Coach Bowls, the only nationally recognised qualifications for the sport of bowls in England, has announced the shortlisted nominees for the upcoming Coach Bowls Awards for 2022 – with voting NOW OPEN!
Bowls International is proud to be sponsoring the Young Coach of the Year award, which sees Surrey’s George Hopper and Thomas Clamp, from the Philip Wright Crown Green Bowling Academy, shortlisted as the final two nominees in this category.
George Hopper has recently qualified as a Level 1 coach, obtaining his qualification while also completing his school examinations and playing for the Surrey U18’s. He aims to work predominantly with children and young adults and is an excellent ambassador for the sport of bowls. His attitude and potential was recognised by the tutors on his course, noting that his practical work was outstanding.
Thomas Clamp has been coaching for two years and has worked with upwards of 40 people in the last 12 months. He coaches at the Philip Wright Crown Green Bowling Academy and has a real passion to introduce people to the sport.
Thomas is studying Sports Science and Performance Coaching at university and his bowls coaching compliments this. He coaches for approximately five hours each week and supports additional local projects with groups such as Scouts and Guides. He has brought in four new junior club members and is a Junior County bowler in his own right. His positive attitude to the sport and to his coaching has been recognised by club members and the tutors on his coaching course and he is waiting to do his Level 2.
Online voting closes on Friday 26th August 2022 at 5pm. Winners will be announced at the Bowls England National Finals at Royal Leamington Spa on Saturday 3rd September 2022.
Let’s take a look at who has been shortlisted in the other categories:
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Howell
Bob is currently working towards his Level 2 Qualification. He has been coaching for over 20 years and has taken the lead at his club. He has helped his club recruit 25 new members this season and has coached over 70 people, from various different groups, Open Days and events. He is patient, calm and clear and his club call him a great asset!
Martin Shipley
Martin is the County Coordinator and County Coach for Leicestershire and is training to become part of the Coach Bowls Delivery Workforce. He works with all ages and experiences, including those with a disability. He has also worked with Commonwealth Gold medallist Jamie-Lea Winch who celebrated with him as she stepped off the rink with her medal! He has now taken charge of the senior ladies team in the county and has created a blend of youth, experience and pure talent. He is waiting to start his Level 3
Andy Sparkes
Andy gained his Level 1 and was fast tracked to L 2 in 1 year after many years as a player. He has been identified as a potential tutor by members of the tutor workforce and is now in training. He has coached 100+ people since ’21 and promotes ‘thinking’ rather than just ‘telling’. He started with 2 bowlers and now runs sessions weekly at Avon Valley IBC to meet demand. He also coaches the Avenue Ladies Team which helped them qualify to the National Area final (exceeding all expectations). Andy was a Commonwealth Games volunteer for the Bowls events (where he also supported the Falkland Islands players) as well as continuing his job and completing his Level 2 assessment
Pauline Wilson
Pauline has been coaching for 12 years and a development officer since 2017 for Shropshire. She was one of the first Crown Green coaches to gain a Level 2 Qualification and is now an experienced tutor. She also works with the other codes on projects such as the Activator and Level 1 courses. She has worked tirelessly to get coaching recognised as a key activity with Shropshire, encouraging clubs to have Qualified Coaches. As a result, the county has over 50 active coaches. As well as her coaching she also manages to play 5 times a week and is a member of the Shropshire Ladies County Team
GRASSROOTS COACH OF THE YEAR
Steve Clamp
Steve has been coaching for 12 yrs and has worked with a huge 200+ people since ’21. He is newly trained as a tutor after being spotted by members of the tutor workforce as having potential. Steve is the funder of the Philip Wright Crown Green Bowls Academy which runs weekly and also coaches locally and around his County (N Lancs and Fylde). He delivers to various groups, trains the County Juniors and also acts as the County Development Officer! Steve has mentored over 20 new Crown Green coaches and his own club has grown to 100+ members playing in 13 different teams with their 2 dis-used greens now back in operation due to his drive and commitment.
Kevin Clarke
Kevin has been coaching for 10 years and has worked with approximately 200 people since ’21 at his clubs in Berkhamsted and Foxhills. He coaches all visitors and members and believes the best way to coach is through laughter, demonstrations and results. He has worked with various local groups including schools and teachers, Rotary Club, Beavers as well as on the Big Bowls Weekend, Bowls Bash and Pay and Play.
Mandy Orchard
Mandy has been coaching for over 6 years and has worked with 15-20 people since ’21. She gives up significant amounts of her time to work with predominantly junior members and has had so much success that a number of her young players are now playing in senior teams, winning County Finals and qualifying for National Finals. The juniors look up to Mandy and are proud to call he ‘my coach’! She also runs sessions for parents and other club members on a regular basis. Her club thinks she is a star and deserves more recognition.
Gary Toward
Gary has been coaching for 1 yr coaching and is an ex Head Teacher. So far he has helped to recruit 28 new members to the club, raised over £300 for Cancer Research and secured grants of £700 from his Local Authority for coaching equipment. He has also now become the Safeguarding Officer for his club Blaby BC in Leicestershire. He has developed a development programme for new members to familiarise them with the club and is aiming to create a Junior group of regulars and an interclub league for novices.
INCLUSIVE COACH OF THE YEAR
Daniel Adams
Daniel is currently completing his Level 2 qualification and has worked with 10-15 bowlers since ’21. He runs regular sessions both in the summer and winter, mainly (but not exclusively) with younger players, some of whom have a range of disabilities, physical, sensory and learning. It is a completely inclusive group. He does not see disability as an impediment and works to keeps games short and fun whilst installing the core values and coaching points of the game. He has also represented England in the Learning Disability Games himself and is an excellent bowler, inspiring his groups to emulate his success.
Martin Shipley
Martin is the County Coordinator and County Coach for Leicestershire and is training to become part of the Coach Bowls Delivery Workforce. He works with all ages and experiences. And his work with children with Learning Difficulties frequently gets instant results. He goes about a lot of his work unnoticed and focuses on the bowls! Martin is waiting to start his Level 3 Qualification.
Tony Tinkler
Only taking up bowls in 2021 Tony qualified as a coach in April ’22 and is now a huge part of the ‘That’s How We Roll’ Inclusion Project which encourages sessions for children, bowlers with disabilities and other forms of diverse social inclusion at his club Darlington South Park. He has adapted bowls for wheelchair users, and for many bowlers with disabilities and dementia from Care Homes which he has introduced to the club. He organises work with support workers for the bowlers, and sorts ramps and wheelchairs for those that need them. The club has now registered with Disability Bowls England and has a huge platform to expand the section. It was a small project in 2021 that has expanded at a large rate. Various groups have fortnightly sessions and has grown so much that a refugee group is looking to get involved.
Neil Wheeler
Neil has been coaching in bowls for 3 + years although he has coached for many more in Cricket. He has worked with 25-30 people since Oct ’21 and has become a tutor for Coach Bowls, training to deliver the Inclusion Courses as well as Level 1. He runs a Community Interest Company ‘2020 Community Sport’ that has helped new bowlers to enjoy the sport that have a range of support needs from severe isolation, low self-esteem, physical limitations. Neil encourages people who have not exercised or played sports before to play bowls, overcome ‘failure’ and motivate towards improvement. He has established matches against regular competitive members of the club for new bowlers to understand where they can aim for. As a result, the club has been accredited by IMAS (International Mixed Ability Sports)
NEW COACH OF THE YEAR
Christina Hurst
Christina has been coaching at Warwick Boat Club for 1 year working with 24 people since ’21. She is an integral part of the club as a player, member, administrator and now a coach. She has helped to generate a more competitive culture in the club and the previous ad hoc coaching is now a comprehensive, regular programme for everyone. She runs a weekly academy, established a Novice Cup at the club, arranged 2 Big Bowls Weeks and ‘have a go’ sessions for youngsters and instigated shorter jack rinks matches for veteran bowlers to continue in the sport for longer.
John Smallcombe
John is part of a new Short Mat club that started just before the Pandemic. He coaches 4 people regularly on a 1:1 basis so they can fully take part in all aspects of the club, along with many more on a less regular basis.
Andy Sparkes
Andy gained his Level 1 and fast tracked to L2 in 1 year. He has been identified as a potential tutor by members of the tutor workforce and is now in training. He has coached 100+ people since ’21 and promotes ‘thinking’ rather than just ‘telling’. Andy started with 2 bowlers at Avon Valley IBC and now runs sessions weekly there to meet the demand. He also coaches the Avenue Ladies Team which helped them qualify to the National Area fi nal (exceeding all expectations). Andy volunteered at the Bowls Events at the Commonwealth Games, where he also supported the Falkland Islands players, whilst continuing his job and completing his Level 2 assessment
Tony Tinkler
Tony qualified in April’22 and has worked with 40+ people every month since. His sessions have 20+ people each time and he is a huge part of the club’s successful ‘That’s How We Roll’ Inclusion Project focussing on children, bowlers with a disability and social inclusion. Saturday’s children’s sessions are becoming very popular and will now be increased to Mondays as well. His Inclusion work has resulted in the club registering with Disability Bowls England and has given a huge platform for the club to expand.
COACHING HELPER OF THE YEAR
This is a new category for 2022 to recognise the help and support that volunteers give to the club coaches. The short listed helpers are:
Jane Bassett
Jane has supported the coaching team at Darlington South Park on a range of projects since taking up the sport in 2021. She is a huge part of the ‘That’s How We Roll’ Inclusion Project where she supports sessions with children, bowlers with disabilities and social inclusion issues. She has helped to adapt bowls for those with various disabilities and dementia from Care Homes and various groups
Jane Mansfield
Jane supports players at her club in Grimsby to overcome their anxieties in order to take part in the sport and meet strangers, as a platform to increasing their confidence and build friendships. She has identified potential groupings which has lead to long term membership of the club and participation in the sport. She shows that a bowls club can be a friendly, welcoming place where the sport can be learned and played without judgement. She supports players with Physical Disability, Mental Health issues, Social Isolation etc. Membership in the club has doubled at the club.
Peter Greary, Marion Hill and Graham Kingham
This trio support their Crown Green club in Stockport on a variety of projects. The club delivers regular sessions to Year 6 pupils from local Schools with coaches leading the sessions and helpers to support them. The schools do not pay for their sessions but the club does them as part of their working with the community. The sessions have been running for 6 years.
Congratulations to all of the coaches that were nominated and all good luck to those coaches who have been shortlisted
Online voting closes on Friday 26th August 2022 at 5pm. Winners will be announced at the Bowls England National Finals at Royal Leamington Spa on Saturday 3rd September 2022.
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