Balut 40

After four rounds, it is looking to be a one-horse race with the following standings : • Khalsa Association Team 1 with 9,400 points • NUSS Team 2 with 9,242 points • SCC Team 2 with 9,232 points • NUSS Team 1 with 9,206 points • SCC Team 1 with 9,205 points Khalsa Team 1 has a big margin of 158 points from the next highest score which is around 40 points per player for the next highest scoring teams to beat them.

If Khalsa Team 1 maintains this lead in Round 5 hosted by us on 19 October, the trophy is as good as theirs and the final round hosted by Khalsa Association on 9 November will not change anything.

POT GAMES 2022

Interclub Round 4 champions.

It was our turn to host this annual competition with Tanglin Club (TC). On Saturday, 8 October, 18 players from each Club met for an afternoon of fun and friendship that masked the seriousness of this annual competition. Having lost to Tanglin Club in the first game played earlier in the year, we were determined to wrestle the trophy back from them and our determination paid off. Results : • SCC: 13,745 points • TC: 13,430 points It was a close fight with SCC starting off well in Round 1 but TC managed to pick up and gained the upper hand in Rounds 2 and 3 with a small margin. TC kept the momentum with a well-won Round 4 and upped their lead to 111 points. SCC fought back hard and took Rounds 5 and 6. Up to the final two rounds, it could have gone either way but SCC managed to score well in these rounds and ultimately won with a margin of 315 points. Our top scorers at the POT Games: • Rolv Stokkmo with 882 points • Captain Raj Kumar with 842 points • Renee Balagopal with 834 points Well done, Team SCC!!

Bowls

Convenor: Christian Huang | Article by: Anne Marie Gutierrez

TWELVE CLUBS AND ELEVEN GAMES - SCC A CLINCHED THE SILVER

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH INTER-CLUB MIXED-TRIPLES SILVER MEDALIST: KELVYNA

Huge congratulations to the Bowls Section Committee, Organizing Committee and Section Bowlers on the turnout in numbers and friendly competition on the greens. Team SCC A emerged the silver medalists after battling eleven other teams from SCC, Tanglin Club, Evergreen and Lion City Lawn Bowling clubs. Heartening to witness on the green was the wonderful display of skills steely nerves, strategy and strength of character from the newcomers - upstaging seasoned national and experienced teams. Topping up with a great Finale on Wednesday, 31 August 2022, cheers and camaraderie were evidently enjoyed by all the participating teams and all were engaging in free flowing spirits and spirit (pun intended!). Yes, we at SCC are always willing, able and ready to stage more of such meaningful events and intriguing tournaments!

SCC A team silver medalists (Edmund, Kelvyna, Josephine, Bryan and Huikai) with SCC President Zoher at the finale of the SCC Triples League 2022.

How did you persevere through the many rounds of the Interclub Triples tournament, and bowling with as well as against very seasoned national bowlers?

It was a team effort actually. As Bowls is a sport which requires mental strength, I reminded myself to focus on my line and weight. As a relatively young player (both in terms of my experience as a bowler and in terms of my age), I do not have the pressure of playing with and against the seasoned national bowlers. In fact, I take it as an opportunity to learn from the greatest players in Singapore

What were the most memorable moments?

Even though our team was down by about 9 points, we did not lose heart. There was no finger-pointing nor any criticism against anyone. On the contrary, we encouraged one another, focused on our game, and worked as a team.

What do you enjoy about bowls?

Well, first and foremost, the community! Even though I’m relatively new to the Bowls family, everyone is warm and welcoming, giving me advice on how to play well, the different game strategies, and how to perfect my delivery. Although it is a competitive sport, the Members are willing to share their experiences and techniques with me, and I really appreciate that! Secondly, I enjoy the mental aspect of the game - how we need to think of the right line and the right weight before releasing each bowl. Also, we need to keep a positive mindset and persevere, despite being down by many points.

Any bowling philosophy?

As the “new kid on the block”, I try not to be intimidated by players who are older and have much more game experience than me. In addition, I remind myself not to be stressed out by the audience who is watching the game, or even myself, as it will have a negative impact on my performance. As a Christian, I play for “the audience of One” (God). As I have just embarked on this journey, I have to remain humble and not let my pride get ahead of me, so that I could continue learning and growing, both as a person and as a sportsperson. Rosemary always tells me to “think of the line, the weight; stay low, go slow, and let it go.”

Any advice for newcomers?

Love the game for what it is. Don't let "winning" (medals, titles) become your sole purpose. Enjoy the camaraderie among the Members and have loads of fun along the way!