Winning start for Clarence Golds

CLARENCE Golds began their season in the Weston & District Over-60s League Division 2 with an excellent home victory over Victoria Vikings.

The Golds, Clarence’s second team, were gifted two points and 10 shots by the visitors, who arrived short of one rink. Convincing victories from the rinks skipped by captain for the day Dick Jackman and Brendan Duffy ensured that the home team maintained their advantage to win by 25 shots.

Clarence Golds 98 (16), Victoria Vikings 73 (6): B Difford, L Smith, B Hanks 17-18; J Norris, M Phillips, D Jackman 21-13; Y Phipps, K Marshall, M Davies 11-15; B Underwood, J Edwards, G Cooper 14-15; D Gilbert, M Scoins, B Duffy 25-12.

The Golds lost by 30 shots at home to Ashcombe Templars after a match played in wet conditions. Brendan Duffy’s team won again, while George Cooper skipped his to a big victory, but a heavy defeat on one rink sealed Clarence’s fate.

Clarence Golds 86 (5), Ashcombe Templars 116 (17): C Tippett, M Scoins, B Duffy 18-13; B Underwood, J Edwards, G Cooper 29-13; D Bowley, L Smith, B Hanks 7-31; J Kelloway, R Kelloway, M Clay 18-18; J Norris, M Phillips, D Jackman 7-22; A Taylor, K Marshall, M Davies 7-19.

Despite the shocking weather, Clarence’s daily free coaching sessions for potential new members have been well supported. They continue daily (weather permitting) between 10.30am and 12.30pm until May 19, with all equipment provided.

For further information, anyone interested can contact club coaches David Stott (625404) and Roger Burrough (627507).

VICTORIA’S friendly squad travelled to Weston Bath and despite winning two rinks, were soundly beaten by the hosts.

Top rink for Victoria was Graham Hodge, Les Kelly, club captain Mike Manning and skipped by Mike Stocker who won by seven shots.

Victoria travelled to Wales to play Penarth in a traditional early season friendly fixture, but the weather was the only victor causing the match to be cancelled. However, Penarth displayed the usual Welsh hospitality by opening the indoor bowls green and more importantly the bar to ensure the trip to Wales was enjoyed by all.

Victoria Saxons Over-60s team travelled to Wedmore and registered an excellent win in the Weston District Over-60s KO Cup. Victoria won on five rinks with top rink led by John Newman with Peter Lunn and skipped by Mike Manning taking the honours with a 14 shot win.

The Vikings Over-60s team hosted Yatton and on an afternoon of frequent rainfall and cold winds, their best efforts were not enough to win the game, but with two winning and one drawn rink, secured five points.

The rink of Bill Nicholls, Beric Saward and skip George Frost did brighten the day with a remarkable comeback to win by one shot after being 11-1 down after just four ends.

Some new members have joined in the past few weeks and have already experienced and enjoyed some bowling at the club and being part of the teams.

Victoria is continuing their open and introductory days to give an opportunity to anyone to have a taste of bowling with guidance from club members and qualified coaches.

The sessions are relaxed and there is an opportunity to enjoy a free tea or coffee. Open days will be held on May 12 and 19 (9.30am-noon).

Victoria 78, Weston Bath 101 (friendly): M Milliner, D Jones, J Howell, S Evans 14-26; G Hodge, L Kelly, M Manning), M Stocker 22-15; S Thynne, T Gatehouse, K Curtis, C Gazzard 13-19; J Dyet, R Fenwick, T Uccellini, M Cooper 19-17; J Griffiths, P Fisher, N Sell, D Hurst 10-24.

Victoria Vikings 89, Yatton 110 (Over-60s League): S Thynne, G Thorne, D Jones 13-22; I Linham, R Sparkes, S Evans 17-14; B Nicholls, B Saward, G Frost 20-19; D Roberts, J Smart, J Griffiths 12-22; R Jacobs, G Richards, E Sage 16-16; J Turton, P Newport, C Chudley 11-17.

Victoria Saxons 122, Isle of Wedmore 87 (Triples KO Cup): K Curtis, D Sealey, J Howell 23-13; J Newman, P Lunn, M Manning 22-8; R Fenwick, M Campbell, D Hurst 25-19; R Rockett, A Barnes, K Harvey 17-23; G Hodge, M Taylor, T Uccellini 18-10; H Whyte, T Gatehouse, M Stocker 17-14.

WINSCOMBE entertained local friends and rivals Banwell to their green for a friendly match.

It was a bitterly cold afternoon, but the competition soon warmed up and saw Winscombe win 3-2 and by 35 shots overall. Steve Eastment led the highest winning rink winning by 20 shots, while Tommy Ellis’s rink succumbed to the cold, letting Banwell president Barry Taylor back into the game to win by one shot.

In other matches during the week, men’s vice-captain Malcolm Dorrington got off to a great start when he captained a mixed team to a win on all five rinks against a team from Mark Moor.

The first Over-60s league match of the season was against Ashcombe Crusaders. Winscombe won 4-2 and by 21 shots overall.

The friendly triples match against Clevedon Prom was played in the rain and resulted in a narrow six shot win by the Prom.

Winscombe 97, Mark Moor 47 (mixed friendly): P John, R Weller, R Lowman 24-9; J Vincent, J Smith, E Watts 11-8; M Smith, R Keane, M Dorrington 18-14; J Sprouting, S Lowman, W Ainsworth 27-8; M Sprouting, A Watts, A Ainsworth 17-9.

Winscombe 93, Ashcombe Crusaders 114 (Over-60s League): G Lloyd, C Westlake, W Ainsworth 8 -21; R Lowman, R Fisher, R Wootten 19-11; J Smith, B White, M Nash 10-20; G Neville, L Collier, A Dudley 17-24; B Paul, M Hunter, A Watts 15-18; R Knight, B Kibble, T Ellis 24-20.

Winscombe 65, Clevedon Prom 71 (friendly): R Knight, M Hunter, A Dudley 14-15; G Hill, J Sprouting, R Lacy 12-17; D Beaverstock, K Whatling, G Neville 14-12; P Hopes, J Smith, R Lowman 12-14; A Brand, L Collier, W Ainsworth 13-13.

Winscombe 101, Banwell 66 (friendly): N Hansford, G Hill, R Lowman, T Ellis 23-24; K Whatling, M Hunter, L Collier, A Dudley 9-23; M Dorrington, B Paul, R Lacy, S Eastment 30-10; G Lloyd, J Sprouting, B Kibble, G Neville 21-17; J Smith, S Easterby, W Ainsworth, R Wootten 13-12.

ASHCOMBE 94 (17), Winscombe 69 (3) (Over-60s Triples): A Morgan, M Southwood, J Creasey 20-10; J Hornett, D Bleasdale, J Taylor 18-15; A Wright, A Little, J Whitlow 11-19; J Price, L Day, J Whitton 21-8; Roy Powell, G Wilkinson, A Yates 24-17; P Sheppard, C Hughes, B Webber 20-24.

Ashcombe 59, St Andrews 90: B Benstead, A Bryant, M Tucker, M Bass 11-11; R Counsell, I Baker, B Macgregor, E Hopkins 4-19; D Underhay, M Tasker, N Counsell, A Freke 8-13; B Noyes, L Owens, A Cracknell, A Goacher 13-18; S Noyes, P Robinson, J Hughes, E Hooper 11-10; A Cox, D Norville, G Fews, S Weaden 12-19

Ashcombe Templars 121 (15), Clarence Golds 86 (5) (Over-60s Triples): S Ash, T Millward, L Cox 31-7; N Coombes, V Bragg, P Gaulton 13-18; M Field, T Pople, T Cottrell 27-7; R Lewis, B Benstead, M Brummell 13-29; G Tucker, F Bertram, M Bass 19-7; T Bull, B Alden, R Tasker 18-18.

Ashcombe 70, Bristol 78: G Sansam, I Baker, A Cracknell, Roy Powell 13-23; M Field, A Freke, R Tasker, J Price 17-26; R Lewis, A Morgan, B Alden, G Wilkinson 23-14; G Tucker, L Cox, M Parry, T Cottrell 17-15.

DESPITE extremely wet weather this week, St Andrews managed to complete their two home matches against Bridgwater clubs.

They won their game against BCL with Brian Reeves’ rink achieving a handsome 25-8 win over their triples opponents. The fixture against Bridgwater BC resulted in St Andrews losing on three of the five rinks.

St Andrews 61, Bridgwater 88: G Simms, F Mudge, B May 14-25; G Berry, J Ling, A Horsburgh 14-10; C Robinson, B Reeves, G Wride 10-18; C Shearman, B Rogers, A Ware 8-27; P O’Connor, K Uglow, P Aldus 15-8.

St Andrews 67, Bridgwater BCL 57: P O’Connor, J Ling, B Reeves 25-8; P Smart, C Robinson, G Wride 11-15; F Mudge, G Aldridge, B May 14-15; R Brereton, K Rodgers, J Warren 17-19.

The ladies joined the men for a mixed friendly at Ashcombe Park and, despite the game being reduced due to the rain, the visitors returned home with a well-earned win.

St Andrews 80, Ashcombe Park 59: Mrs P. Uglow, Ms S Sinclair, M Berry, B Reeves 19-12; Mrs J Forse, M Simpson, Mrs M Pattenden, G Wride 10-11; M Blight, Mrs M Frost, Mrs A Campbell, R Venn 13-8; P O’Connor, Mrs E Reeves, Mrs M Wride, P Villis 19-4; Mrs J Smith, Mrs A Greenwood, A McNab, D Favis 8-13; R Smith, Mrs E Blight, G Burgess, Mrs M Favis 11-11.

The ladies started their outdoor season with a rain-affected 18-end friendly match at Nailsea, losing on two rinks and being defeated by five shots.

St Andrews 42, Nailsea Ladies 47:

J Forse, S Sinclair, M Wride, M Favis 16-17; K Dobney, A Greenwood, M Frost, S Priory 16-16; P Uglow, E Reeves, B Goddard, A Campbell 10-14.

CONGRESBURY 61, Banwell 89 (friendly): J Freemantle, A Edwards, R Archer, J Stone 15-11; G Andrews, R Jones, P Reay, G Stenner 6-31; R Baker, C Edwards, D Manning, M Huggett 10-19; D Byett, D Rivers, D Gosling, M Wear 14-12; M Kimmings, D Folds, F Horton, L Beck 16-16.

Congresbury Ladies 62, Isle of Wedmore 55: J Blagden, C Skuse, A Jones, K Herbison 26-16; A Mew, A Harris, R Horton, V Harding 15-21; C Wilcock, W Manning, C Andrews, B Huggett 21-18.

YATTON 62, Wrington 70 (mixed friendly): J Parker, S Carr, P Allen, D Goddard 7-28; L Collings, N Allen, B Parker, E Reynolds 16-14; P Welham, F McCormack, L Manning, M Withyman 20-9; Clements, W Williams, P Creber, M Hubbard 19-19.

Yatton 107, Winscombe 85: L Howe, W Cole, B Hardwick, K Dodd 22-17; R Mills, M Richards, J Hook, C Parsons 28-11; A Grundy, B Hull, R Bish, G Smith 15-29; M Musgrove, J Knight, N Robinson, T Robinson 19-17; A Churchill, R Lewis, D Bessant, W Casey 23-11.

Yatton 110, Victoria Vikings 89 (Weston Triples League): A Grundy, D Bessant, M Withyman 19-20; G Dodd, R Adams, B Foster 14-17; A Turley, J Knight, E Reynolds 16-16; B Pugh, D Goddard, D Blundell 22-12; M Musgrove, G Price, B Hardwick 17-11; A George, R Bish, P Creber 22-13.

Yatton 91, Purnell 65 (friendly): A Grundy, J Parker, N Edmonds, C Parsons 21-23; A George, P Creber, N Robinson, J Hook 32-9; A Churchill, B Hull, P Osborne, G Smith 16-19; J Knight, D Blundell, R Bish, W Casey 22-14.

ISLE of Wedmore men played the first round of the Over-60s League Cup at home against Victoria Saxons in early season conditions.

Wedmore lost on five rinks and only captain Ray Newell’s rink came out on top.

Wedmore 86, Victoria Saxons 122: R Hunt, M Green, D Trow 13-23; T Counsell, D Barnett, R Newell 23-17; C Wheller, P Bean, C Panchaud 19-25; J Clark, B Cottrell, K Pettit 14-17; J Runciman, D Stansfield R Barron 8-22; V Matthews, R Bull, R Thurkettle 9-18.

In a busy start to the season, several friendlies have been played. A four-rink mixed game against Bloomfield resulted in a 68-71 loss, but a rain-shortened game at Clevedon Promenade gave Wedmore a 113-69 win.

Another mixed friendly, against North Petherton, was also curtailed by rain but produced a win for Wedmore by three shots (60-57). An away game at Wrington presented the challenge of playing on their new outdoor carpet, the result being a loss with only one of the three rinks managing a win.

The men played a five-rink friendly against Congresbury, ending in a draw (75-75), but with Wedmore winning three of the five rinks.

A ladies game, also at Congresbury, was played in sunshine after showers but was marred by an accident to one of the Wedmore players. Despite that, the game was enjoyed by all, although the result was a 55-62 loss by Wedmore.

The ladies also played at Wyrral Park, where Maureen Hordle’s rink’s winning margin of 11 shots was enough to compensate for losses on the other two rinks and earn an overall draw.

A game against a touring team from Ynys Ladies also suffered from rain and was abandoned after only 10 ends. Both teams then enjoyed tea and an impromptu quiz to complete the afternoon.

The men played the first round of the Top Club competition at Chew Stoke. With two winning rinks and two losing rinks, the overall result depended on the fours, which went into the last end all square, but Chew Stoke’s skip carried the jack through to claim victory by one shot.

Scores - two-wood singles: G Anniuk (won); two-wood singles: R Newell (lost by two shots); pairs: K Pettit, R Barron, (won); triples: I Gallop, K Burt, R Thurkettle (lost by four shots); fours: T Hamblin, D Wederell, K Phillimore, E Payne (lost by one shot).

At the club’s annual meeting, Brendon Cottrell and Isabel Lee were elected life members in recognition of their long service to the club. Another long-standing member, David Wederell, has also been honoured by the county by the award of life membership of Somerset Bowls Association.

ASHCOMBE Park Ladies 19, Congresbury 45 (after 13 ends - affected by weather): M Palmer, S Appleby, J Hughes, S Weadon 8-16. L Owens, B Groves, S Hopkins, B MacGregor 7-9. A Fews, V Webber, N Counsell, J McInally 4-20.

Ashcombe Ladies 76, Port Talbot 81 (after 15 ends - affected by weather): J Sansom, M Tucker, B Groves, M Williams 6-13; A Cox, D Hampson, J Wilkinson, S Ford 18-9; A Fews, D Little, N Counsell, B MacGregor 6-21; M Main, I Cracknell, C Hedges, S Hopkins 20-11; L Owens, J Field, R Powell, J McInally 14-16; S Noyes, S Appleby, M Tasker, S Weaden 12-11.

WESSEX Ladies had a damp afternoon to open the season when president Ann Fewings, vice-president Mary Davis and captain June Allard raised the flag.

Despite the weather, a yard stick competition was played and won by Fewings and the consolation prize was won by treasurer Mary Hawkins. The spider was won by Clarence president Reg Flicker.

An enjoyable tea was enjoyed by members and guests from local clubs. Fewings presented flowers to life member Eve Marsh to celebrate her 90th birthday.

After the first two games of the season were cancelled owing to the weather, Wessex enjoyed a windy, but fine afternoon at Wrington for their first Mendip League Triples match.

Wessex Ladies 67 (8), Wrington 49 (2): P Hanson, M Davis, J Davis 18-15; C Walker, J Allard, J Binding 17-23; V Edwards, P Taylor, D Forsyth 32-11.

Wessex travel to Victoria in the Top Club competition on Sunday (2pm).

CLARENCE Ladies 37, Portishead 40: M Woods, C Edlin, P Hawkins 15-10; S Scoins, V Jones, M Baker 16-12; S Ellis, M Davison, V Collicott 6-18.

Clarence 18, Portishead 21 (friendly): M Goodwin, P Phillips, V Senior 18-21.