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| World Bowls at Potters: 'There's nowhere else I'd rather be' | World Bowls at Potters: 'There's nowhere else I'd rather be' |
| (4 months later) | |
| The seaside resort at Hopton-on-Sea first hosted the bowls in 1999 | The seaside resort at Hopton-on-Sea first hosted the bowls in 1999 |
| Potters in Norfolk is hosting the World Indoor Bowls Championships for its 25th year, with the village of Hopton-on-Sea now the established home of the biggest event on the sport's calendar. | Potters in Norfolk is hosting the World Indoor Bowls Championships for its 25th year, with the village of Hopton-on-Sea now the established home of the biggest event on the sport's calendar. |
| Herbert Potter first opened the holiday resort in 1920 in Hemsby before moving to Hopton four years later, and relocating to a site closer to sea in 1934. | Herbert Potter first opened the holiday resort in 1920 in Hemsby before moving to Hopton four years later, and relocating to a site closer to sea in 1934. |
| In the 1990s it began to invest in its indoor bowls facilities and brought the World Championships to the venue before the end of the decade. | In the 1990s it began to invest in its indoor bowls facilities and brought the World Championships to the venue before the end of the decade. |
| Who are the super fans who come back year after year and what brings them to the resort to watch? | Who are the super fans who come back year after year and what brings them to the resort to watch? |
| 'First time I came I loved it' | 'First time I came I loved it' |
| Sixteen-year-old school pupil Martia hopes to play in the World Championships in the future | Sixteen-year-old school pupil Martia hopes to play in the World Championships in the future |
| Martia, from nearby Great Yarmouth, says she first came to the World Championships when she was nine years old with her father. | Martia, from nearby Great Yarmouth, says she first came to the World Championships when she was nine years old with her father. |
| The 16-year-old says: "The first time I came I loved it and we've come back every year since. | The 16-year-old says: "The first time I came I loved it and we've come back every year since. |
| "I think the people keep me coming back, the brilliant quality of bowls and having it right on our doorstep is brilliant, and there's nowhere else I would rather spend any time at." | "I think the people keep me coming back, the brilliant quality of bowls and having it right on our doorstep is brilliant, and there's nowhere else I would rather spend any time at." |
| She has been playing bowls herself for the past seven years and says she has "grown up alongside the bowlers here". | She has been playing bowls herself for the past seven years and says she has "grown up alongside the bowlers here". |
| Martia says the bowlers are "always polite and friendly... lovely people to speak to, they're very encouraging". | Martia says the bowlers are "always polite and friendly... lovely people to speak to, they're very encouraging". |
| She got to play on the famous blue carpet when she was 10 years old in the junior tournament and did so again the following year. | She got to play on the famous blue carpet when she was 10 years old in the junior tournament and did so again the following year. |
| "That has been such a stand out memory. It's always been the one thing I can look back on if I'm having difficulty throughout a season," she says. | "That has been such a stand out memory. It's always been the one thing I can look back on if I'm having difficulty throughout a season," she says. |
| 'You just get the Potters bug' | 'You just get the Potters bug' |
| Aaron Linford says he hopes more young people like his daughter will be attracted to bowls | Aaron Linford says he hopes more young people like his daughter will be attracted to bowls |
| Martia's father, Aaron Linford, says: "It's just an absolutely fantastic place to come. The atmosphere around the place while the world bowls is going on is second to none. | Martia's father, Aaron Linford, says: "It's just an absolutely fantastic place to come. The atmosphere around the place while the world bowls is going on is second to none. |
| "To have a sport that we love and is five minutes down the road, it's fantastic." | "To have a sport that we love and is five minutes down the road, it's fantastic." |
| He says he and his daughter have "had some good times playing bowls" and share a passion for the sport. | He says he and his daughter have "had some good times playing bowls" and share a passion for the sport. |
| The 42-year-old says when Martia played in the junior tournament it was "absolutely fantastic as a father to watch". | The 42-year-old says when Martia played in the junior tournament it was "absolutely fantastic as a father to watch". |
| "If you come here you just get the Potters bug," Mr Linford says. | "If you come here you just get the Potters bug," Mr Linford says. |
| He adds: "Unfortunately there is still that old people mentality [to bowls] but it is certainly getting better as we go along." | He adds: "Unfortunately there is still that old people mentality [to bowls] but it is certainly getting better as we go along." |
| 'It's a perfect place' | 'It's a perfect place' |
| Retiree Lynne Ainge says she can meet the bowlers during her stay | Retiree Lynne Ainge says she can meet the bowlers during her stay |
| Lynne Ainge says she first came to the World Championships with her bowls club and "fell in love with the place". | Lynne Ainge says she first came to the World Championships with her bowls club and "fell in love with the place". |
| "I absolutely love the bowls, love the opportunity to see all the matches going on, but it's a fantastic place to stay. What better than waking up in the morning and seeing the sun rise over the sea?" | "I absolutely love the bowls, love the opportunity to see all the matches going on, but it's a fantastic place to stay. What better than waking up in the morning and seeing the sun rise over the sea?" |
| The 61-year-old, from Eye in Suffolk, says there is a "buzz" at the resort during the tournament. | The 61-year-old, from Eye in Suffolk, says there is a "buzz" at the resort during the tournament. |
| BBC Sport - Bowls - World Indoor Championships 2023 | BBC Sport - Bowls - World Indoor Championships 2023 |
| Bowls club Covid jab centre gets membership boost | Bowls club Covid jab centre gets membership boost |
| Triple amputee says he is "hooked" on bowls | Triple amputee says he is "hooked" on bowls |
| She says many of the bowlers in the competition also stay at Potters, "so it's a chance to catch up with them". | She says many of the bowlers in the competition also stay at Potters, "so it's a chance to catch up with them". |
| Ms Aigne has also been a steward and worked the scoreboard at the tournament. | Ms Aigne has also been a steward and worked the scoreboard at the tournament. |
| "It's an opportunity to have a great time, it keeps me going. It's a perfect place as far as I'm concerned," she says. | "It's an opportunity to have a great time, it keeps me going. It's a perfect place as far as I'm concerned," she says. |
| 'Chat with the world champion' | 'Chat with the world champion' |
| Denis Goodley says he enjoys seeing the local bowlers compete at the World Championships | Denis Goodley says he enjoys seeing the local bowlers compete at the World Championships |
| Denis Goodley, manager of Acle Indoor Bowls Club, says "there's nothing not to enjoy" at the World Championships. | |
| "You've got a terrific venue, the spectator area really is excellent, you're watching the best bowlers in the world - what isn't there to like," he says. | "You've got a terrific venue, the spectator area really is excellent, you're watching the best bowlers in the world - what isn't there to like," he says. |
| The 80-year-old says the staff at the resort are "all excellent" and outside the competition, the spectators can mingle with the competitors. | The 80-year-old says the staff at the resort are "all excellent" and outside the competition, the spectators can mingle with the competitors. |
| He says: "All of the bowlers that you come across, you can sit in the bar with, have chat with them. | He says: "All of the bowlers that you come across, you can sit in the bar with, have chat with them. |
| "I can't think of another sport where you can be sitting with a world champion and have a chat - it's great." | "I can't think of another sport where you can be sitting with a world champion and have a chat - it's great." |
| Mr Goodley says the popularity of the sport is growing and points to clips of shots that have gone viral on social media. | Mr Goodley says the popularity of the sport is growing and points to clips of shots that have gone viral on social media. |
| "The standard is top class," he adds. | "The standard is top class," he adds. |
| 'Lovely to have everyone back' | 'Lovely to have everyone back' |
| The resort was started by current boss John Potter's great-grandfather Herbert Potter | The resort was started by current boss John Potter's great-grandfather Herbert Potter |
| John Potter, the managing director of Potters Resorts, says it has been "quite a journey" since the venue hosted its first World Championships in 1999. | John Potter, the managing director of Potters Resorts, says it has been "quite a journey" since the venue hosted its first World Championships in 1999. |
| "We've had a lot of fun in 25 years. We've given away a lot of prize money and we've entertained a lot of people," he says. | "We've had a lot of fun in 25 years. We've given away a lot of prize money and we've entertained a lot of people," he says. |
| Mr Potter, the fourth generation of the family to run the resort, says the quarter of a century "in one sense all melds into one, and in other it feels like a lifetime". | Mr Potter, the fourth generation of the family to run the resort, says the quarter of a century "in one sense all melds into one, and in other it feels like a lifetime". |
| He says: "We've come through a couple of difficult years with Covid where we haven't had the audience, so it's lovely to have everyone back this year. | He says: "We've come through a couple of difficult years with Covid where we haven't had the audience, so it's lovely to have everyone back this year. |
| "We're very proud to bring a world event to Norfolk." | "We're very proud to bring a world event to Norfolk." |
| He says the sport is growing "not just in the UK but around the world", with visitors this year coming from places such as Israel and Hong Kong. | He says the sport is growing "not just in the UK but around the world", with visitors this year coming from places such as Israel and Hong Kong. |
| "It inspires so many people," he adds. | "It inspires so many people," he adds. |
| The championships runs 6-22 January, and there is coverage via the BBC Red Button and iPlayer. | The championships runs 6-22 January, and there is coverage via the BBC Red Button and iPlayer. |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Hopton on Sea | Hopton on Sea |