A SPORTS club from Monmouthshire has benefited from £500 sponsorship to purchase much-needed equipment.

Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) recently awarded £500 sponsorship to Dingestow Short Mat Bowls Club to help with the purchase of equipment.

The equipment purchased includes a mat roller, which is a framed apparatus with a handle that allows players to attach the 40ft long felt mats and wind them up for storage

There is also a bowling arm, which is a small device that allows infirm players the opportunity to play without the additional strain of having to bend down to pick up and bowl. 

The arm is a great help to those with arthritis or in other cases are recovering from a serious illness such as a heart attack.

John Swift, MHA tenant and club member said: “We as a community of Dingestow are very grateful to MHA for the sponsorship of the mat roller – which has enabled the mats to be rolled up by a mostly older generation without getting on the floor to do it and having to then manually carry them.

Now they are rolled onto the mat roller and the whole thing is wheeled away into storage taking up much less space.

The bowling arm is a disability aid which enables people with a disability to take part in bowling competitions on equal terms.

“We hope that MHA will continue to sponsor clubs like ours as it’s social, active and benefits people who would otherwise not get out enjoying community life. 

“We would like to thank John Keegan and all the staff at MHA involved in arranging this sponsorship: it has made such a difference to the local community in Dingestow.”

The club, which has been bowling since March 2016, has 22 members and meets every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm at Dingestow Village Hall. 

The club is looking to expand so that it can join the Monmouthshire League and is open to all ages. 

Members of the club have enjoyed recent success by reaching the semi-finals in a local triples tournament and continues to go from strength to strength.