This is just an idea, but here goes.
(RANT ON)
How about we create a prize fund that is solely based upon the amount of entrants involved per division? For instance, an example. THE FOLLOWING FIGURES ARE PURELY HYPOTHETICAL
The field consists of 50 bowlers, 10 of which are female. Entry costs $180 a head. Girls generate income of $1800 and guys have $7200, with perhaps 4K sponsorship. Lineage costs approximately $700 for women and $2800 for men for qualifying. Matchplay could consist of the top 5 women (half field) cutting to bowl two rounds of round robin (costing about $250) and men cutting to 21 (half field) bowling 7 games of trios for bonus pins (cost $850). Matchplay for each field would cost another $100. With lineage paid, that leaves about 8K for prize fund.
As females brought in entry fees of $1800, plus 20% of any sponsorship raised (for this example, 20% of 4K = $800) the income raised by the girls would be $2600. Minus your lineage cost of $1050, leaves a prize fund of $1550.
Pay to cut would be $650 (1st) $400 (2nd) $250 (3rd) $150 (4th) $100 (5th).
Now the women have a field to bowl in and their own prize fund. But does this mean more girls are going to bowl simply because they can be on their own? I'm not sure that it will. If the girls want their own field, they would have to support it in numbers and make the trip worthwhile for the interstate girls. If I was one of the interstate girls bowling in the womens division bowling for the abovementioned cash, I would be re-thinking my cost versus potential gain.
The only way this position could be bettered is by getting more entries, thus making up a higher percentage of the total entries, thus getting more of the sponsorship. Or of course obtaining more sponsorship. That in itself is very hard to do.
I think the format for this event is very good. It gives the bowlers a good chance to cut (top 21), having plenty of games to get there. The girls can definitely hold their own, as 2 females occupied the top three spots last year.
As for the mud flinging going on, I agree with Jemmo.....this post was designed for people to register their interest in bowling this event. Disputing how it is being run or organised should be discussed elsewhere, but whilst we are on the topic.....
I can't believe someone would accuse another person or group of people of being gloryhounds because they decide to take it amongst themselves to save a long running national event on the SA calendar. These guys did a fantastic job last year when up to SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF THE EVENT no one offered to take on the responsibility to run the show. To organise bowlers, a format, sponsorship and for it to be a success is nothing short of phenomenal, and for that they should be congratulated. They take on the responsibility again this year, only to be kicked in the teeth because they can't raise enough dollars?
SIMPLY DISGRACEFUL. To those people involved in the bagging of these tournament directors, why don't you try organising and running an event yourselves, and see how hard it is? And I don't mean organising for a state team to go away. I mean organising it from inception, arranging a centre, doing costings, bargaining with the centre to get a good rate, organising sponsorships, getting flyers out, attracting interest, getting people to deposit and show up from interstate, having enough people around to ensure a successful run tournament, making sure lanes/patterns are working and to a minimum of breakdowns, issuing payments.......NOT EASY. And for these guys to do it out of their own free will and time and to be ridiculed for doing it?? These responsible should honestly know better.
As for supporting tournaments in SA, bowlers make choices. so many bowlers from interstate registered their interest without even seeing an entry form or payout details....Regardless of squads and listings, a bowler has a choice as to whether he/she will support a tournament. If you choose not to bowl a tournament, WHINGE IN QUIET AND DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE REASONS WHY YOU DIDN'T BOWL. I see a lot of youth bowlers bowling in the SAJYC and not bowling in the SA Scratch Series. It's no skin off my nose, but the people you decide to pick on bowl in BOTH events. How dare you accuse these guys of trying to sabotage the progress of Tenpin in SA! Ash, I haven't seen your name on one of the scratch series squad listings yet......again, glass houses. The sport would be better off with less of the types that do nothing but criticize and do nothing to better the situation. The sport doesn't want them, nor does it need them.
In closing, I hope the tournament runs well. I for one will be there in support.....and well done to Shane, Danielle, Isaac, Robert and anyone else who have had a hand in getting this tournament on the calendar again. And to those responsible for the whinging.....PULL YOUR HEADS IN. If you're doing nothing to improve the case, PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
As for female entries, maybe if TIM TRAN bowled this event you might see a dramatic increase from interstaters!!
(RANT OFF)
This was posted by Michael Tran, and I sincerely apologise if I have hurt anyone's feelings in any way. Feel free to voice your opinions to me IN PERSON if you have taken issue with my comments.
