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(A
Potted History !) In 2006, World Bowls realised that the European Bowls Union (E.B.U.) had arranged for the European Championships to be held at The Athena Beach Hotel in Paphos, but the venue had no formal connection with either Authority. The only club on the Island of Cyprus which had registered as an affiliate member was the Aliathon, so they were approached and tasked with getting the other three clubs together to form an Association, so that the Athena Beach Horel could affiliate to them. This was all good fun for a couple of months, until it looked as if it was all going to fall through due to major differences in opinion. World Bowls were asked to assist, and Gary Smith (Chief Executive Officer) asked Ivan Kantor (Development Officer) to come over from Israel to give us advice. He spoke with the representatives of each Club individually, and then we all got together for the first time to thrash things out. A decision was made to set up a steering committee, and with much assistance from Ivan by e-mail and telephone the concept began to take shape. This is also the origin of ‘The Shirley and Ivan Trophy’, as Ivan suggested that we all start to bowl together to get to know each other, and he kindly put up our first ever trophy to help this along. (Ivan and his wife Shirley were kind enough to donate and name the trophy ) The first meeting of the steering committee was held on June 6th 2006 at a neutral venue – Paradise Kings Club - and within a few weeks, a constitution had been drafted and taken back to members of the four clubs for agreement. Two delegates were appointed to the Council from each club, and a list of Officers required to serve on the Executive Committee - dealing with the day to day running of the Association – was drawn up.
The Christening and the Baptism. It was decided to christen the Association BOWLS CYPRUS and the delegates met at the Aphrodite Club on July 10th 2006 where the constitution was formally signed on behalf of member clubs as follows:- Aliathon
Bowling Club John Godden & Linda Ryan. A decision was made at this time to rotate the Presidency of Bowls Cyprus between the four clubs and club names were drawn to ensure fairness. Coral Bay (having been newly formed) asked to go last as there were not sufficient experienced members to hold the position. The first President was to come from the Aphrodite Club, ( Tony Marshall) with the Vice president from the Louis Phaethon (Roger Shire), followed by the Aliathon and then Coral Bay. Notices went out to all clubs detailing vacancies for Executive Officers and sub-committee members, and on the 28th August 2006, a meeting was held at the Aliathon Bowling Club of everyone involved. The next major jobs were not only to get various competitions off the ground, but to design a logo and to register Bowls Cyprus with the National Sports Authority – K.O.A. as well as World Bowls and the European Bowls Union. Time was running out, as the European Championships loomed ever closer, but at a Council meeting on 9th October, Bowls Cyprus was able to notify delegates that membership of both World Bowls and the E.B.U. had gone ahead subject to approval by KOA. An open competition had been held amongst club members to design a Logo for Bowls Cyprus and at this meeting, the unanimous winner decided by Council delegates was Barbara Roberts of the Louis Phaethon Club, who received a prize donated by Roger Shire.
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Everything then seemed to happen at once, the K.O.A. registration came through and the Athena Beach Hotel became an affiliated member of Bowls Cyprus which automatically connected them to World Bowls and the E.B.U. National competitions were organised and a ten’s league commenced for the winter months. Coaches Umpires and Markers were trained, examined and certified. Social events were arranged and players selected to represent Cyprus internationally. Yes, with hindsight, things may have been done better, but with only six months to finalise details, those involved worked long hours to get Bowls Cyprus off the ground. It was a major learning curve and some areas are still being looked at in the light of past experience. Sandi Cooper, Secretary Bowls Cyprus 2006 -2009
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Tony Marshall of the
Aphrodite Club, |
On the formation of the association, “With bowling in Cyprus becoming such a popular sport, it was essential that some official link between the four clubs was created. By forming this association we can use the expertise that is available from each of the clubs to move forward with a common goal. Such an association can only benefit bowls as a sport and with it the 350 or so members that play on the island at present". |
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