BBC BROADCAST WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31st (Terry Norwood at the desk)
Bits and bobs to ponder studiously:
- Happy New Year everyone!! May you, your family and friends be safe and healthy throughout 2026 and beyond!!
- The Consistency Singles competition commences on Saturday January 3rd, and the draw and tips for markers have now been emailed to participants. (see below for tips) All twenty-four are needed on day one as those with a first round bye will be required as markers for the first round games.
- Bowlers are reminded that the Chris Benton Brain Cancer Charity Event will be staged on Saturday February 7th. This event is a fours competition where each team plays three games of eleven ends, so bowlers get yourselves ready to nominate for this most worthy cause.
- The next meeting of the Men’s Bowls Committee will be held on Wednesday February 4th. If you have an issue you wish discussed by the Committee, then let one of the Committee members know.
- The latest participation figures (July-December) have now been tabulated and these will be posted on the notice board in the next couple of days. It’s certainly not a competition, but it’s worth noting that our evergreen nonagenarian Gordon Lewis has made 46 appearances on the green over the last six months . . . and there is no-one ahead of him!!
- Vice-President Peter Flight has almost completed the distribution of new uniforms to members. If you haven’t yet received your shirt, Peter’s the man to see.
- And a reminder to social bowlers to help the Match Committee organising social bowls that you have your name on the notice board list or have phoned in to the Club by 11.30 on the day. And if you have to pull out, also please phone that message through. It’s at least five weeks now that the Match Committee has had to redo the cards because of late notification or non-show. Please help us out!
Wednesday Social Bowls December 31st
Twenty-five bowlers turned out for a roll on New Year’s eve on what turned out to be a very pleasant day for bowling. The Match Committee organised three games of triples and two of pairs. Bowral bowlers were pleased to welcome Trish Jones from Taren Point who was in the Bowral area and eager for a game.
In a pairs game on rink 8, Ted McPhee and Chris ‘tiramisu’ Forrester came up trumps on the first four ends against Gordon ‘cobbler’ Lewis and Kevin Stafford to lead 10 zip! Kevin and Gordon then notched up some ends, but by the eleventh, Ted and Chris still held a solid 14 – 6 lead. And then that dreaded pendulum swung and seven ends later Ted and Chris were 21 – 16 down, and under the pump! Kevin and Gordon had fought back with fine bowling, and showed no mercy as they pressed on the win 24 – 18. And this after Gordon went for a tumble in the car park . . . imagine what he is like without a tumble!!
In the other pairs match, Denis ‘rowdy’ Lees and Peter Martin made a slow start against Mark Rundle and Bob ‘wily’ Edwards who led 7 – 2 after five ends. They then advanced this to 11 – 5 by the ninth, but Denis and Peter then strung together five ends to lock the scores at 11 all, and the frowns on the foreheads had switched teams! However, Bob and Mark regained the initiative to completely out-bowl Peter and Denis in the run home. The outcome was a comfortable 21 – 12 win to Mark and the wily one.
On rink 9 Arnie Lenczuk, Graham (ex NZ) Hunt and Clive ‘dasher’ Neutze won the first couple of ends against Neville Tanner, Don ‘gentleman’ Chapman and Terry Norwood, but by the fifth end it was 5 all. It was then, with all out-bowling their opposite, that Clive’s team successfully ground out the ends to lead 17 – 6 on the twelfth. From there, team Norwood dug in and all managed to match the opposition, and by the eighteenth, had narrowed the gap to 13 – 18 and were in with a sniff. However, in a very solid display, Clive’s team held firm and took the day 20 – 16.
With Grahame Denman as swing lead (and assured winner!) Mark Barrow and Peter ‘featherless’ Flight clocked up a three shotter on the first end against Peter Marshall and Richard ‘ten pin’ Denman, but were then swamped over the next eight to trail 4 – 13! However, that much feared pendulum swung this game as well, with ends ten to eighteen going to Peter’s in the form of 22 shots. What a turn-around! Richard’s team did salvage a couple of threes towards the end, but the Flight trio had bowled too well, and got home 27 – 19.
In the final game, Barry Werfel, visitor Trish Jones and Robin ‘maestro’ Staples monstered Joel ‘AC/DC’ Hunt, Graham Hartnup and the wily Owen Williams on the first five ends of their triples game to lead 10 – 1! This dominance continued so that the gap was 18 – 4 on the eleventh end, until, yep, the pendulum swung over this game! Owen’s team won seven of the next eight ends to be back with a chance at 19 – 14 with two ends to play. However, Robin’s team defied the pendulum, notching up a single on the twentieth and finishing in front 20 – 15. Barry led well for the victors and Owen had a strong game to pull his side back into the match.
Tips for Bowlers and Markers in Singles (developed by Robin Staples)
Ladies and Gentlemen, with good entries for the Minor Singles and especially for the Consistency Singles coming up in 2026 some of you will be unfamiliar with the singles game. Here are a few notes for bowlers and markers which may make your first games easier. All singles entrants are expected to mark a game so marker notes are also applicable.
Sometimes the marker will offer to toss the coin, but it is the players responsibility to decide the toss. The winner may decide to take the mat or give it to the opponent. Usually, two ends of a roll up before the match starts. Whoever has the mat goes first and the other player has the mat for the second end of the roll up and both roll jack to whatever length they wish. Marker will remove each practice bowl away from the head once it has come to rest.
Once game commences the marker will return the jack if it goes into the ditch or out of play. Should the second player deliver the jack into the ditch or out of play then jack is placed on the T. A jack that is delivered short of the required length should be delivered again by the second bowler. If there is doubt about the length being sufficient from either the marker or second bowler then the umpire should be called to measure the length. At the completion of each end the bowlers decide the bowler who has shot and the number of shots and inform the marker. In Consistency they decide the number of shots scored by each bowler. It is not the duty of the marker to measure, only record the score when both players agree the score. A marker may measure if he agrees to a request but is not obliged to do so. If in doubt call the umpire. The marker should keep the score board up to date. Bowler closest to jack has the mat for the next end and this includes consistency singles even though the other bowler may have scored more shots on that end. In Consistency Singles marker will replace jack on the washer should it be moved during the end.
The marker should not offer any unsolicited information and should only answer question that are asked by the bowlers competing and who “has the mat” . Bowlers may only visit the head during an end after their third bowl is delivered. The bowler who delivers the last bowl of the end may declare the end and not deliver the bowl should he desire. Marker should at the end of the game enter the time on the scorecard and obtain signatures of both players to show that they agree with the score shown on the card.