City and Port Of Bristol Bowls Club

CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL BOWLING CLUB

Sunday May 29th saw the club taking part in Bowls Big Weekend for the first time by putting on an open afternoon for anyone to come bowling for the first time and --- it was a great success.

This annual event is promoted and supported by the sport’s governing body Bowls England and its aim is to attract new bowlers to every club in the country.

With a banner on a bridge over the Portway, lots of posters, special Big Bowls Weekend Balloons on the approach to the green ---- and many posts on social media ---- everybody must have known it was on --- and at least some people did.

When the gate opened at 2.30pm the first potential new bowlers came onto the green and soon woods were rolling. With almost twenty club bowlers there to offer assistance to those who had not bowled a wood before the green was soon alive with activity. Not only Adults but children turned up to try bowling and the afternoon was a great success.

A cup of tea and a chat part way through the afternoon helped to encourage the maybe bowlers to become bowlers and two of the people who came for the afternoon have since joined with one or two more currently thinking about it. Phill Chard and Adrian Mace have joined the club and have, since joining they have both played games for the club. Separately Gerry Bessell has also joined the club and is enjoying rolls ups. Competitions are running this year and two of them are played to a conclusion on one day. Two Wood Pairs will be played on Sunday August 14th but the Jack Ashton Triples has already been played. Organised by Lis Davies on Sunday June 5th teams of three were drawn from a hat and teams played against each other in three sets of six end games. The winners would be the team with the highest number of shots over the three games played.

Games were well contested and some good bowling seen --- there was a break for tea and big cakes after two games of six ends.

The final set of games were played in the rain which did have an effect on the green and speed of woods on it. David Hinksman played Geoff Smith of Yate Bowling Club at home in the first round of Champion Of The Champions Competitions on Sunday June 12th. David started well, winning the first end but it was Geoff who found the line better and went on to win the game 21 shots to 11.

When the final wood had come to rest and scores added up the winning team of three were Brian Crawley, Derek Jones and Ray Cook. They scored a total of 24 shots, well ahead of second place Dee Crawley, Ken Davies and Graham Neale who scored 19. Despite finishing in the rain the afternoon was successful and importantly ---- enjoyable.

More individual members and pairs of members have entered county competitions this season than for many previous years. On Friday June 3rd Ken Davies and Bill Hatherall took on Jon Feltham and Pete Birmingham of Bristol Bowling Club in the City and County Pairs Competition. With home green advantage Ken and Bill made a good start and established a good lead. But the visitors found another gear and forged ahead to come out in front by 28 shots to 16 over the 21 ends played. David still has a City and County Pairs game to play later in June.

Junior Bowling has continues at the club on Wednesdays but sometimes on Tuesdays. Between six and ten children and young people have turned up most weeks to try their hand and learn the art of bowling. Mums and Dads have tried their hand at bowling too. Sessions will not run during the school summer holidays but there will be sessions early in September. The club will run sessions for children attending the school holiday activity club at the main social and sports club throughout the holiday. The Men’s and Ladies Bristol League campaigns are well underway. The men enjoyed success against second placed Keynham C on June 16th taking eight of the ten points on offer --- a really good performance. The Ladies have won rinks --- most recently against Begbrook Green on June 17th but are yet to win a game overall. Would like to try bowling – free of charge --- then call David Hinksman on 07932 387217. Sessions can be arranged on a day and time to suit you.