BBC BROADCAST SATURDAY JULY 5th (Terry Norwood at the desk)
Some bits to chew on before the main course below:
- The final of the handicap pairs was held on Saturday and the report appears below.
- Also on Saturday were the quarter finals of the Rookie Singles, and the details are below.
- On Wednesday, Bill Pope was farewelled in a memorial celebration held at the Bowral Rugby Club. There was a huge number of people in attendance and the conversation was about Bill and his wonderful life. Bill’s son gave a detailed eulogy, and fellow bowler John Cummins reminisced marvelously on his shared experiences with Bill. Vale Bill, RIP.
- Another reminder that the Women’s Bowls Committee is organising the annual Tulip Festival Competition which will be staged on Thursday September 11th with a closing date for nominations of September 5th. The event is for ladies and mixed fours, so, come on gents, get your name on the schedule which is posted on the notice board and be included in one of the mixed teams.
- And along with the Tulip Festival Competition will be a visit by Wicklow Bowls Supplies who will have a tent for bowlers to scrutinise their bowls wares. If you choose, you can check them out on the internet prior to September 11th.
- Bowers are again reminded that annual fees are now due and can be paid over the bar at the Club. Full bowling fees are $170 and carry the right to participate in competitions conducted by the BBC, competitions organised at regional and national levels, social bowls and pennants.
- All members on our emailing list will now have received the July edition of the newsletter Jack Chat. Amongst other detail in that edition is a copy of the Etiquette Statement adopted by the Mens’ Bowls Committee for your information.
Handicap Pairs Competition
Saturday saw the running of the final of this competition in fairly miserable weather conditions. Although clear of rain, a substantial freezing breeze kept all bowlers well rugged-up and mindful of its impact on the passage of the bowls.
The 21-end final was between Margaret Butcher/Gordon Lewis and Elizabeth Shepherd/Peter Flight and set down on rink 9 in the centre of the Waratah Green. And it was the Margaret and Gordon duo who tamed the conditions better at the start for them to race to a lead of 10 – 0 after four ends, including an eye-watering five shotter on the second. And although Peter and Elizabeth improved the score to 10 – 5 by the sixth, Gordon and Margaret had slipped out to 13 – 5 a couple of ends later.
Undaunted, Peter and Elizabeth dug deeply into their kit of skills to win four of the next six ends and be only three shots adrift by the fourteenth. Gordon and Margaret then skipped out to 18 – 13, but with two ends to play the game was back to 18 – 16 and there for either side to win.
In a gripping last couple of ends in the freezing conditions of late afternoon, the Lewis/Butcher combo somehow managed to snaffle a couple of singles and so held on for a momentous victory. What a battle and a great spectacle; to the casual observer, all bowlers had their moments with Margaret leading very consistently for the victors. Congratulations to all bowlers, but especially Gordon and Margaret!
The victors with the spoils!
Rookie Singles
Three quarter final matches of this competition were played on Saturday, the games being 25-up and unlimited ends.
On rink 8, very much a newcomer Ricci Wilson battled against the more experienced Mark Barrow, and the experience difference showed right from the start. Nonetheless, Ricci hung in and forced the game into sixteen ends before she was finally overcome. The final score in favour of Mark with his purple bowls was 25 – 6.
Mark releases a purple bullet in an impressive display!
In the second game on rink 10, Barb Wainberg tussled for honours against Graham Hartnup. Very different in length to the first game, this encounter was a protracted affair which went on for 25 ends. In the end, Barb prevailed with the final score being 25 – 15. The end of the match was quite sudden with Barb grabbing eight shots in what became the last three ends. Up until then it had been nip and tuck!
Barb shows impressive style on the way to victory!
In the third quarter final, Tizi Lear took on Grahame Denman and both bowlers managed to grab shots early for the score to be 5 – 4 to Tizi after five ends. The scores were locked at 8 all, but then Tizi strung together six ends and had Grahame under the pump. Drawing much the better of the two, Tizi continued to win more ends than she lost and finished comfortably at 25 – 11.
And so to the semis which will be played on Saturday July 12th; the two matches will be
Barb Wainberg Vs Denis Lees
Mark Barrow Vs Tizi Lear
Bowl well all bowlers!!
Saturday Social Bowls
Apart from all those involved in the competition matches, sixteen hardy souls turned out for social bowls, so two matches of triples were organised and one of pairs.
In the pairs game, Barry ‘smerfel’ Werfel and Steve ‘makeover’ Day battled against Neville ‘nifty’ Tanner and coach extraordinaire Robin Staples. With Neville in scintillating form, he and Robin roared out of the blocks and hardly needed to look over their shoulders. They had much the better of the encounter and hit beer time 26 – 16 victors.
Yes, it is Steve Day, I can vouch for that!
In a triples game on rink 7, Jill ‘hollywood’ Harwood, Rowena ‘morselle’ Coode and Clive ‘dasher’ Neutze took on Peter ‘junior’ Martin, Peter ‘admiral’ Watson and Bob ‘wily’ Edwards, and it was Bob’s trio that had the better of the opening to lead 9 – 5 after seven ends. Clive’s team then hit the lead only to be overtaken by Bob and his crew. From there, the lead changed several times so that with one end to play, team Edwards was up by a shot. However, with some dazzling weighted shots, Clive spoilt their day by grabbing a double on the last, and running out victors by 24 – 23!
In the final game Peter ‘senior’ Marshall, Owen ‘stoic’ Williams and Dave ‘colourful’ Charlesworth challenged Charles ‘morse’ Coode, Arnie ‘dickie knee’ Lenczuk and Mick ‘potters’ Flynn, and it was Mick’s team that jumped to an early lead of 5 – 0 after four ends. Dave’s team then got cracking to lead 8 – 5, but when the game hit the second half Mick’s team dominated, and, although they dropped a three on the last, made it to the clubhouse at 19 – 17.
Now that is some beanie Dave!!!