News 2024

 

Stan Hargreaves


Well another Woodhall Spa season comes to an end. The Stan Hargreaves competition for individual bowlers was held at Jubilee Park Bowls Club on Wednesday August 28th. This was the last game of the season.

Again as the previous Wednesday, the weather was kind and the competition preceded without interruption. Forty two bowlers took part. Excellent support from the league.

The result was a close run thing, but in the end Derek Oliver from the Bristol won with 42 points and the runner up was Stan Fuller from Cranwell with 41 points. Well done to both and indeed to all the bowlers for their efforts.

I would like to thank Jubilee Park Bowls Club for being our kind hosts. They provided us with an excellent spread of food throughout the day and the green looked lovely. Thank you for all your efforts, without this kind of support the competitions could not take place. We are fortunate in this league to have several clubs who do this for us, and it is very much appreciated.

John Stevenson

Competition Secretary.

     

Wilkinson Shield

Good food, a good green, good bowling and good weather. What more could you ask for for the semi finals and final of the Wilkinson Shield 2024 held at Mareham Le Fen Bowls Club on Wednesday August 21st. 

         The semi finals were played parallel to the Clubhouse. Sleaford Town played Eslaforde Park in one of the semi finals. This turned out to be a very close match being finally  decided on the last end of the last rink to finish, Eslaforde Park winning by a very few shots.

         The other semi final went to Woodpeckers winning over Horncastle. Although Woodpeckers won quite well, it was a very good match with some fine bowling from both sides. Everyone then adjourned for  lunch.

         The final was played away from the clubhouse. The vital thing was that the green  is an extra five meters in length in this direction.

         Eslaforde Park took full advantage of this on one of the rinks, and ran out very good winners. They also won on another rink and the third rink drew.

         Well done to Eslaforde Park not only for winning but retaining the Shield.

         Once again a huge thank you to Mareham Le Fen Bowls Club for being such wonderful hosts.

John Stevenson

 

North V South Final

While Still awaiting the last two results congratulations are due to Woodpeckers and Sleaford Town for winning their respective divisions. The final will be held on Wednesday 14th of August at Billinghay Bowls Club, starting as normal at 2pm. 

The match will be decided by the  aggregate  score of all three rinks. In the event of a tie there will be a one end shoot out with the chosen rink to be drawn before the match starts. Could Wanderers and Eslaforde ensure that the trophies won last year are returned to a committee member before the game.

Sleaford Town had a convincing win against Woodpeckers

 

Wilkinson Shield

       I hope you are all well and your bowls are ending up in roughly the right place. This year Avril and her fellow members have agreed to hold the Semi finals and Finals of the Wilkinson Shield at Mareham Le Fen Bowls Club. 

      As you can see it is to be held on Wednesday 21st of August. The semi finals will start at 10.30a.m.  They should finish at about 12.30 ish. There will be a dinner break. And we will start the final when both teams are ready. Say just after 1.30p.m.   That gives everyone time to have something to eat and a bit of a rest. 

      Mareham are providing eats and drink for all those who don’t their own food etc. There will be a raffle so if anyone wishes to bring a raffle prize it would be greatly appreciated. 

     The final is considered a separate match so if  the finalists wish to change their personnel they can do so. 

     The semi finals will be played in one direction, parallel to the club house, and the final will be played away from the clubhouse.

      Remember it is the aggregate score only that counts . And also remember to pick a rink before the matches start to play an extra end if the aggregate is tied at the end of the 18 ends.

      Could I remind Eslaforde Park to bring along the shield for the presentation, please. You never know you might get it back for another year.

      Good luck to you all, and I hope the weather is reasonable.

      Once again a big thank you for Mareham Le Fen Bowls club for being our hosts.

     John Stevenson:  Competition Secretary

Update: the tables for this season are now available and published on the webpage.


The Ron White Shield 2024

      This year the event was held at Heckington on Wednesday June 12th. Thirteen teams participated and luckily the weather held out all day. A big thank you too all those who came along, a bit hard to say how many exactly but over 60 of you. The club provided food and water, including a particularly nice ploughman’s lunch. 

    Thank you to all those who prepared and provided the food and all those from the club who helped prepare the green and all those 101 jobs that need to be carried out in preparation.

  Now the result. It was extremely close. Jubilee Park won all their games and beat Horncastle, who also won all their games, into second place, by one shot. A shot difference of 25, versus 24. Heckington 1 were in third place. 

    Well done to Jubilee Park especially as they entered a team of three only which was only confirmed as an entry with two days to go.

     Our President Patrick presented the Shield to the winners, as well as the prize money to the winners and runners up. Thank you all for coming, and good luck to you all for the rest of the season.

John Stevenson Competition Secretary

Notes to the AGM of the Woodhall Spa friendly Bowls League

Attendance:  Every club was represented at the meeting.

The President:  Opened the meeting by announcing the resignation of Rose Clapton as Chairman. He thanked her for her service to League. He resumed by taking the Chair until the election of a new officer.  He then thanked the Cranwell Social Club for allowing us to have the meeting at the club and providing coffees and teas.

Last season had been a good one and the re-introduction of the Wilkinson Shield had been a positive step. All competitions had been well attended and enjoyed by all.

Remembrances: A minutes silence was held for all those members who had died last season over the last year.  We also remembered those who were suffering in the Ukraine, Turkey and Iraq and other trouble spots throughout the world.

Minutes and Matters Arising: These were approved and there were no matters arising

Accounts and Subscriptions: The Treasurer presented the accounts. He reported that there was only £75 left in the bank and we needed to reintroduce club subscriptions and this was agreed at £30 per team.

A discussion was held on the level of prize money for the competitions. These were finally agreed as Ron White and Wilkinson Shield as first prizes £40 and second prize as £30. The Stan Hargraves would be £30 and £20.4

Election of Officers: Nominations for the various posts were asked from the floor. None were forthcoming. The existing Officers agreed to put their names forward, and Don Wilson of Cranwell put his name forward for the position of Chairman. All were elected.

Venues for Competitions: It was agreed that the Ron White would be held at Heckington and the Stan Hargreaves at Jubilee Park

Proposals: The committee had reviewed the rules of the League and this revision was discussed and approved

The draw for the Wilkinson Shield was made. It was agreed  the final and semi-final would be held at a neutral venue

The Date of the next meeting was agreed at 5th March 2025.

The meeting closed at 14.45