West Moors Memorial Bowling Club
Spring 2008
A selection from
the articles:
|
DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
EVENT |
|
Sat |
22 Apr |
AM |
Travelling Clothes Show—white bowls clothing (Ladies only) |
|
Tue |
6 June |
am/pm |
Coach trip to Portsmouth—Including a trip to the Spinnaker Tower |
|
Sun |
20 Aug |
2.00 pm |
Challenge |Match—A great fun day includes lunch. (Part of Village Jubilee events) |
|
Fri |
29 Sep |
10.00am |
.Worldwide coffee morning, |
|
Sat |
21 Oct |
PM |
Caledonian Society Dancers—A welcome return followed by a light supper. |
|
Sun |
19 Nov |
Noon |
Presentation luncheon at Heathlands Hotel |
|
DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
EVENT |
|
Sat |
22 Apr |
AM |
Travelling Clothes Show—white bowls clothing (Ladies only) |
|
Tue |
6 June |
am/pm |
Coach trip to Portsmouth—Including a trip to the Spinnaker Tower |
|
Sun |
20 Aug |
2.00 pm |
Challenge |Match—A great fun day includes lunch. (Part of Village Jubilee events) |
|
Fri |
29 Sep |
10.00am |
.Worldwide coffee morning, |
|
Sat |
21 Oct |
PM |
Caledonian Society Dancers—A welcome return followed by a light supper. |
|
Sun |
19 Nov |
Noon |
Presentation luncheon at Heathlands Hotel |
|
DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
EVENT |
|
Sat |
22 Apr |
AM |
Travelling Clothes Show—white bowls clothing (Ladies only) |
|
Tue |
6 June |
am/pm |
Coach trip to Portsmouth—Including a trip to the Spinnaker Tower |
|
Sun |
20 Aug |
2.00 pm |
Challenge |Match—A great fun day includes lunch. (Part of Village Jubilee events) |
|
Fri |
29 Sep |
10.00am |
.Worldwide coffee morning, |
|
Sat |
21 Oct |
PM |
Caledonian Society Dancers—A welcome return followed by a light supper. |
|
Sun |
19 Nov |
Noon |
Presentation luncheon at Heathlands Hotel |
Club President’s Message
Welcome to the 2008 season. The green seems to be much improved to last season, thanks to Bob's efforts. We appear to have a good active membership to see us through the season, including a number of new members to whom I extend a very warm welcome. All we need now is to have some reasonable weather and we should all be able to enjoy ourselves and our favourite game.
Ours is one of the largest and certainly one of the best clubs in the County. We have a pavilion which is the envy of most clubs who visit us and we have elected some active and hardworking committees to organise and look after us throughout the year. So please support your committees, put your names down for the matches, both league and friendlies, join in the social events and make use of all the club facilities. We will all benefit from your full support. Finally I wish to thank everyone who gives their time and effort for the benefit of the rest of us, whether on committees or in any of the many other ways, their efforts are very much appreciated. A happy and successful season to you all.
Editorial
It is not widely known how valuable John Hill’s work as Green Ranger has been to the club over the last year. He has travelled round Dorset viewing and discussing green care with many experts, researching what is best for our green and ordering materials and equipment. He has put many of these ideas into practice with Bob, our green keeper. Theirs has been a very good co-operation over the winter months, the fruits of which are now clearly evident in the excellent condition of our green for the start of the season. I would personally wish to thank them for all their efforts. Hopefully all playing members will heed Bill Bedford’s plea that we endeavour at all times to respect the surface. If you find you have a problem in bouncing a bowl on delivery, have a word with our coaches for advice. Please do not resent John Hill, Bob or team captains pointing out any such infringement you may unconsciously be committing. Also make team captains aware of any opposition players damaging the green in this way.
There will be times when the green keeper will instruct that mats be laid for games in poor weather conditions and especially during the early part of the season. Please do not argue the point with him, he knows what is best for the green preservation. The correct channels of communication with Bob are via team captains and John Hill. This will make control of activities so much easier.
Membership
Another Outdoor Season has been and gone as I write this. I hope that you have all enjoyed your year. What a washout May, June and the best part of July turned out to be. After last year, I'm sure we were all hoping for another gorgeous summer. Ah-well, there is always next year.
We had four new faces join us since the last News Letter, they were John & Doreen Bascombe, who joined us in May and John & Pauline Jepson who came to our ranks in July. Chris Tugwell rejoined the ranks of the Ladies Playing membership earlier this month. I'm sure you will all join me in wishing them all a long and happy association with West Moors Memorial Bowling Club.
I will be in attendance at the club house on 4 Saturdays of January 2008, ( 5th - 12th - 19th - 26th), between 12noon and 1pm. It is important that you pay your subscriptions as early as possible if you are not to miss having your name in the Handbook for 2008.
As we depart to go our different ways to play our individual form of bowls I would like to wish you all success in the coming months and if you don't achieve success, at least enjoy yourselves.
Treasurer’s Notes
Having looked back over the last Autumn & Spring 2007 Newsletters, things haven't changed much. By the end of our financial year, (which is 30th September) I expect to show a deficit again. In the month of March we had income of £2884 and our expenditure was £3783. We have had water, sewerage, gas, electric, affiliation fees for men & ladies leagues, new green protector mats, printing costs for club handbooks and a new pay telephone to pay for this month. I can hear several of you breathing a sigh of relief for the new telephone as it was beginning to cost some of you a lot of money, having to use 20p each time. The Spring Fair brought in £440 - 24 + a % of plant stall takings (not yet known).
I was very surprised at the mens attitude towards paying 20p for 2 stickers! The ladies accepted it quite willingly and without any moans. Nine years ago, before I came to Dorset, I was paying 20p for 2 stickers and, having spoken to several other newer members, they also had to pay for their stickers. As we all know the price of everything is going up and we have to start covering our costs. The telephone is a necessity but unfortunately does not cover its costs. The money you put in for calls does not cover rental costs. Please support all friendly matches by putting your names down, as they do bring in revenue during the summer and we cannot afford to cancel any. Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us this season but if any of the men’s games are cancelled & rearranged can you please let the Bar committee know so that they can make sure the bar is open.
Enjoy your bowling, Good Luck in competitions and let’s hope we can keep our head above water!
Welfare News
Several members have been in hospital over the past 3 months but I am pleased to report that all are home and making good progress. We were sorry to learn of the death of Fred Gedge, several members attended his funeral. Our condolences to Doris and his family.
Congratulations and best wishes to Syd and Alice Hasling on the occasion of their 65th wedding anniversary. Also to John and Ann Mcintyre on their Golden Wedding which was celebrated on the visit to North Wales by club members Dave Hockaday had an operation last week which did not prove to be as successful as hoped. He is likely to need further hospital treatment and will not be playing in the early part of the season. We wish him well and hope to see him returned to health soon. Wishing you all a healthy, happy and successful season and please keep me informed of any news amongst our members.
Captain’s Report Bill Bedford
It does not take long before we are back trying out our skills once again. Although our green appeared problematical by sight last year, I think we all agreed it bowled far better than it looked. A great deal of work has been put into developing the surface during the closed season which has paid off. We can now start the season in much better shape. There is very little thatch and the surface is well aerated. Well done Bob! For all your efforts and now the real test will be upon us bowlers to maintain the green to this standard. Should any bowlers be found damaging the surface because of not releasing the woods correctly, a warning will be issued.
B&D Leagues
Our first team starts off back in the 2nd Division this year and from previous experience I expect them to finish on top, ready from the challenge of the 1st Division in 2009. Our second team remain in the 4th Division. This is one factor I am unable to understand. With the experience of players in this team I see no reason why the 3rd Division is not even in sight. There are bound to be changes to be made from last year although at this stage no teams are yet selected. Apart from bowling performance, commitment to the league must play an important part of being selected. I remind you, should you be selected for whichever team, you are bowling on behalf of your club. Our third team in Division 6 require to tighten their game and not repeat the struggle we had last year just to remain in the B&D League!
Dorset Leagues
This seems to be an easier league than the B&D for our teams. Last year all four teams held their heads high. However because of lack of volunteers to play in this league this year, I feel unable to predict the outcome for the fourth team. Your Selection committee will do all in its power to put out four teams when required, but priority must be given to teams in higher divisions.
New Forest Leagues
This will be a real challenge for our first team now playing in the 2nd Division and could be finding bowling of a more serious nature than in previous years. To a large extent, the squads of players who played in each league last year will remain together this year.
In the New Forest and B&D leagues there will be an extra rink in the second and third teams which will rotate each week to give as many members a chance to play.
It remains only for me to wish you all a happy and successful bowling season.
Men’s Secretary's Report
Once again Dorset County have produced a comprehensive list of matches for the 2008 season. These are displayed on the men's notice board for anyone who might wish to represent the County in either a friendly or badged match. In addition the County are looking for the higher standard of bowler to play in the South Western Counties League. Last year we entered a very successful rink. These matches are now available for you to see on the notice boards, and do make an enjoyable day out
Did you know that every appearance for the County now counts towards two exclusive clubs? The "50" Club and "100" Club. Specially embroidered County ties will be issued to those members who have represented the County in matches on 50 occasions and 100 occasions. In the "50" Club we have Lew Trim with 83 appearances and Keith Anderson with 58 appearances. In the "100" Club and in NO.1 spot in the County is Ron Freeman with 216 appearances!
West Moors have entered a team in the County Cup, our first game is on Friday 23rd May at 6pm. We have been drawn against Wimborne - 2 rinks home - 2 rinks away, so come along and support if you can. This years County Luncheon is being changed from the Rembrant Hotel Weymouth, to the Pines Hotel Swanage. Numbers have been declining, this was felt due to the limited menu and increasing cost at the Rembrant. The Pines Hotel are offering a wider menu at a lower price of around £17.00.
As with all the leagues that we play in, they are always looking for people to help run them. The B&D held an emergency general meeting on Saturday 5th April for this very purpose. The County's competition secretary (Gordon Cox) has been voted in as the new Junior Vice President, and as such will step down as competition secretary. Do we have anyone sufficiently interested in applying for this position. I am sure the County would appreciate a nomination from West Moors. As I have mentioned before we have no officials on any of the leagues we play in - Dorset County - B&D - New Forest. Sooner or later someone will come knocking.
Club Competitions
Once again we are at the start of a new season. I hope that you like me have been looking forward to the better weather and getting out onto the green. We have several new members this year and I look forward to meeting you all and extend a warm welcome to those who are entered the club competitions for the first time.
Whilst I am the subject of competition entries I am disappointed that the numbers of men entering is down again this year. We only have 53 men entering any competition at all !! Seeing as we have a total male playing membership of 84 this means only 63% of you have bothered to try your luck this season. This compares with a very creditable effort from the ladies of 35 entries out of a total membership of 41, or 85%So come on chaps try and do better next year – remember you have to be in it to win it !
For those of you have entered please remember that there are cut off dates for all the rounds so don’t leave it to the last minute as we all tend to do, as there will be no extensions. So if you have not played by the due date you will forfeit the game. I wish you all luck this summer unless you are playing against me !!!!!
Monday Line-Ups