From October to September, primary six and seven pupils have special coaching from members of St Ronan’s Bowling Club on the town’s green.

Bob Heaney, one of six club coaches who currently trains 41 young players from last years intake, told Peeblesshire News about the scheme.

He said: “This has been going in its current format for about six years, previously the head-teacher would not let the children play in school hours, we had to organise it out of school time and that was not very successful.” The coaching starts indoors at the school gym in October on a short mat with primary six pupils. Mr Heaney, a sprightly 81-year-old, said: “We teach the rudiments of the game indoors and, after a couple of weeks, start them on a little competition and split them into teams. When the green opens in April we show them the difference between the short game on the mat and outdoors.

“There is a competition with team red against black and trophies to be won.” Mr Heaney explained that it is quite hard working with them as there are six rinks in use and there has to be a coach on each rink.

After the summer holidays when they come back as primary sevens in August club coaches take the children through the Scottish Bowls Bronze National Proficiency Award with a certificate if they are successful.

There are a mixture of written answers to questions where each child has to achieve four out of five in each section to pass and practical work on the green.

“We have one player from the school who is a top performer, Kyle McLennan, he has been in quite a few competitions and during the holidays has come every Monday and Thursday to play with the group we call the Golden Oldies,” said Mr Heaney.

Kyle, aged 11, said: “I have been playing three or four years, it is a good game, but my favourite sport is football, I think I’ll always stick at bowls though.” Mr Heaney said: “We always hope we will get one or two who come back and have the rudiments of the game in their mind and will be able to pick it up again quite quickly.” Primary seven teacher Eileen Roche added: “It is fantastic, by the time they have learned all the basics in primary six, they know what to do and really look forward to coming.”