Roger Belson first got me doing this many years ago.
• After a poor shot let it go. Margaret Belson taught me that
• Relax and enjoy it! Easier said than done but watch Roger Wiggins.
Have you played that perfect match yet or are you waiting for it?
Is there such a thing? I am always interested in players’ different overviews after a match, but they are usually quite diverse. So, the answer is no I haven’t, and would anyone recognise it if it did exist?
As our Secretary and Safeguarding officer, what are your thoughts about getting back going after such a long-enforced break?
In these strange times, I am really missing Bowls and no amount of quizzes on Zoom can make up for that. I think, however, that we will change the way we hold meetings. Having an OSMBA Committee meeting virtually is so easy compared to dark winter evening’s travel to a venue. I was talking to Lynn Dean who is in charge of ESMBA’s safeguarding on the committee and meetings for ESMBA will most likely change to Zoom.
It is great that most courses for bowls can now be done online including Safeguarding, Coaching etc. Please tell your members.
As our Safeguarding Officer, what one piece of advice could you give all clubs on the Safeguarding agenda?
If a piece of information that disquiets you, comes to light in your club or at a competition venue that affects an under 18 or a vulnerable person, please make sure you talk to your safeguarding officer in your club or email or ring me. Don’t keep it to yourself.
If you had to pick and choose a famous person to start playing bowls, who would you like to see and why?
Banksy, because I would like to see what he looks like and secondly so would the rest of the world so a brilliant promotional spotlight on short mat bowls. He could also graffiti a wall or two that we could sell off!
