Outdoor season opens

THE opening of the outdoor season was celebrated by the traditional curtain raiser at Victoria where the president’s team played the captain’s team.

The president’s team was led by vice-president Beric Saward in the temporary absence of the club president. Although he inspired his rink to a 21 shot win against club captain Mike Manning, it was an overall victory for the captain’s team for the third time in three years.

Over 70 members and guests enjoyed a three course dinner after the game, superbly prepared and served by volunteer lady members. Both the president and captain addressed the assembled members, reflecting on the previous year’s success and hopes for the coming season.

To accommodate the increasing membership, Victoria has entered a second team to compete in the Over-60s League.

There are two new trophies to compete for this year, Sue Joyes, widow of Richard (Dick ) Joyes, who died last year, has donated a trophy for the winner of the men’s umbrella and Derek Hurst has donated a new trophy to be contested in the clubs fours competition.

President’s team 98, Captain’s team 123: S Thynne, A Shattock, G Frost, K Harvey 12, J Dyet, G Richards, J Howell, M Stocker 32; D Roberts, J Turton, R Fenwick, D Hurst 16, R Jacobs, A Uccellini, T Gatehouse, D Jones 14; H Whyte, W Nicholls, B Saward, S Evans 29, I Linham, R Austin, J Newman, M Manning 8; J Griffiths, P Leadbeater, R Rockett, M Cooper 12, K Leahy, J Loughlin, C Chudley, C Gazzard 25; B Johnson, M Milliner, P Fisher, A Barnes 14, J Codrington, G Jones, P Lunn, D Sealey 23; J M West, T Webb, G Hodge, N Sell 15, D Beard, R Sparkes, K Curtis, M Taylor 21.

CLARENCE Bowling Club’s innovative 2011 recruitment campaign, which brought the three Clarence Park-based clubs a considerable injection of new blood, is being repeated this year.

Yesterday (Wednesday), 20,000 leaflets inviting readers to free taster sessions in the sport were distributed in the BS22 and BS23 postal districts of Weston. Last year’s campaign in BS23 and BS24 resulted in the recruitment of around 50 playing and social members to Clarence men’s and ladies’ clubs and Wessex Ladies.

It was believed to be the biggest recruitment campaign ever launched by a bowling club and was considered to be a huge success.

The free taster sessions, in which all equipment will be provided and qualified coaches will be on hand, start on April 22 and will run every day from 10.30am-12.30pm (weather permitting) until May 19.

If those times don’t suit potential players, coaches David Stott (625404) and Roger Burrough (627507) will try to arrange hours that are more convenient.

Last year, Clarence’s big campaign, the brainchild of club president Reg Flicker, helped earn them the accolade of runners-up in the Bowls England Club of the year.

Flicker said this week: “The number of people playing bowls in falling and it’s essential that we get new players to keep the sport healthy. We consider ourselves the best club in the West of England, with unrivalled facilities, including a super clubhouse and three excellent greens, and we can promise any newcomers a warm welcome.”

The Clarence men began their outdoor season on Saturday with the annual captain’s day, hosted by skipper Roger Burrough.

At a special ceremony, the family of much-loved late Clarence member Phillip Fitzpatrick presented a seat to the club in his memory and they joined everyone for tea which followed the afternoon’s play.

This began with a spider, which was won by Derek Stevens. Then nine rinks of triples were played over 15 ends, with the prize for the highest winning margin going to Roy Kelloway, Rod Dodson and Brian Ballinger.

The season proper starts today (Thurs) when the Golds, Clarence’s second team in the Weston & District Over-60s League, are at home to Victoria Vikings. On Saturday, the annual Gentlemen v Players match will take place, while next Monday, St George’s Day, England will take on teams representing Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The family of the late Phillip Fitzpatrick presents a seat in his memory to Clarence president Reg Flicker, with Phillip’s good friend and Clarence’s oldest member John Stewart (93).

THE winter indoor season at Isle of Wedmore Bowls Club has now come to an end with the club competitions and the last few friendlies.

The finals were as usual closely contested, but two were particularly tight. Both the mixed pairs and the ladies’ singles were tied after the regulation number of ends and needed an extra end to decide the winners.

Indoor club competition results - men’s four-wood singles: winner Ron Barron, runner-up Rod Bull; ladies’ four-wood singles: Mary Ronald, Trish Newell; open four-wood singles: Ray Newell, Ron Barron; mixed triples: Barbara Clark, Dave Collins, Dennis Stansfield; John Runciman, Rosemarie Aston, Roy Norris.

Men’s pairs: John Arthurs, Eddie Payne; Peter Smith, Dave Nicholls. Ladies’ pairs: Cherith Deane, Margaret Baron; Alison Dodkin, Maureen Hordle. Mixed pairs: Barbara Clark, Dave Nicholls; Hilary Crandon, Ray Newell.

The men played a friendly against a team representing the SCIBA Patrons, two rinks playing in the morning and two in the afternoon. Although the morning session produced a 13-shot win for Wedmore, the session after a good lunch resulted in a loss by 20 shots, making the overall score 71-78.

A mixed away friendly against Minehead resulted in a win by 58-49, and a ladies’ friendly against St Andrews was won by 36-31.

The outdoor season started with the opening of the green on April 14 when many members enjoyed a shared lunch and 10 ends of play in fine conditions.

WINSCOMBE Bowling Club’s green was opened on a cold afternoon by Janet Waymouth, who bowled the first wood of the season watched by club president Lew Collier.

A mixed match was held between teams representing the president and captain, resulting in a win for the captain’s team by four shots.

Following an excellent supper for over 80 members, the president distributed gifts to a number of members in appreciation of the work they had done decorating and updating the pavilion and green surrounds during the winter.

Both captains look forward to an enjoyable and successful season.

CONGRESBURY 88, Bristol Arrow 61 (friendly): D Manning, D Gosling, C Shipway, R Stewart 10-11; S Pook, J Freemantle, T Yearsley, J Stone 16-14; K Cole, R Archer, M Huggett, R Becker 19-17; D Byett, C Blagden, G Stenner, M Wear 20-10; P Reay, G Andrews, F Horton, L Beck 23-9.

THE last of St Andrew’s indoor finals were played resulting in some interesting and surprising results.

Club champion is Barrie Forse who defeated Andrew Owens in the final, while the ladie’ champion is Ann Campbell. Men’s pair’s winners: Forse and Owens; ladies’ pairs J Forse and S Priory; mixed pairs: J Forse and B Forse.

The drawn triples winners were M Campbell, M Cordwell and J Ware; mixed triples: J Forse, A Owens and B Forse; mixed fours: M Millard, E Reeves, G Millard and B Reeves.

The Friday evening triples sponsored by Prowash, saw the Yankees win the league and also the top six play-offs, with the Chasers as runners-up.

Have attached pictures of mens and ladies champions being presented with their trophies by vice president Graham Burgess.

BOWLERS are reminded that the deadline for entries to most competitions in this year’s Weston Men’s Open Bowls tournament is this Saturday (April 21).

This deadline applies to the singles, pairs, evening triples and mixed pairs categories. The all day mixed triples, which kicks off the week-long tournament on June 24, will take entries until the middle of June.

For more details and entry forms, log on to the tournament website www.westonbowlstournament.org