Para bowls veteran Gill Platt is not opposed to modernising the sport

Despite considering herself an elder stateswoman of Team England's para lawn bowls squad for this summer's Commonwealth Games, Gill Platt is not opposed to modernising the sport.

Platt, 74, emphasised her frustration at the presentation of the sport as one for older people, insisting that players under 30 are increasingly common in elite competition.

The Wonersh Bowls Club star has played the sport for 38 years and will now represent her country as part of the six-strong para team that will compete on home soil in Birmingham this summer.

"We need to encourage bowls at the grassroots – that is what is needed to get more youngsters in," said Platt, speaking ahead of Bowls' Big Weekend on May 27-29.

"When you go to a lot of competitions, you see that a lot of players are under 30, and it is lovely to see these youngsters. Some are only 14 or 15.

"And if they showed that more on the television instead of showing older players, I'm sure it would encourage a lot more youngsters.

"That presentation of the sport does frustrate me. We're luckier now that the uniform has changed and we can wear shorts and coloured tops.

"But when I first started, it was white skirts, white hats, gloves, tights, scarfs - it was awful.

"I was the first person at my club to wear trousers, and they were horrified when I walked onto the green.

"Some of the older ladies said I can't wear those, but I can, and I'm wearing them."

Disability Bowls England play in navy blue as opposed to the more traditional whites, a uniform Platt believes is better left in the past at the elite level.

During the Commonwealth Games, the bowls events will take place at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa, the host of the annual British Championships.

And with her Commonwealth debut just on the horizon, Platt sees no reason why lawn bowls and para lawn bowls can't be as big as they are in Australia.

She added: "The money that is ploughed into bowls in Australia is unbelievable, every little town has a bowling green, and you get children out there every weekend playing.

"Bowls would be a nice sport for more kids and schools to try, and believe me, it is very skilful, it is not easy.

"People think it is easy until they try it and they realise that it is very difficult.

"Hopefully, when people see me on the green, they'll see someone at my age with a disability and think ‘I can do that.’

"I hope it will inspire a lot of disabled people and show bowls has no age limit whatsoever, you can start playing at seven and still be playing into your 90s."

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