Cootamundra lawn bowls clubs become part of World Record

The 71-year-old bowler has been on the road since January 10 in a bid to register a new, official Guinness World Record for the most lawn bowls clubs played by an individual in 12 months.

Cootamundra registered games 486 and 487 for Frank, who estimates he has put down about 21,500 bowls this year.

“I really want to leave a legacy to bowls, to say thank you for letting me have a good time for the last 12 years,” Frank said.

“I was appalled to find 16 per cent of all bowlers aged over 70 stop every year, so I want to raise the profile of the game and encourage bowlers to replace themselves and keep it alive.”

Frank is drawn to the highly competitive and skillful nature of the sport, and the wind did not deter him from playing 10 ends against two of Cootamundra’s finest bowlers on Tuesday.

Though the division five competitor was unable to improve on his current form of one win for every 4.4 games, he said he has enjoyed the hospitality and receptiveness of clubs around Australia and Coota was no exception.

“I was last here 50 years ago and it’s nice to see the town hasn’t really changed, apart from adding a few more buildings,” Frank said.

At the Country Club he went down 12-10 to Neta Manwaring, praising her short game, and at the Ex-Service’s Club he was no match for Steve Leggett.

Frank isn’t concerned about his win-loss ratio though, preferring instead to use his time at the clubs to encourage other bowlers to think about how they can help keep the sport alive.

On Tuesday afternoon he continued on to Junee and, weather-permitting, will make the journey across the Tasman this week as his record-setting quest continues.