John Eve has lost his grey-tint Ralph Lauren glasses at the club to day which he left on a table outside the club house

Have any of you picked them up in error and now find you have two pairs at home?

Please contact him directly or email through the website.

Thanks

…. Trumpet fanfare …

Richmond claim the Gold in the Friday Night Club Leagues!

The Richmond team share £80 between them and the runners up – Marble Hill – £40. Kneller Gardens you were very nearly on the podium  Pipped by a point!

Well done to both top teams and all the players. It wouldn’t work without you.

A HUGE round is applause to Steve B who has done a brilliant job with the organisation and spreadsheets containing regular updates.
Everyone who thinks he should do it again next year, put your hands up …

Unanimous!

Many thanks, Steve

A very well deserved win for Steve & Peter J this afternoon in the Richmond & Barnes Pairs.

Sign up sheets for next Saturday 7th September for 3 rinks away at Masonians starting at 2:30 (not 3:30 – no farmers’ market on Saturdays) and for 2 triples v Hurlingham Club at home on Tuesday 10th September at 2:30 will be on the noticeboard later today.

Next Sunday, 8th September, is the re-arranged 75 Shot Competition.  Peter C (who won’t be wearing a grass skirt to play) has asked that everyone who wants to take part needs to be at the club for 09:40 LATEST so he can adjust numbers, do the draw and get the first rounds on the green at 10:00.  Sandwich lunch will be available.

Finals day is Saturday 14th September.

… what a great event!

To start with, those busy buzzy painting bees had re-done the outside of the clubhouse making it much smarter and setting off the hanging baskets beautifully.  Thank you.

And talking of hanging baskets, we have been raising funds so Margaret can organise more for next season.  Raffle tickets have been on sale for the last few weeks, months even, and, with Margaret helping out in the kitchen, Beryl was left in charge and she completely sold out!  It only seemed appropriate to draw the raffle after the main course yesterday.  There were plenty of prizes and plenty of winners.

In total, enough funds were raised which is brilliant!  Margaret also raises club funds with her home made jams and marmalades which are excellent and there are repeat purchases from visiting clubs.  At an average price of £2.70 for artisan top quality products, it’s a cinch.

Karen was masterminding BBQ prep in the kitchen assisted by Margaret (ace tomato slicer), Alison (brilliant onion slicer!), Alasdair (showed his knife skills with the spring onions) and Corinne (chopper, slicer, cutter, sweeper) whilst Julian, a visitor(!) and others swished the green which Tony O’B had set up.  Two ladies, whose names I have forgotten – apologies, cleaned all the cutlery  and then more people arrived, who were really getting into the swing of the afternoon …

As more arrived in an assortment of colourful shirts, skirts and dresses the occasion warmed up and Peter C, Gill C with various helpers and kitchen-runners took to THE BBQ.  Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Karen, Margaret and Dawn were taking it in turn to cook the mountain of onions to perfection and others took further supplies out to the hungry hoards.

Brian N, eager to help out the kitchen team, washed up all the knives and forks and collected empty glasses to return to the bar which had been manned over the day by Dawn, Alasdair and Paul S.  Thanks to them.

Everyone had piled into the dining room due to the somewhat inclement, windy, chilly Hawaiian weather, which gave a lull after the main course so Karen became IC Raffle as the dessert team beavered away in the kitchen.  The homemade  Pineapple Tiramisu gave Dawn considerable grief when transferring from a large pot into individual portion containers and  Karen’s  tropical  fruit skewers proved more fiddly than you’d think!  As for the Mango Sorbet (made especially by South Street Ice Cream Shop) provided another challenge until guest Susan showed us her chef’s knack of the scoop and a mug of hot water.  Her effort were much rounder and neater than the rest of us!  The tip was very welcome.

The chatter continued and after Peter, Tony O’B and Karen had given votes of thanks, Beryl took to the floor and announced that Brentford FC had won 3-1 at home v Southampton which received the (almost) biggest cheer of the day!

The kitchen team of Corinne, Susan, Dawn and Karen were up to the eyes and elbows in washing up as gradually the party came to close with just a few stragglers left when Karen and Dawn sat down to enjoy a glass of wine and a wind down after a long day on their feet.

It was so good to see the Southey’s, Gerry, Reg, Bob & Frances, the Bushells alongside other indoor members re-familiarising themselves with the environment as the next season rushes towards us. The new lighting was admired.  Bob has put a few sign up sheets for the early indoor matches.  More sheets will go up for evening/weekend roll ups in October.

If anyone has additional photos, please email them via the website and I will upload.

Thanks again to everyone who helped, with apologies to anyone missed by name, and came along to have fun and support the club.  A real club occasions with bowls, fun, laughter, chatter and good companionship.

More social events to come – check the tables between the dining room and the indoor green and sign up!  Skittles, Race Night, Bingo – and a quiz would be good for anyone wishing to take that under their wing.

Thanks to Julian for these photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fancy another dose of Vitamin D in the sunshine tomorrow? Sunny and 25C.
Pop along to the Richmond & Barnes Finals.
Steve G & Peter J take to the green at 2:00 and would live to have some support v Ashley & James(?) from Ashford.
Full schedule below

PS. Don’t forget the suncream and water!

Well done to Cathy who made it to the final 16 in the National Two Bowl Singles.
it was a very strong competition and some big names went out in the first two rounds.
Alas, Angela F from North London went out in the first round. Both Glen (Hendon) and Will (Poplar) made it through two rounds. No mean feat!

For Middlesex, that is the end of the Nationals for this year but we’ll be back again next!

Well done to everyone who got there. You can be very proud.

So tomorrow, Saturday, it’s the Hawaiian BBQ.
Bowls from 12-00-2:00. BBQ to follow after. Come suitably attired in grass skirts, flowery garlands, patterned shirts , skirts, shorts, trousers but, most importantly, bring yourselves.
Karen has been getting all the BBQ elements ready and Dawn the desserts.
The rest of the team are raring to go to serve and look after you food wise and drink wise!

Next Sunday 8th September (how come it’s September already?) will be the 75 Shot competition- re-arranged from earlier in the season. There are a good number of names up. Thanks

Whilst on competitions, Peter C , Comp Organiser, has put the Finals Day schedule together.
Well update it with names in the next week or so.

With this coming Friday being the last of the Friday Night Club Leagues, it’s all to play for between Richmond, Marble Hill and Kneller Gardens who have worked their way back up to near the top again after a glorious start and a not-quite-so-good middle!

Get polishing those bowls and go for it!  The winners will be able to celebrate at the Hawaiian BBQ on Saturday.  They can show off their bowling skills with others from 12:00-2:00 pm, have a drink and work up even more appetite for Karen’s spread.  There are about 60 people coming along so it’s going to be a fun day for all.

Get those snazzy, colourful shirts and trousers out and let’s party!

Volunteers to help behind the bar, set up the bowling rinks, clear up etc. etc. are always welcome.

Thanks to Steve B yet again for all the work in the leagues

 

 

Find below Tony Waller’s report from yesterday.  It was a great day (despite freezing wind) for the two girls.

Check out the Bowls Middlesex Facebook page for full reports of Championships by Tony.  He is a great reporter for the County.

Ladies Pairs

 0915 on a Sunday morning, out on rink C6, Cathy Taylor and Ann Halliday from Cambridge Park started their campaign in the Ladies Pairs. They were up against Jayne Fergusson and Carole Ison from Holt, Norfolk. Although grieving Ann had decided to play as per the wishes of her beloved brother Roy “Budgie” Baker who had so sadly passed away 24 hours earlier.

Cathy starts superbly by getting 3 touchers on the opening end but Carole bowls 2 great woods to score 2 on the first end. On the 2^nd end Ann turns the Norfolk shot out to lie 3 but Carole responds by turning the Middx shot out for 1. Middx get onto the board on the 3^rd end and then score a great 3 to take the lead, 4-3 after 4 ends. On the 5^th end the shot changes hand repeatedly. Carole trails the jack to lie 3 or 4, Ann draws the shot off and then Carole trails the jack again for 2, 4-5. 2 singles take Middx back into the lead but then they lose a single and a double to trail 6-8 at halfway. Some great bowls being played though. 2 further singles to Norfolk and they lead 6-10. On the next end Middx build a good head, Carole attacks but misses with the first and then wrecks with the last go, Middx get four, back level. Having gained a 4 Middx drop a pair of twos on the 13^th and 14^th end to trail 10-14 with 4 to go. On the next end Middx get 2 big breaks, firstly Ann slices the jack when she is heavy with her first bowl but it goes to Middx’s back woods and they hold 2. Then with her last bowl Carole hits jack but it locks on the Middx wood whilst her bowl slides by. Middx gain 3. On the 16^th end Middx again build a good head, from a distance they look to be holding 1 with a measure for 2 or 3. Carole attacks again and misses Jack by a whisker. The measure comes out Middx have back to back 3’s and lead 16-14. On the 17^th end Middx get a bad break. Overweight Ann slices jack in amongst the Norfolk woods, 3 down. Middx trail by one going into the last end. After the leads play Middx hold one but there is a yard to draw. With her 3^rd bowl Ann takes the nearest Norfolk bowl out to lie 2. With her last bowl Carole is high, wide and heavy but she stuns off a jack hi bowl and slides in for 2^nd. It looks like we are heading for an extra end but Ann pulls one from the bag and draws 2^nd shot with the last bowl of the game. Middx win 18-17.

In other prelim games played on the Sunday Katherine Hawes-Watts and Lorraine Kuhler from Oxford City and County comprehensively beat Surrey’s Yasmina Hasan and Kate Capon; Elaine Score and Emma Chapman from Essex County squeak through 17-16 but Caroline Cullum and Amy Pharoah from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire romp home 34-8. There are 2 other big wins with Viv Hall and Sue Davies of Broadway, Worcestershire winning 25-3 and Hannah Smith and Sandra Jones of St Martin’s Herefordshire winning 28-3.

Onto the 1^st round and Cathy and Ann are on C3 to play Ryde Marina, Isle of Wight’s Sue Green and Anne Bernard. The Islanders came through their prelim game 22-17. Anne is a hugely respected figure in Ladies bowls and was profiled when she played North London in the fours earlier in the tournament.

The Islanders lead Sue starts well putting 3 bowls within 18 inches but Cathy lies 2^nd. Nothing much changes until Ann draws shot with her last bowl. The Islanders score 2 singles to go 1-2 up after three but Middx respond with a double. A single takes Middx 4-2 up and then on the next end Middx lie a good 4. Anne fires and removes 2, Ann puts one of them back, Middx lead 7-2. On the next end the Islanders get their 3 back. On the 7^th end Middx score 2 and then the sides trade singles so at halfway Middx lead 10-6. A single on the 10^th end increases the advantage and then Cathy bowls a great end with front and back touchers as Middx score 3. Two singles and by the 13^th end Middx have a 10 shot lead, 16-6. The islanders respond with a single and then Middx have a rare bad end but Ann trails the jack to lie 2. Anne can’t remove them and Middx have an 18-7 lead with 3 to play. A Single to the Islanders on the 16^th is surely not enough. On the 17^th end the Islanders only hold one after the leads have played. Anne draws a second but with her third bowl Ann draws shot. Anne attacks and only succeeds in knocking a 2^nd Middx shot in. Ann does not need to bowl her last wood and Middlesex are impressively through 20-8.

A great day’s work and some quality bowling from both Cathy and Ann.

Well, it wasn’t to be for Ann & Cathy as they went into the final end one down and didn’t manage to get the 2 shots they needed. So Driffield Recreation Club from Yorkshire go into the quarter finals facing a pair from Durham.  An all-north country event!

In the Men’s Fours, both Hendon and Ashford got through their rounds today.  At the time of typing (around 7:00 pm), Ashford boys are 13-9 up after 16 ends, so just need to hold on to 2nd shot for the last couple of ends. In the other half of the draw, the Hendon lads are 14-6 after 16 so they should be safe too!