'Blatant sexism': Bowls rule change means men can wear shorts, but not women

The English Bowling Federation has become embroiled in a sexism row after a rule change allowed men to wear shorts while women have been banned.

The decision by the country’s oldest national bowling organisation has been branded sexist after it updated its guidelines at its annual general meeting in November last year.

Under the guidelines, which came into effect in April, men now have the option to wear tailored shorts or trousers, while playing in inter-county association matches and national championships.

In contrast, female players may only wear cropped tailored trousers or a double-pleated skirt that covers the knees while competing.

A number of bowlers have criticised the EBF's ruling as discriminatory.

One female Suffolk bowler, who asked not to be named, suggested a compromise could be made to allow skirts with shorts stitched inside.

“It is blatant sexism,” she said. “I have been playing bowls for 15 years, it is a fantastic game but it can be so antiquated.

“In other countries, men and women get to wear shorts of the brightest colours and closer to home, female golf players can wear shorts, so why should bowls players be any different?”

Roy Oatham, secretary of Castle Camps bowls in Cambridgeshire, told The Telegraph that women should be allowed the freedom to dress as they desire.

“It is a good idea that there are certain restrictions on what people should wear but I can’t see that there should be a difference between what the men and women wear,” he said.

“If you are going to encourage young people to play they have to start taking the stuffiness out of it. When I first started you had to wear brown shoes and a tie but a lot of that has changed.”

Mr Oatham added that traditional bowls had “to change for modern times”.

“The sport will stop one day if they don't switch to modern thoughts,” he said. “I think the dress will put off young women because they are being dominated by the old tradition. They want to be treated the same.”

John Calver, secretary of the California Bowls Club in Ipswich, said he was sure women “would appreciate the choice rather being dictated upon”.

“Many of our players are husband and wife teams, and I'm sure the husbands would like to see their wives allowed to wear what they wish,” he said.

“Sadly there are still some Victorians in the bowls world that are very old fashioned and stuck in their ways.”

However, The English Women's Bowling Federation (EWBF), which also updated its rules along with the EBF, denied accusations of sexism.

Carole Swan, the EWBF National President, said a rule change for women’s dress could not be passed until a motion was put forward by a female federation bowler to her local club.

This would then have to approved by her county and forwarded to the annual meeting at which all the thirteen counties playing Federation bowls can vote through their delegates.

Ms Swan said: “There has not been any proposals by women from any clubs or a county to wear shorts. Until that happens they won’t wear shorts. We don't follow the men's rules for clothing. They don't follow ours- they don't wear skirts.”