Well done to Ann H in the Club Ladies Singles Semi-FInal yesterday. She now plays Teresa in the Final.
Congratulations to Dave & Nina (not Joyce) who beat Barry & Teresa to reach the Middlesex Mixed Pairs Final.
Also wel played to everyone yesterday afternoon. There was a lot of fun and good bowls on the green but the Cambridge Park team came out with a win over Teddington. Thanks to Teddington for beig the Home team on this occasion and to Jane behind the bar.
The Men are going ot have to find another date for their Fours as it couldn’t be played this morning after all.
Temperature has dropped out there by about 5C, so might only reach a high of 13C, so don’t forget to put a fleece/jacket on when you go out. Nag, nag, nag. I sound like my mother – do I sound like yours? Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I miss yo… and I’m sure that’s the same for most of you too.
This morning sees the Ladies Club Singles Semi-final between Tina & Ann H and, I believe, Barry & Teresa play Dave P & Joyce W in the Middlesex Mixed Pairs Semi Final.
This afternoon we have our penultimate mixed friendly club match v Teddington. (Final mixed friendly v Iver Heath on Saturday 9th April – sign up sheet on the noticeboard.) 2.00 pm start and the bar will be open by 1.00 pm if you fancy dropping in for a drink, natter and watching others playing.
Tomorrow morning Peter T’s team take on Dave P’s team in the Middlesex Fours’ Semi-FInal at the Club.
Two years ago, we were all in our first lockdown with only being allowed once per day for exercise, no face coverings and a strong message to STAY AT HOME! Things have obvioulsy improved to a certain degree, but with covid omicron cases rising again, put your sensible head on and look after yourselves.
The clocks spring forward tonight, meaning you lose an hour’s sleep and the mornings will be a little bit darker than we’ve been used to this last week. Hasn’t the weather been brilliant? Hasn’t the tree pollen beein irritating for those of us who suffer from Hay Fever?! Boo hoo.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. A time to celebrate our Mums. It will be a hard day for some of our members, being the first Mother’s Day without them, wanting to buy a card, bunch of flowers, box of chocolates, talk on the phone or face-to-face. It hurts but also gives us a chance to reflect on the memories and wisdom they passed to us as well as a good excuse to rifle through those photo albums. For those of you who are going to be spoiled by your children/grandchildren, enjoy your day. You deserve it.
What a lovely afternoon to welcome the Chelsea Pensioners yesterday.
And, what a lovely afternoon for them to greet us with music and marching! Thanks to David Hale for the video.
I gather it was a good afternoon but the CP members had the strong advantage of regularly playing indoor bowls.
Still that doesn’t stop the fun of an afternoon of sport, banter and stories with a group of veterans with a wealth of experience and memories.
Thanks to Norman for organising the teams, to Ann & Terry for providing the refreshments and to Jane behind the bar as well to all of you who played and came along to watch.
We look forward to seeing them all again in the summer – not long to go now seeing the weather we’re having this week!
Before Ange zoomed off on a well-deswrved break, she left the schedule for the Finals weekend. We will update with the last few semi-final results at the end of the weekend.
We’re looking forward to seeing The Chelsea Pensioners today (Wednesday 23rd) and a close match, which starts at 2.00 pm. Spectators welcome. The bar will be open all afternoon.
Firstly, a belated Happy Birthday to Jean S! We understand you had a good day with Norman and the family.
Yesterday morning, Ange had a great game and won her game comfortably, despite a late surge from Dawn! Andy and Kevin had a good match in the Men’s Challenge Cup with Andy coming out on top to appear in his first CP Club Final. On rink 2, Gordn & Scott were up against Peter C & Dave P. Even when Gordon & Scott were holding, dastardly Dave came in to take the shot on several ends! All four had a good game and I was too slow to take a photo of Peter C’s 3 bowls surrounding the jack on one particular end. (I heard him say his mid-week bowling friends wouldn’t believe them if he told them!)
On rink 3, Tina & Teresa went out all guns blazing and were 25-1 up after 10 ends in their Middlesex Ladies Pairs Semi-final over Barbra & Eppie from The Lawns. The opposition conceded. Rina & Teresa face the winners of Ange & Dawn v Angela & partner from Bounds Green. The match is being played tonight at Century (neutral green).
Yesterday’s match v Ember had a bit of a slow start thanks to the roadworks on the A316 shutting the eastbound side catching some of the bowlers out. Ann B was pleased to report a 3-1 rink win with her team – Stella S & Shaf – taking the top rink spot 29-5. Good wins for Eileen, Alasdair & Brenda 20-8, Stella K, Steve P & Peter T 22-13; and a great comeback from Gym, Corale & Tony who were trailing most of the game but managed to pick up two 5’s to go down by on 2 shots by the end. It just goes to show that if you keep persevering, it can pay off!
Thanks to Ann for taking the game, to Jane behind the bar and everyone else who helped put the teas out. Thanks also to Stella K and Peter T who came into the team later in the week when a couple of members tested positive. We hope they aren’t feeling too rough and have a garden to stand in and enjoy the sunshine. (It’s reported to be 17C today. Yes!).
It is said that all the colds out there are omicron. Oh. What are old-fashioned colds then? Do they exist any more?
Morning roll ups and leagues as usual this week then Ann B plays Stella K in the semi-final of the Club Ladies Challenge tomorrow afternoon and then on Wednesday, there is the mixed friendly v The Chelsea Pensioners at 2.30 pm.
Another week has gone by and the days are getting longer. You don’t need to adjust your clocks until next Saturday night/Sunday morning (also Mother’s Day.)
Yesterday there were three semi-finals at the club. Dave P had a slow start against Andy H in the Middlesex Men’s Singles Semi-FInal but eventually came through 21-14.
On the neighbouring rink, Ann H & Tina played Ange & Dawn in the Club Ladies Pairs. Ange & Dawn were 0-2 down, then found themselves 17-2 up before dropping a 4 and 2 x 3s between the 14th and 17th ends making the scoreline very much closer! Ann & Tina adjusted to the heat difference and it took the other two a few ends to try and pull it back together, which they did. So Ange & Dawn meet Jacqui L & Stella S in the final.
In the afternoon glutton-for-punishment Ange paired up with Scott in the Mixed Drawn Pairs but, after a tight game, lost out to Lucy & Graham, who are through to the Club Final to play Dave P & Ann B.
This morning, Tina & Teresa play Barbra B & Eppie from The Lawns in the Middlesex Ladies Pairs Semi-Final and Ange and Dawn face each other in the Middlesex Ladies SIngles Semi-Final. On the next rink, Scott & Gordon are in action v Dave P & Peter C in the Men’s Drawn Pairs Semi-FInal.
This afternoon, Ann B & team take on Ember in a Mixed Friendly at 2.00 pm. Good luck to them.
Jane will have the bar up and running from midday, so come along and watch for an hour or so and enjoy the company of fellow bowlers.
Norman has put the team together to play The Chelsea Pensioners at 2.30 pm (yes, 2.30 pm not 2.00 pm) on Wednesday 23rd and Kevin K has selected the team to play Teddington on Saturday 26th at 2.00 pm. Please check the noticeboard and tick your name off if you have been selected.
Don’t forget to put your name down for Bingo on Friday 1st April, with ace bingo caller – the Man with the Bells, Peter Twells! The meal will be Bangers & Mash & Beans or Peas (Who has peas with bangers and mash?!). Please sign up on the sheet so Ange knows how many to cater for. There will also be the draw for the raffle in aid of Cancer Research. Tickets still available from Ann M or Jane behind the bar.
Club Finals follow on 2nd/3rd April The outside caterers will be in to do bacon/sausage/egg rolls both mornings and a selection of other items throughout the day to keep both players and spectators fed. The Middlesex Finals are on 9th April at Century IBC.
The Outdoor Green – Saturday 18th March 2022
The outdoor green is looking good (except where a fox has had a bit of a dig) and hopefully this sunny weather will hold for when we all get back outside at the end of April. Trevor was out there this morning mowing away.
Bowlswear Direct will be at the Club on 8th May, so if you need any bowls items including bowls/fleeces/waterproofs/shoes/accessories, you’ll be able to choose from their wide range of selections. If you’re looking to purchase bowls for the outdoor season and know exactly what you want, you would do well to order them now as they take 12-14 weeks. https://www.bowlsdirect.com/product-category/bowls/ (Other bowls suppliers are available.)
(Spray chalk is now available for purchase at the club – our two boxes had been on the road for 3 weeks and ended up in Kent instead of Middlesex! We have lilac, the white should be with us soon)
Down in Eastbourne St Patrick’s Day was fairly quiet, although some of us were away in the land of nod by the time the party-goers returned!
Another win for the tourists by 15 shots although 3-3 in rinks. Top Rink of the day belonged to Steve G and team, with his no.3 Jacquie Quin taking Lady Player of the Week. Mike Horder from Bush Hill(?) took the top Man Player.
Back nearer to home there are competition matches this afternoon, tomorrow and Sunday morning, so did pop in and watch.
On Sunday afternoon, we take on Ember in a Mixed Friendly under Ann B’s captaincy.
Have a good Friday everyone. Hope there are plenty of roller-uppers this morning who can enjoy their post bowl pint out in the sunshine.
A very tight game on Wednesday afternoon v Egham. 2-2 on rinks (wins for Gym & Laurie’s teams and runners up for Kevin K Pete T’s teams). Well done to all who played.
Today, the Middlesex Tourists have come to Falaise IBC. We are a bit earlier than the club expected so are killing time over cups of tea.
When I was a brand new bowler, Cambridge Park came away on tour outdoors down to this area and I came down to watch them playing here. It was a glorious sunny day (like today) and my shins got sunburned! I can’t remember if CP won or not
I don’t think the green will be ready for them this year. What a shame BUT I think the first two shots are the old greens and the third one is the new outdoor 3 green (18 rinks) facility.
Good luck to everyone playing v Egham this afternoon.
Next Wednesday, 23rd, the Chelsea Pensioners will be bringing four rinks to play us. There is a sign up sheet on the board, so please put your names up!
Middlesex Tourists win by one shot overall yesterday. Apparently, it’s the first time we have had a shot victory over Eastbourne IBC for quite a few years. (It was 3-3 in rink scores.) Top rink was taken by Mike Cooper and team.
Some of you long time bowlers may remember Alan Riddington who played many games at Cambridge Park and skipped the county Middleton Cup team. Chris Y came down for the day and during the break, he and Alan caught up over old times. As my opposing skip, he is still a force to be reckoned with on the green!
