Eden Indoor Bowls Club based at Penrith Leisure Centre is the first club in England to install an overhead video camera system and screen so spectators and players can enjoy a better view of the action at the far end of the bowling rinks.
The new four camera system is placed above two of the rinks at Penrith Leisure Centre and can show the action from an eight metre area on each rink onto a flat screen TV.
The Eden Indoor Bowls Club which has 205 members, has raised the money to purchase the new camera system through commercial sponsorship from Specsavers and a contribution from Eden District Council. The system was installed by contractors Cannan and Brown Ltd from Penrith.
Tom Prescott, the Bowls Co-ordinator at Penrith Leisure Centre said: “Eden Indoor Bowls Club is based in Penrith’s Leisure Centre and is improving its facilities year on year, and thanks to sponsors like Specsavers and Eden District Council, we are actively promoting bowls as a sport for all, not just the elderly in our communities.
“Bowling is a social activity that is fun and contributes to a healthy lifestyle, and whether you are a beginner, a regular bowler or just looking for a good place to make new friends, you are assured of a warm welcome at our club. It seems like a long time ago that club member Mike Phillips first mentioned the idea of a camera system, but has been well worth the wait. Projects like the addition of the camera system can only enhance the experience for present and future members.”
Eden Indoor Bowls Club participate in six national bowls competitions, have a thriving league programme by running ten leagues over five days per week, along with knockout competitions and friendly matches against other clubs, as well as catering for those members who don’t want to commit to a league programme and just want a casual ”roll up” with friends.
Peter Walker, Retail Director of Specsavers Penrith, said: “It gives us great pleasure to be able to support Eden Indoor Bowls Club. Bowling is a sport that encourages all ages and abilities to become active and socialise and I’m personally grateful for the help the club has provided for the community. My mother started playing after we lost our father and they have helped her to build new friendships and gain life experiences that she didn’t know was possible at such a difficult time. The Penrith Specsavers team are always looking for ways to support local organisations, and if we can help bowlers to enjoy their sport with the provision of the overhead camera system, then it’s been worth every penny.”
Councillor Elaine Martin, Eden District Council’s Communities Portfolio Holder, said: “Bowls is a very popular sport in Eden and the Council is proud to support the Club by contributing towards this new equipment. The bowls club are doing great work promoting the benefits of the sport through GP’s surgeries and to groups who attended the Leisure Centre for rehabilitation sessions.
“The new cameras and screen is already improving the enjoyment of spectators and club members at the indoor bowling rink. So hopefully by Penrith Leisure Centre being the only indoor bowls rink in England to have this equipment we can attract more high profile tournaments and increase the club’s membership. I would also like to thank Specsavers for their generous sponsorship, it is greatly appreciated by the bowls club members.”
For more information about the Eden Indoor Bowls Club contact the Bowls Co-ordinator at Penrith Leisure Centre telephone: 01768 877474 or email: [email protected]
