All-weather surface opens in Holmer
10:19am Monday 10th September 2001
HOLMER Green Short Mat Bowls Club are set to open the first all-weather outdoor rink in the country.
Mayor Nigel Vickery will bowl the historic first wood at the official opening on September 23.
The outdoor rink at Holmer Green Sports Club has taken four years to come to fruition since members first thought of the plan.
Club chairman Bob Day said: "It's very exciting to be the pioneers. It's taken us four years to get this far. There were times when we thought about jacking it in but we didn't and now we're all looking forward to the opening.
"No-one else has tried it but now we've done it I wouldn't be surprised if a few other clubs follow us."
The club's 17 members raised the £17,000 costs with a series of grants and fundraising activities. Now they are hoping that new members will want to join the club and help it to prosper.
Day said: "We're a bit nervous about it because it is something new and something different."
The club took a lot of advice before choosing the surface and they are confident they have got the right type of matting for the three lane rink.