Thanks to Jeanette Higham for this report.
As another season draws to a close, Caernarfon Bowling Club hosted the Vet’s Club Championship on Tuesday 29th of September.
The four Clubs qualifying this year were Benllech, Gresford Colliery, Rhos Park and Sychdyn. WCGBA’s Gareth Hughes ran the event with Judy Hughes, Dusia Price and President Peter Higham in attendance. The referees for the day were DT Evans, Allan Davies, Arthur Peake and Ian Black.
On a bright and breezy morning, the competition got underway with Sychdyn playing Gresford Colliery and Benlleck against Rhos Park. A strong Gresford side won two and lost two in the first four games. Graham Bennett had a good match with Viv Roberts and won 21-17 whilst Francis Penlington led away to beat Sue Dace 21-9. In game two of the Sychdyn/Gresford tie, Sychdyn’s John Sparks had a close match with Kevin Rogers and won 21-19. In game three, President Peter Higham put aside the green blazer to play for his club and had the best win for Sychdyn 21-10 over K P Jones. In the end, the overall scores were Sychdyn 121 and Gresford 151.
In the other tie, Rhos Park only dropped two games out of the eight played. Glyn Jones, Ivor Jones and Roger Wilson all winning to single figures with Janet Jones and Steve Allman closing their games 21-10. Scores were Benllech 96. Rhos Park 158.
Gresford Colliery and Rhos Park now met in the Final. Gresford maintained the strength of their team and won five of their eight games, but didn’t have it all their own way. Kevin Rogers lost 21-15 to Ivor Jones. Both Dewi Jones and Kerrie Jones lost their matches too. The Final score Gresford 146 and Rhos Park 132.
President, Peter Higham – now restored to the green blazer – presented the trophy to the Gresford Captain.
On Saturday 3rd of October the BCGBA Mixed Pairs competition was held at Fleetwood. Wales had four pairs in the competition – Linda Williams and Jack Dougal, Emily Gowan and Francis Penlington, Tom and Sarah Lowndes and Ffion Gel and Haidan Williuams. Emily and Francis together with Sarah and Tom progressed to the second round, whilst Linda and Jack had a close one losing 21-20. Sarah and Tom were narrowly defeated 21-20 in the quarter finals whilst Emily and Francis raced through with a 21-7 win in their quarters match. Unfortunately, they were to lose 21-15 in the semi final to the eventual winners of the competition.
On a sadder note, we must remember two of the WCGBA’s stalwarts, Peter Kershaw and Ken Hardman, who we have lost recently. Both were involved in the Referees Society for many years and Ken was President of the WCGBA in 2009 and Patron of the Welsh Referees Society. One of Ken’s pleasures was to present the trophy for the Welsh Junior Ladies winner each year as a great supporter of young bowlers.