EARDISLAND'S bowlers are reaping the benefits of the success of London 2012.

The north Herefordshire club is looking forward to the new season after a major refurbishment thanks to Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund, part of the £135m Places People Play legacy fund after last year’s Olympics and Paralympics.

Eardisland landed a grant of £48,000 which has enabled them to construct new changing rooms, new toilet facilities, a greenkeeper’s store room and a new building adjoining the existing club house.

There is new fencing around the green and a water harvesting system to store rainwater for use on the green.

“It’s really been beyond belief what we have been able to achieve here,” said chairman Phil Lynne.

“The comparison between the original building and the one we have now is amazing and is of real benefit to the community as well.

“The old derelict buildings have been replaced by this quite impressive-looking new one.”

The project has been some time in the planning but things have moved ahead well despite problems caused by the wet weather through the winter.

“It seems that we have been planning for this for ever but it was just over a year ago when we liaised with the Herefordshire Council and they told us all the things we would need to do,” said Lynne.

“It all moved forward from there.

“It’s been a lot of hard work ever since—you have to get three quotes for every price for everything you want to have done and then everything has to be inspected and approved.

“Fortunately, this project has all gone quite well and we have had some good advice.

“We should be able to entertain a lot more people and it will be a much nicer place to be - there will be no more going out in the pouring rain to the toilets out the back.”

The new building means that the club can change from being a summer-season only venue.

“This will now be a 52- week-a-year club,” said Lynne.

“We are hoping that we can play carpet bowls here and there will now be the possibility of playing cards and having social nights, even when we can’t bowl.

“The new building will cost a lot more to run so we are going to have to make a lot more to keep it running.”

Although the membership of the club is solid and drawn from several of the surrounding villages, including Shobdon and Dilwyn, a key aspect of the refurbishment is the hope that a new and younger element can be attracted to the club.

“Part of the requirement of the grant application was to extend the junior membership and that is something that we need to do,”

admitted chairman Lynne.

“When we go to a bowls match and look around, the majority of people are either pensioners or very close to that age.

“It’s vital that we get a lot more young kids involved with the sport.

“We are going to do open days and things like that when anyone between certain ages can come along - there will be some instruction and there will be some bowls so people will be able to try the sport and find out what it is all about.

“The membership of the club stands at around 40.

“We have 32 bowlers and eight social members who enjoy coming along on the nights when we are bowling to watch and be part of the club.”

The strength of the membership has been revealed in the work which has gone on behind the scenes to add to the benefits brought by the Sport England grant.

“Prior to the award being granted, club members, through a series of fund raising events, raised £12,000 in three years,” said vice-chairman Phil Milchard.

“This is being used to refurbish the clubhouse which will feature new tables and chairs, sofas, new heaters, a glass washer and a re-fitted kitchen and bar area, including a new oven and hob.”

Lynne added: “The committee is very strong.

“A lot of the members have worked very hard to get the finish — the builders only did the basics and so the members had to do all the painting and decorating.

“There is a real team spirit and it’s given us a true sense of community.

“Everyone gets on well and they are all quite willing to do their bit.

“That’s particularly true of our groundsman Tony Stokes, from Dilwyn, who, as always, has got our green looking fantastic for the start of the season.

“He has been looking after the green for four or five years now. He is here virtually seven-days-a-week doing one thing and another - it’s a key role.”

The new facilities were opened last Saturday by Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Rob Weale.