Club News
The annual fund-raising Open Day event organised by Skel Windmill this year took on a different outlook and attracted 120 experienced and new bowlers to their green. There were three prime elements to the day:
Coaching session for new bowlers
Target Bowls for junior bowlers
Points competition for experienced bowlers
Qualified BCGBA Coach, Silva Scott was on hand to guide potential new bowlers through the basics of the sport and this was an important element of the day as the opportunity to recruit new bowlers doesn't come along very often. Silva is one of the 10 new coaches funded through the new and active HBD (Huddersfield Bowling Development) scheme.
Skel Windmill has been very good in recent times at increasing their membership now up to 108 for the 2022 season from 71 in 2021. With a third of the membership now being lady bowlers this has allowed the formation of two new mixed-gender teams that will play in the Barnsley Veterans Mixed League playing on Fridays next season. The club is also hopeful of having a junior team for next season.
Once having attracted new bowlers it is important to keep them involved so the club organises weekly competitions almost right through the season. These vary in format but all progress through the week with a Final being played every Friday evening.
It is seen as important to have an objective to underpin the Open Day and that usually means a target sum to be raised to support a new club initiative. Last year the target was to raise £1,000 in a day to help fund new floodlights and that was achieved. This year the target was £850 to fund an improvement programme for pathways around the green and the money is still being counted. The objective is widely advertised as people like to know what cause they are donating to and this brings a more positive response from all rather than saying it is just going towards club funds.
There were a lot of fringe events as part of the Open Day with a cake stall, tombola, hot and cold food and a grand raffle (raised £300) with 47 donated prizes including vouchers to spend at Macdonalds of special interest to the younger attendees.
The event even attracted a passing convoy of Hells Angels. They were on their way to an event somewhere in the north of England and believing that the Windmill was still an open pub, they pulled in for refreshments.
They were invited in for burgers, cakes and drinks, great chaps who appreciated the hospitality before continuing their journey northwards.
Advertising the event is perceived as being very important (as is the weather) to the success of the day and the club spends a lot of time spreading the word including using the strong presence of social media. The event only lasts for three hours starting at 11am on the day and something is happening all the time to portray a busy event without a long time commitment.
Well done to Skel Windmill as this is all done against a backdrop of an uncertain future for the club with a new landlord following the sale of the Windmill public house to a private business enterprise. There is no long-term commitment from the landlord for a safe future for the club so the club is keen to build a strong community presence to make it a viable and successful concern and therefore less likely to be endangered. A pleasant experience and a well-maintained green are also key to securing longer-term support from the landlord and the local community.
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Brilliant effort and congratulations to all concerned.