A game stereotyped with the view of old people chasing oddly shaped balls down a polished lawn was dying off in this country in the 90’s. The sport of lawn bowls was in urgent need of new blood and reformation.
The establishment of young people surged life into the perishing sport and also bred a new champion in the form of Commonwealth gold medallist Natalie Melmore.
The Plymouth University student is the youngest woman to ever win a national singles title in the sport, taking victory over the former world number one in Delhi last year.
The 21-year-old took up lawn bowls aged nine and got her first England debut six years later in both the indoor and outdoor versions of the sport.
As a naturally competitive performer the bowls superstar took part in various sports as a youngster, including swimming, cross country, badminton and football. But it was bowls that Natalie stuck with, a decision that eventually led her to Commonwealth gold and international recognition.
“Bowls combines all the elements I love about sport. Concentration, socialising and the sportsmanship involved that you don’t see in many sports today. Bowls is my passion and obviously being good makes it even more enjoyable. I am an extremely competitive person who always wants to better myself and with bowls there is never a limit to what you can do.”
Introduced to the sport at such a young age, Natalie has had to balance work, socialising and her sport, but after ten years and an array of accomplishments, the final-year law student shows it is definitely worth the sacrifices.
“You have to make sacrifices for things you love and after 10 years I feel like I am finally getting something back. I believe you get out what you put in.”
“I will never forget the first time I got an England call up, I was in a maths lesson and my mum rang the school. Someone came into my lesson to tell me, my friends thought I was in trouble as I was crying I was so happy! It was such an overwhelming feeling.”
With a sport more commonly associated with old people, Natalie has learnt that not everyone will enjoy bowls but with a big push from the media it can get the recognition it deserves.
“I get used to people’s responses and realise that not everyone will enjoy it, as with every sport. But the sport needs to be given a chance as it has so much to give.”
“Bowls has a long way to go and needs a big push from national governing bodies and the media. The media perception needs to change.”
The young English bowls side that accompanied the Plymouth star to Delhi last October brought home five medals with the oldest member of the squad a modest 44-years-old. The addition of two golds, two bronze and one silver to the country’s medal tally is undoubtedly a massive achievement for a sport with little appreciation.
While Natalie was the youngest bowler in Delhi, the oldest competitor was 72-year-old Willie Wood, with over half a century between the two. The 21-year-old praises Wood as a great ambassador for the sport and after winning six Commonwealth medals throughout his career, in any other sport this would be recognised as a tremendous achievement.
Climbing to the top of the podium in Delhi, and achieving the historical title of the youngest woman ever to do so, Natalie believes it is just the beginning.
“It still hasn’t sunk in and I don’t think it ever will! I feel that everything I have sacrificed and worked for has paid off and this is just the beginning, there are bigger and better things to come.”
After returning from Delhi, Natalie took some time out and is looking to make her mark on 2011’s outdoor season at the Atlantic Rim Championships, Cyprus, in October before the Champion of Champions in Hong Kong.
Hoping to use the Cyprus event as a stepping stone, Natalie is hoping to triumph in Hong Kong, although she admits that without sufficient funding it will not be easy.
“I was very fortunate to have played a lot last year and travel and I believe that’s why as a country we did so well. Bowls England is pushing for us to do this again but with the lack of funding we receive it is difficult to travel and train. We are all working to achieve the right portrayal of bowls, hopefully it can be portrayed in a different light,”
While participation has increased over the past two decades and stereotypes are gradually changing, work still needs to be done. Natalie is holding an open day at her club, Newton Abbot Bowls Club, on May 14 in a bid to get school children involved.
“I want people to see the incredible team work and etiquette involved in bowls, it is not necessarily an alternative for young children but is great to get them on the green and enjoy something less physical.
“Anybody can give it a go that is the beauty of it.”
The World Bowls Championships held in the UK annually is a £100,000 competition watched by 3 million viewers via BBC TV, so it is hard to believe a sport with such popular viewing is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee as a sport.
“Millions of people play bowls all over the country especially in Australia, people even have stag do’s in bowls clubs over there! Hopefully over the next few years bowls can be taken seriously here considering its heritage.
“Hopefully if we can keep on winning people’s opinions will change.”
Fast Facts:
Date of birth: 28/07/2024
Sporting Hero: Kelly Holmes
Bowls Idol: Karen Murphy
Mantra: “They can stop picking you, but they can’t stop you winning.”
Competition Diary: Natalie will be competing in Cyprus in October for the Atlantic Rim Championships, with her main focus on the Champion of Champions in Hong Kong from 6-13 November 2011.
Other dates for the diary: 14 May, Open day at Kings BC in Torquay
Emma Paton, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
