The new bowls season opened for many clubs last weekend with good weather blessing most clubs.

Victoria Bowling Club opened their outdoor season with the traditional president’s day and again this year the weather was extremely good.

However, it was the captain’s team who mastered the conditions to establish a 19-shot advantage at halfway and as the green quickened drew further away to win the match by 33 shots.

The highest president’s winning rink was Alex Waygood, Ray Fenwick, Keith Holland and Derek Jones and the highest winning captain’s rink was Carmin Santosuosso, Mike Milliner, John Mingoe-West and Paul Leadbeater.

Members and their guests enjoyed a three-course meal prepared and served by the ladies. Both club president Stuart Evans and club captain Harrison Whyte in their after dinner speeches acknowledged the efforts of the ladies on the day and the members who during the winter months had spent their time at the club preparing the buildings and grounds for the new season.

Taster open days have been arranged for April 23, 24 and 30 and May 1, 7 and 8 between 10am and noon. The club will have coaches available together with sets of bowls.

President’s team 102, Captain’s team 135: J Fenn, D Beard, T Gatehouse, D Williams, G Hodge 11, J Griffiths, E Sage, J Langridge, M Campbell, L Stocker 21; L Kelly, T Broughton, J Newman, A Yates 22, R Jacobs, P Fisher, D Hurst, M Stocker 22; T Gilbert, B Saward, S Evans, C Heal 14, P Coumis, H Whyte, A Bray, M Cooper 23; M Payne, A Shattock, B Pocock, M Manning 16, C Santosuosso, M Milliner, J Mingoe-West, P Leadbeater 27; S Stocker, H Gibbs, G Frost, S Davies 19, A Webb, P Wyatt, R Rockett, C Gazzard 26; A Waygood, R Fenwick, K Holland, D Jones 20, R Hollier, J Smart, K Harvey, D Sealey 16.

Victoria’s indoor season concluded with the final of the men’s singles cup between Mike Stocker and Roy Bromet, who was playing in his first final and gave a good account of himself, but the greater experience of Stocker saw him take the title.

Ashcombe men played a season-opening triples match at Burnham.

As with all early matches, the green played heavy with virtually no turn, which favoured the home team. Despite some valiant efforts and some close play, Ashcombe went down on five out of the six rinks.

Ashcombe 69, Burnham 100: P Gaulton, M Bass, G Finnegan 7-21; M Butt, S Hedges, J Creasey 11-23; G Tucker, D Wynne, T Bass 13-14; N Shufflebotham, B. Miles, J Main 5-18; J McKenzie, M Paterson, K Wheeler 19-9; P Dimmack, G Sansam, B Benstead 14-15.

Ashcombe are holding an open day on May 7, and all are welcome to try their hand at bowls. Details from club secretary Sue Bayntun, on 01934 522779.

Clarence men’s opening day, hosted by new club captain Mick Edlin, was greeted by the sun coming out.

The members would like to thank the ladies’ clubs for putting on a superb tea which included free wine. A total of 56 members attended, including representatives from the ladies’ clubs.

The opening of the day was a spider competition won by Gerry Barlow. After a below-par start to the match due to the long lay-off over the winter break, the winners were J Burgess, H Sparks and D Grier and the prize money was donated by Mick Edlin to the MS Society.

Clarence Park Bowling Club are holding an open day on May 15 and would love all ages and abilities to attend. Any new member joining this year will pay a reduced fee of £90 for the first year.

Members of St Andrews enjoyed the sunshine as both the men’s and ladies’ sections began their outdoor season.

The men got proceedings under way with their new captain Andy McMillan presiding over his first official function. The 59-year-old Weston-based Midlander, a building site manager, has been a one-man recruiting sergeant in recent years, with his wife Marie and two of his four daughters, Rebecca and Jennifer, all having become members.

However, he had to give best to Margaret Wride’s team in the traditional captain v president curtain-raiser, with Margaret’s team winning by 12 shots.

The green, though heavy, bowled surprisingly well, with some players, including Ken Uglow and Ian Lamb, even managing to reach the ditch. Four new outdoor members took part – Ron Wootten, Rob Gordon, Alan Frost and Jim Keay.

President’s team 68, Captain’s team 56. (president’s team first): K Rodgers, G Simms, B McLeod, T Ware 19, B Green, D Reynolds, R Wooten, A McMillan 10; P Smart, Ann Greenwood, Jackie Ware, K Curtis 12, R Potter, R Gordon, G Cooper, B Reeves 23; J Bolton, A Frost, J Keay, N Sell 16, B Rogers, L Yeates, K Uglow, D Favis 8; R Lee, J Ling, G Guest, J Warren 21, R Weaver, I Lamb, R Brereton, B Cracknell 15.

The ladies staged their usual impressive season-opener in even better weather than the men had enjoyed, with guests from all the local clubs and the county, welcomed by club president Margaret Wride and ladies’ captain Brenda Goddard.

The guests included county ladies’ president Marilyn Gozna, of Portishead RBL, and senior VP Trudy Bishop (City of Wells). The county president showed her prowess as a bowler by winning both the spider and the 16-end points competition in which 40 players took part.

Afterwards, they enjoyed a meal of lasagne, cooked and served by the men of St Andrews, led by chef supreme Brian Reeves.

The club’s competitive season gets under way this week, with friendly matches against Ashcombe (mixed) and Bridgwater (men), while the ladies’ first game is at home to Eastover Park on Monday.

St Andrews are holding open days for prospective new members on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. The green will be open from 10am and anyone interested will be welcomed with tea/coffee and biscuits.

Bowls equipment will be provided for those who want to have a go. For more details, contact Ken Uglow on 01934 512863.

Winscombe Bowling Club opened their green with a traditional flag raising ceremony.

This year, a new flag was raised by donator Lew Collier, who was also responsible for presenting the green in superb condition as he is the Winscombe greenkeeper.

Prior to a match between the president and captain’s teams, the president’s wife Angela Lacy, bowled the first wood to get the season off and running.

The seven-rink match was won by president Rob Lacy’s team 148-126. The day was rounded off with a delicious supper in the pavilion.