Many of us are in awe of the four premier league bowlers who joined Sturt this year, not just because they are superb bowlers and exciting to watch in action, but also because they are fine human beings and have enriched the club.
Of the four, we are all getting to know club coach Izzy Trenorden, we profiled Alex Smith on the website a few months ago, Jack Trenorden has agreed to be interviewed soon, and below is the very generous written response to interview questions we put to Stephen Jones.
Meet Stephen Jones:
Stephen, which clubs have you played for before Sturt and what level did you reach? Any club or other awards or achievements?
After one season of night owls, I began playing pennants in the 2012-13 season for Beaumont. I played there for 5 seasons before joining Lockleys in 2017-18 where I bowled for 8 seasons.
It took me a couple of seasons to make the Beaumont first team (Div 4E at the time) where I played front end positions.
I moved to Lockleys (Div 1 at the time) as it presented an opportunity for me to play in a higher grade and better myself. We won the Div 1 flag in 2018-19 (my second year) and I played for them in Premier division for 6 seasons before joining Sturt.
Due the player departures that have afflicted Lockleys in recent years, I skippered during my final seasons there. These were always “glass half full” opportunities and my team and I managed to grab a few prized scalps along the way … but getting a win on “the big board” was somewhat elusive.
Living some distance from Lockleys, I found the best way to volunteer my time to the club was as the editor and compiler of the monthly newsletter. Needless to say, once you get to know and understand me, I did this with diligence and painstaking thoroughness.
As well as the club news, I always tried to include a joke, a meme, and any other link that I thought the readers would enjoy.
Personal achievements and awards along the way include State Overs 60s Pairs runners-up with Ash Halls last year and making the quarter finals of the Over 60s Pairs at the Australian Open last year, again with Ash.
What first attracted you to bowls and what do you continue to like about bowls?
Honestly, I had not given bowls much thought before an ATO work colleague handed me a Beaumont night owls flyer.
After a marriage separation in 2009, I began walking home from work each night and playing a bit of touch football but had no regular weekend commitments.
I was hooked fairly quickly in my first night owls season and it wasn’t a hard choice to start playing pennants.
Until I retired from work in August 2016, I was a Saturdays-only bowler but I quickly came to enjoy and appreciate both the on-green competition and the off-green social aspect of bowls.
What attracted you to Sturt?
I live halfway between Sturt and Hawthorn. Driving to Lockleys 2-3 times a week was making less and less sense and it was time for a change of scene.
My primary reason for switching to Sturt was to join a local club where I might be able to contribute to some on-green success and to also enjoy the renowned off-green social side of the club.
Plus, I knew a good number of Sturt bowlers from playing in state events as well as the many who are ATO alumni like myself or who I knew from social winter bowls at Beaumont over recent years.
What do you enjoy in the Winter Bowls you play at Sturt?
My involvement in Saturday winter bowls at Sturt in 2025 was a bit of a feeling-out exercise. It often clashed with an Adelaide Oval work commitment and from time to time got cancelled due to the weather or condition of the green.
I enjoyed my winter bowls, the greens ran remarkably well and I certainly enjoyed how close the club is/was to home. I also play Wednesday winter bowls at Beaumont where I still have many friends and lunch companions.
What do you like about bowling for Sturt in pennants?
As one of the older members of the club’s first team, I consider myself very fortunate. Fortunate to be able to play my part in what is shaping as an exciting new era for the club.
With Izzy, Jack and Alex joining at the same time and bringing a Premier division mind-set, we are embracing the challenge of playing highly skilled but disciplined bowls.
Each member of the team seems to have accepted the challenge thrown down by Izzy and one can’t help but be very pleased with the direction we are headed.
You have a very smooth delivery action, where you get down low and are very stable on the mat. Is this the result of coaching or practice or both?
I have been complimented about my delivery action over the years but it is something I am constantly working on.
I had two 40-minute private coaching sessions many seasons ago and since then I have continually tried to reinforce the bits I’m happy and satisfied with and quietly and unobtrusively try to iron out the bits that annoy or frustrate me.
Deep down I know my delivery action can be improved. I love being challenged by a shot call and want to be able to execute it reliably.
You are well known for being highly expressive on the green, during pennant matches. Are you aware of this? Does this help you concentrate or relax?
At Lockleys one of my nicknames was “Kramer” (along with Perce, Indy, Doc and Spike). I know I have some idiosyncrasies and certain movement mannerisms on the bowling green … but that’s me. I don’t think I could easily get that out of my game.
For better or for worse, I am emotionally invested in every bowl I put down, regardless of the situation. I find it hard to relax on the green.
I enjoy the personal challenge of putting down a good bowl as much as I like the challenge of the game itself.
I also like to use my voice effectively on the green and I like to give massive positive shout-outs that can be heard across the green.
Many cricket fanatics are envious of your part-time work in the iconic scoreboard at Adelaide Oval. How long have you been doing this? What do you enjoy about it?
Working in the Adelaide Oval scoreboard is one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I began working there at the start of the 2017-18 cricket season so I’m now in my ninth season. Growing up in the seventies, it was all cricket and football for me and my father was a SACA member and I have good memories of attending Shield and Test matches at the oval, as well as football finals.
“The old scoreboard” has a timelessness, connecting the past to the present and reinforcing the emotional, magical theatre of sport on the Adelaide Oval.
From my position on the top floor of the scoreboard where I do “the bowlers”, all test matches against the big two – England and India – are always a feast for the senses. The cacophony of crowd noise, the colour of a day-night test, the buzz of activity before a day’s play; I never tire of it.
Favourite pastimes; favourite music; hobbies?
I have an active retirement life. More than once, I have bowled 14 days in a row, being a combination of pennants, club championship game(s), tournaments at other clubs, state events, Friday pairs at Henley and the Sunday evening competition.
But away from bowls, I am a member of the Norwood Football Club History Group. I grew up in Tranmere, idolised the league players and played U/17s and U/19s but never managed a game at Seconds/Reserve level.
I did have ten happy and successful years at the Payneham Football Club and I organise regular lunches with these footy mates from 40+ years ago.
I walk for two hours every morning … same time, same route, same coffee stop! After that box is ticked, my time is my own, generally.
I like to speculate on small ASX mining stocks. I have an interest in several racehorses. I am happy instigating lunch and dinner catch-ups.
I have an interest in American sports - mainly football & baseball - … thank you Kayo. I listen to lots of local and international news-oriented podcasts.
I have a large record and music collection that brings me a lot of pleasure. I have 38 albums of mainly British steam train sound recordings … LOL … that’s me!
I hope I can see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band one more time before he/they stop touring!
Any other comments?
I have two daughters, now aged 29 and 26. I love them so much as they make their way in this crazy world.
Both live away from Adelaide so it becomes a nice holiday when I travel to visit them.
Enjoy the photos below of Stephen on the green: