Rachuig 2002, our best chance yet

[GeorgeF]

Yes it's a bit early but there are a few things we can put in place now to ensure we send the best team away. Ideally if we were to send our best 7, who would they be and what is it going to take to get them to bowl (as I know some of them won't).

Basically with the depth of bowlers we have we could have fielded 2 teams this year, here is a list of names, lets try and get all of these bowlers trying out. I think another reason why some of the tournament bowlers don't bowl is because the hype and prestige has gone. Let's talk it up and bring home the cash (yes cash) and the trophy.

Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head

Carl Bottomly
Brendon Heathwood
Darryl Alford
Jason Walsh
Cameron Walsh
Brian Pilkington
Ian Hughes
Morty who???
Brandon Qual
Jon King
Harold Fryer
Phil Ramsey
Stephen Best
Ricky Cox
Stephen Hunt
Geoff Ott
Trent Bosel
Tony Hamilton
Matt Middlemiss
Robbie Muller

Don't feel offended if your name isn't down, this is just a quick list I thought of. I want as many people as possible trying out this year, I want to bring home the money!!!!!

What is it going to take?

 

[Andrew S.]

What about the women, George?

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[ladykitchener]

they don't have women on the planet endo where george comes from!!!!! he never talks about women in any of his posts

don't you think they are good enough george?

 

[GeorgeF]

Dotty

There reason I don't talk too much about the women is because I know nothing about them. Apart from Kelly Warren, Sam Warby, Keren McKenna, Kayleen Mariot and a few others I don't know many women bowlers. I bowl heaps of tournaments around Queensland and Australia and I rarely see any of them. I don't like to comment too much on subjects I know nothing about.

As you would know the Rachuig Trophy has a male and female division. I'm sure if some women wanted to start a similar post they could. I am a male and the men's team directly effects me, hence the post.

As for planet Endor, they have both male and female ewoks

 

[Andrew S.]

Just try leaving the toilet seat up,you'll soon learn something about them.

 

[SamW]

George

If I offend I am sorry, but I couldn't let this go without a reply.

In the real world not Planet Endo where you come from it would be fantastic to see all of the bowlers you have listed above and many more participate in the Rachuig roll off.

But as usual there are always excuses of some sort as to why not.

I have been involved in bowling Rachuig for Qld for 8 years and many times over I have asked myself what the hell I am doing. I too have been on the short end of the stick.

What brings me back to bowl in Rachuig ?

The love of representing my state, the love of the tournament and finally the fantastic people I have had the pleasure to bowl with.


I would love to see all the men who have issues with bowling Rachuig for Qld, bite the bullet, swallow their pride and give it a go regardless of their personal feelings.

There are too many reasons and excuses why they can't and not enough about why they should.

Sorry George, but this also includes you.

We have remarkable talent in men's bowling in Qld and yes we could field a fantastic team. But, as usual the excuses are many.

Boys, put you grievances aside and roll off to represent your state cause in the end you only have yourselves to answer to, nobody else.

The statement "Our best chance yet" - You can have the best team eva on paper as we have had previously many times but in the end it means nothing unless the bowlers believe in each other and the team as a whole.I think the boys proved that this year. What a fantastic team.

The gauntlet is thrown out to those who can get past all the negatives. Roll off you might be surprised.

It also helps that 2002 is a FIQ year and you need to bowl in the roll off to be eligible.This definately puts a different spin on the situation. Quite sad really it should be more than that to make you want to bowl.

It is funny how priorities change.

Look forward to seeing all the guys listed and many more.Trust me there are positives apart from the bull****. You just need to lokk past it and get on with it. Trust me I have.

Cheers,
Sam Warby

 

[SamW]

Andrew

Thanks for the toilet seat thing, but there are far more important things to worry about than the toilet seat being up.

Merry Xmas to you!

Take Care!

Cheers,
Sam Warby

 

[GeorgeF]

For the record Sam, I did nominate for the roll off but due to my trip to the USA was unable to attend. I wanted to be a part of Rachuig and even made attempts to get my way into the NT side when I got back.

There is nothing I want more than to lead QLD mens to it's first victory. Next year I see 1 main reason why bowlers will come back to Rachuig, MONEY!!! The main reason bowlers in QLD don't bowl Rachuig is because they don't want to pay $1000 plus to represent their state. $1000 pays for alot of tournament entries and a chance of winning alot more than what you started with.

There has never been any return with Rachuig, until now. With the talk of a sponsor lined up not to mention the bowlers views of introducing an extra $50 fee to create a prizefund, bowlers for the first time will be able to not only win the trophy but win cash and end up ahead. I'm not saying money is the be end and end all of Rachuig but it can make a difference on who try's out and who doesn't.

I would like to see QLD bring home the trophy, both women and men. Bringing home cash, especially when it is more than what you started with, is good also.

G

 

[lilone]

Okay, so this is going to look weird right?
A junior, such as myself, posting regarding rachuig...but here is how I see from a junior's p.o.v who has been following rachuig now for a few years.

G and Sammy, you both have very solid perspectives on how this game is controlled. Firstly, like any ranking here in bowling, crap will always exist and yes there is some stage where you need to forget about it and look at what you will be representing. In this case, it is your state...your home, and due to some restraints there are those who cannot participate for a certain year, yet it is a rewarding experience...as in president shield...and I have gained that experience through persistence and determination...even though it wasn't for my home state. G, you proved that you had done the same - the love of the sport is just too much to pass up when you just want to wack it up to feel the adrenalin rush that comes with such an event.
Unfortunately as G has mentioned, it is taking bowlers money, not pride, to compete. The realisation that there is a materialistic reward. $1000 is nothing compared to what we too have to sometimes fork out, but even then we have more numbers rolling off, especially here in queensland. I guess the question asked...is when taking this sport seriously, is money worth more in the long run? Unfortunately, I would see where sam is coming from and say that money would seem to be the dominant restraint existing.
Getting back onto the talent side of things, I believe that more ladies need to be involved. All you need to do is look at the numbers. I must say that for the numbers who roll off, we certainly have a choice result when the going gets tough.
If I had to name the women - here goes:
Sam Warby
Kirstie Mills
Cathy Elwell
Elissa Elliot
Kayleen Marriot
Mindy Flewellen
Emma Rutten ??? depending on knee
Would of said Kelly Kantor (but she moved)
Rebecca Simpson
...plus a few of the up comin junior bowlers, who aged out this year. I still have a year of juniors ahead of me, however I will be hopefully participating in the roll-off as I am 18 before the rachuig tournament is rolled etc etc. As I junior I see that rachuig is the only pathway acceptable after you have made junior representation. As noticeable though it was hard to come up with as many names for the ladies and it was for the men. If by chance I did miss you (to the ladies) I apologise, but this shows the difference.

Hopefully 2002 and will bring the best to come and hopefully a double victory for the state we call home.

Regards,
Kimi

 

[SamW]

George

I hear what you are saying but this makes me very angry to see that your driving force is money.

Yeah sure you could bowl in many tournaments for your $ 1000 dollars but you are missing the crucial point about Rachuig.

What is it's history?

It is not about money,sure it would be nice to have cash as well as the trophy but if you are purely bowling Rcahuig for the money well, it makes me wonder.

There is so much tradition that goes with this tournament. There is pride and honour abour representing your state. It is not just about the bowling and the cash as you say, it is so much more.

I am not the only one who feels this way many of us have been bowling Rachuig for quite some time and have forked out thousands of dollars to do this.

Where the money thing comes into for me is when we don't receive any funding from our State government to represent our state.

George, my post was by no means an all out slather on any of the bowlers it is just very sad that cash is the driving force to make people bowl in this tournament.

Cheers,
Sam Warby

 

[Sarah300]

Here is my view on the situation.

First of all although I am not from the sunny Queensland, and I do not bowl Rachuig for NSW.

There is alot of pride in bowling for your state but at the moment it does come at a cost.
Here are some of the expenses bowling Rachuig accur:-

Travelling expenses, equipment, accommodation and from some states the flights would cost around $400. Plus then you would have to add the bowling costs etc etc.

Yeah for sure bowling for your state is a great honour and should be nearly everyones priorities, but for some people costs are too much. For that amount of money a bowler could bowl a tournament and win some money back if not a little bit of profit.

If there was money in Rachuig I do feel you would getter alot more bowlers rolling off for the State Representitive Teams. There would also be more of a killer instinct within the bowlers knowing that they could win there money back.

Yeah there should be killer instinct in the bowling where no money is at stake. But you have to admit when money is at stake the attitudes of the bowlers would change a little.

This is an issue that needs alot of thought but in the long run I think it is a need for a money/cash prize for the winning teams.

Sazz