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Three sisters rising through the ranks of bowls

News imageBBC The three sisters sit next to each other on a bench, looking at the camera. They are smiling and wearing green Coleford Bowling Club shirtsBBC
(l-r) Emily, Hattie and Erin took up bowls after Covid

Three sisters are encouraging more young people to take up the sport of bowls, having started playing in the aftermath of Covid.

Emily, 20, Erin, 17, and 16-year-old Hattie Burke now all play for Gloucestershire at county level, with Erin also representing England, and they have a combined goal to compete at the Commonwealth Games in the future.

The siblings are following in the footsteps of their grandfather, who has been a member at Coleford Bowling Club since the 1980s.

They say the sport has brought them closer as a family, with their parents and grandmother also taking part.

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News imageThe middle of three photographs on the clubhouse wall shows Erin Burke in her Bowls England shirt, smiling at the camera with a medal around her neck.
Erin became the first ever Coleford Bowling Club player to play internationally

The Burke sisters only began playing bowls as a way of getting outside and spending time with family at the end of the pandemic.

"Things were starting to open up and we were allowed to start doing outdoor sports," said 20-year-old Emily.

All three of them have since represented Gloucestershire, with Erin, 17, becoming the first Coleford Bowling Club player to ever play internationally, having competed for the England U18s.

"It's such a good feeling because you're not just representing yourself you're representing Gloucestershire and Coleford," she explained.

"Everyone was really happy for me, and they just celebrate it all the time."

News imageThe sisters take part in a bowling practice on the green, with Erin and Hattie standing behind Emily who has just thrown. They are wearing green Coleford Bowling Club shirts, with blue shorts.
The Burke sisters say their ambition is to qualify for the Commonwealth Games

Now the sisters want to publicise the sport to other young people as a way of meeting new people and doing something different.

"I feel like you don't really notice your phone 'cause when you're out and about with other people it gives you some social skills," said Hattie.

The success of Emily, Erin and Hattie also give their family great pride, especially their granddad Patrick Burke, who has been a member of Coleford Bowling Club for more than 40 years.

"It is wonderful," he said.

"I'm so proud of them. I never ever expected any of my family to be going to those levels of bowls, I've never got there, I always wanted to."

News imagePatrick smiles at the camera. He's sitting on the side of the bowling green with his granddaughters playing in the background. He's wearing his green Coleford Bowling Club shirt.
Patrick Burke started playing bowls in the 1980s and inspired his family to follow in his footsteps

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