Jack Attack comes to life in Alice Springs
The Memorial Bowls Club, Alice Springs has been the first club in the NT to take up the barefoot bowls game of “Jack Attack”. Jack Attack – “The New ^SOCIAL^ Way To Play Bowls. Short, Sharp, Snappy”. The Memorial Bowls Club, Alice Springs, Inc has been the first club in the NT to take up the new barefoot bowls initiate.
The Memorial Bowls Club had a very successful running barefoot bowls night league already in place under the careful guidance of Letitia Baldwin and Helen Siganto that had many players returning each season to socialise with mates, having a few drinks and playing some bowls. The level of competition and skill level of the players could be considered semi-serious, playing traditional fours. With Letitia and Helen stepping aside in 2015, to travel. Club President Ray Dienelt proposed that for the club to stay with the times and move forward the club needed to embrace the new Bowls Australia concept “Jack Attack”. The club committee voted in favour to take on the new initiate, while risky potentially losing our valued returning social Thursday night league bowlers, new leadership in Jack Attack Co-ordinator David Knight and Club President Ray Dienelt have pushed on. While the concept of moving to a more basic version and simplified rules of the game is very appealing to new bowlers, we have had some of our regular bowlers step back. Teaming up with Sourthern Cross TV’s Mez Elliot we developed an advertising campaign to get the word out. Facebook has been a great tool to reach a younger and community audience. We had articles about Jack Attack in the local newspaper. Ray has talked on Radio about the concept numerous times. Mez has also buffed the profile on radio, and has had great results so far. We are looking into TV advertising, to further reach members of the community.
Where we differ though, is we have sought community business houses to sponsor a team of 3 entry fee. The business may choose clients, employees or anyone to come and have a game. Each week we have more and more people telling us they never knew how much fun it was or how addictive it was to try and draw a shot. We have had a couple of false starts trying to get the competition off the ground, but with the hard work of Ray Dienelt and David Knight, the benefits are starting to come through. Players love the new short version, socialising while cheering on their teams. One player commented that they forgot the town they were in, and enjoyed walking up and down on the green barefoot totally relaxing.
Players enjoy a FREE sausage sizzle every game night, with prizes donated by CUB, like stubby holders, t-shirts, hats and towels etc. Our biggest problem is only having one green. As the competition continues to grow we can only accommodate 16 teams playing in 2 sections of 8 in a seven week round robin with a grand final of the two section winners playing off in the final. From humble beginnings, with music creating the atmosphere, and support from our club members. We are positive this is the way forward for people to enjoy lawn bowls in a social way, with many becoming hooked and looking forward to Thursday night bowls between 6.30 – 8pm at the Memorial Bowls Club, Alice Springs.
For more information on how to play Jack Attack at Alice Springs, Click Here.
For information on how to start your own Jack Attack Competition at your local bowls club, Click Here
