HONG KONG—The Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association is delighted with the overwhelming interest displayed by local bowlers towards the inaugural National Indoor Pairs, which was completed last Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
A total of 132 men’s and 75 women’s teams participated in the event, which was held in the five indoor greens around Hong Kong. Before the introduction of this event the only competition played on indoor greens is the Indoor Singles.
“The indoor pairs filled an obvious gap in the annual fixtures and it was made feasible by the introduction of a fifth indoor green at Hong Kong at Club de Recreio,” said Walter Kwok, the vice-president at HKLBA who manages all national competitions.
“We looked at the annual schedule and saw the opportunity for this new event in the second half of the year. We’re pleased with the overwhelming support received in its first year.”
In the men’s finals played at Club de Recreio, Chow Kin Hoi and Pong Chi Shum from the club optimized their home green advantage to defeat Neil Herrington and Derek Wyllie from Hong Kong Football Club.
In the women’s competition, Joanne Leung and Danna Chiu from Tuen Mun Sports Club lifted the title after beating the Lai sister’s, Millicent and Queenie from Seabird Sports Club in a tedious match that lasted for more than three hours.
The last time the LBA introduced a new indoor event was in 1995 when the indoor singles came into existence when Hong Kong Football Club opened its indoor green.
The LBA is adding yet another tournament to the 2015 calendar: “The top four teams in Division 1 of the Premier League will be invited to compete with the Hong Kong team at the Bowls Grand Prix over the Easter holidays. Details are being finalized and we anticipated another success with it,” said Kwok.
HK now has five indoor greens with two of them operated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at Ap Lei Chau and Sai Wan Ho. The other three greens belong to private clubs including CdeR, HKFC and Craigengower Cricket Club. A sixth indoor green is expected to come into use at Sha Tin in two years time.
Claudius Lam is and Officer of the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.
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