Alex Marshall MBE (centre) with Yarrawonga Bowls Club’s president Robert Tait, Stephen Day, head coach Michael Szabo and reigning club champion Les Spencer.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
World number one ranked lawn bowler Alex Marshall MBE of Scotland loved being at Yarrawonga Bowls Club on Tuesday evening last week.
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And lawn bowlers from many clubs loved learning from him over a free two-hour bowls coaching session from 4.00pm to 6.00pm, followed by sizzling sausages and a 90-minute question and answer session.
“It’s a great club with two lovely greens,” the recently turned 57-year-old told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“People were lovely. It’s always good to help people with their game and put something back into the sport I love. People appreciated it and that made me glad. I thoroughly appreciated everyone.
The style of world champion Alex Marshall.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
“It’s been a privilege and pleasure to be here.”
Marshall arrived the day before and described Yarrawonga as “a nice, beautiful town” particularly with Lake Mulwala.
Yarrawonga Bowls member Stephen (Darkie) Day was instrumental in recruiting Marshall. One of Day’s best mates, Troy Stafford, works in sales of Hensilite.
Marshall is a Hensilite -sponsored player and is an ambassador for Hensilite Bowls. Day was asked by Stafford if Yarrawonga Bowls Club would be interested in hosting something. The answer was an instant yes!
“It was absolutely fantastic to have Alex come up to our club,” Day said. “He’s a fantastic orator, to convey what he was saying about bowls.
“It was a pleasure to be part of getting Alex here to our club.”
Alex Marshall giving tips to this group of bowlers.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Marshall began bowling at the age of eight supported by both his father and grandfather and first represented his country in 1988.
He is the record breaking six-time World Indoor Singles Champion, has eight World Indoor Pairs titles to his credit and has won seven World Outdoor Championship Gold medals (Pairs in 1992, 2000 and 2012, Fours in 1992, and Team in 1992, 1996 and 2004).
Laureen Smith from Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort Bowls, ClubMulwala’s Rosene Andrews, Wangaratta’s Trent Selwood and Les Spencer from Yarrawonga Bowls Club with Hensilite’s Troy Stafford (centre).
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
His other achievements include four Commonwealth Games (Pairs in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and Fours in 2014), one Atlantic Games Team Gold (in 2015) and three Hong Kong International Classic Pairs titles (in 1993, 1996 and 2002).
Marshall was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 New Year Honours for services to bowls.
Nicole McPherson rolls one down under the watchful eye of Alex Marshall.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Yarrawonga Bowls Club President Robert Tait described Marshall’s visit as “terrific and very rewarding for the club”.
“Alex is an excellent presenter. He coached and spoke very well, and was well received by all,” the president said.
“He’s part of us. He enjoyed talking to different people and bowlers certainly enjoyed listening to him. An old club champion here, Kevin Evans, said it was a real coup getting Alex.”
About 75 people attended the three hours of bowling, eating and talking. Club bowlers from Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, Lake Mulwala, Tungamah, St James, Oaklands, Wangaratta and Rutherglen attended.
Bowls-wise, it must have been the best weather in the whole of Victoria, particularly for the two-hour outdoor bowling session avoiding the strong fire risk elsewhere, and the subsequent strong, local rain and wind. The fear of Mother Nature, no doubt, deterred some people from attending.
Izzy Cummins lines up to bowl, with tutor and carer Liz Grinter and Izzy’s bowls coach Max Calder.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The bowls coaching took place on the needle punch carpet bowling green which also has a Scottish connection. That surface was purchased from Scotland, its purchase being a legacy of the late J B (Bruce) Forge. The second green is Tiger Turf. Their selection in the early 2000s was due to lack of water at the time.
“To have the opportunity to just meet him and ask questions by people from different clubs around here is just great,” Australia Fours champion Anne Miles from Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club commented about the world champion.
“He’s such a renowned, best player in the world and to come to town you don’t often get that opportunity to see and hear such a player.”
Alex Marshall with Izzy Cummins.
Head coach at Yarrawonga Bowls Club Michael Szabo was full of praise for Marshall. “His demeanour is good. He’s not a big head. He can fix your problems in a matter of seconds and then it’s up to you to practise what you’ve been taught – the three Ps – practice, practice, practice!”
Yarrawonga Bowls Club members from Benalla’s Crombie family have benefitted from Marshall’s coaching in Melbourne. Tim Crombie and his sons Tyson and Coby have appreciated the coaching. Coby, 16, represents the Victorian Under 18 team and Tyson is currently bowls co-ordinator at Ocean Grove.
Marshall chatted with Tim and Coby, and enjoyed meeting Izzy Cummins, a Year 8 student at Yarrawonga’s Sacred Heart College.
Izzy, who turns 14-years-of-age on February 25, took up bowls mid last year and is coached by Yarrawonga Bowls Club’s Max Calder. Max explained: “Izzy said to me ‘I’d like you to teach me how to play bowls’ and I said ‘I’ll get you a set of bowls’.”
Izzy, who is vision impaired and has an acquired brain injury, loves her sport and appreciates her tutor and carer, and bowls coach. “It’s fun, keeps me active and it’s good to see a bowl get close to the kitty,” she said of her weekly, almost all year, bowls. “She doesn’t feel pressure and can relax,” tutor and carer Liz Grinter added.
Marshall spoke to Izzy about her bowls and told the Yarrawonga Chronicle: “It’s good to see youngsters like Izzy playing bowls.”
Attendees at last week’s three-hour gathering with the world number one and Scotland’s MBE thoroughly enjoyed his presence at Yarrawonga Bowls Club.
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