Frank sets sights on bowls world record

When Peniguel visited Clunes Bowling Club for a friendly 10-end match against member Don Riordan on Saturday, he moved within touching distance of realising his very own Guinness World Records submission.

Peniguel, 71, has spent the past 11 months embarking on a crusade to play the most lawn bowls clubs by an individual in a 12-month period.

The Clunes match brought him to a grand total of 584 clubs, and he planned to crack the magic 600 by Sunday’s end.

‘‘The whole idea is to propagate bowls, but there is a story to it,’’ Peniguel said.

‘‘The sport is in decline – I just know it, I get a good feel for it and it’s sad.

‘‘The whole idea is that anybody else who wants to beat it (the record) will have to get out there and talk the sport up.’’

Peniguel believes that Australia’s bowls recession has reached alarming proportions.

‘‘If you do the math, there won’t be too many clubs left in 32 years,’’ he said.

‘‘On average we’re losing 16 per cent of bowlers, over 70 per year.’’

Peniguel took up bowls just 12 years ago, and has been ‘‘pleasurably hooked’’ ever since he first stepped onto the green.

However, the past 11 months have been difficult for the determined veteran.

‘‘I live in a Kombi van that I can barely stand up in. . . you’re constantly bending, ducking and weaving when you’re in it,’’ he said.

‘‘I make my own appointments, my own washing, cleaning because I wanted to do this on my own as a real test.’’

Peniguel’s journey started at Melbourne’s Elsternwick club in January and has taken him to most of Australia’s states.

As of Monday, he will head north to play clubs across the Bendigo and Maryborough regions, before trying his hand in Tasmania before the year is out.

‘‘I think I would like to have a rest when it’s done,’’ he said.

‘‘The last month, I’ve started to feel my age.

‘‘It’s a fabulous game in terms of skills.

‘‘You can take it up at any age and still be left wondering eight years later why you’re only 50 per cent better.’’