100 year dinner celebration

Glen Eden Bowling Club
20 August 2022

Glen Eden Bowling Club held its centenary dinner last Saturday evening. Their news story about the evening hasn't arrived yet, but we've got some fabulous photos - it looked to have been a wonderful night.

ABCA Trophy

20 August 2022
Hosted at Howick Bowling Club

Under clear blue skies, last Saturday, 35 teams of Fours gathered at Howick Bowling Club to contest the annual ABCA Trophy. This tournament is for 1-5 Year bowlers and is the finale for the ABCA winter coaching programme. It is also the final event for many 1-5 bowlers as they spring into their sixth year on 1 September.

The zone coaches choose mixed teams with a total playing experience not exceeding 13 years per team. The format is four games of 1 hour and 20 minutes. The trophy is decided on wins, ends, and NToS. After three rounds, there were seven teams with three wins and another 12 teams with two wins. It was all on for the final round. With 1-5s, team pride is paramount, no quarter is given, and no free rides on inter-zone matches, a mindset our men in Birmingham could have adopted.

In the first key matchup, it was Central’s Colin Ayris-Webster against South East’s Bruce Fenton. Both teams were on three wins. The scorecard shows a comfortable win for Central. A closer look at Central results shows that in rounds one and two, wins were achieved with fewer ends than their opposition. This would become the difference between winning and coming runners-up.

The second key matchup was an all-Central affair with Zoran Bartulovich’s team on two wins, up against Allen Lockie’s team, on three wins. Allen’s team got off to a flying start and were 7-0 after 4 ends. Dropping a five on the next end and then a two and a two saw them 7-9 down. Allen clawed one back on the penultimate end; however, a toucher from Zoran’s #3, Peadar MacElvanna, could not be moved, and the score ended 8-10 to Zoran. This would ultimately cost Allen Lockie the trophy his team dropped to fifth overall.

The third key matchup was the West team skipped by Scott McCamish against the Counties team skipped by Kathy Lister. Both teams went into the match with three wins. The scorecards show both teams were evenly matched, with Scott’s West team edging ahead at the end 8-5 to secure third place overall.

The fourth key matchup was the Central team, skipped by Andrea Wilson on three wins up against the Eastern team on 1½ wins skipped by Chas Gray. This proved to be a very tight game, with the lead swapping four times in nine ends and no more than one point differential. On the final end with his final bowl, Chas Gray drew a beautiful toucher and moved the jack closer to the Eastern bunch. Alas, the umpire’s calipers could not stretch for a second shot and the teams had to settle for a draw, with Andrea’s team securing fourth place.

The fifth key matchup was the West team skipped by Rachel Lawler on 1½ wins against the South East team skipped by Linda Fenton on 3 wins. This was another close game with the scores tied at five all after seven ends. Linda picked up a one on the eighth end and a two on the final end. Unbeknown to Linda and her team at the time, winning that final end would be the decisive factor that secured the trophy. Well done team.

Sixth place was a close encounter, with 10 teams having won 3 games each, the count back went to ends and then NToS. The winner by two shots was Adam Blucher’s West team.

Simeon Brown MP for Howick was on hand to give out the prizes. In his address, he acknowledged the key role Howick Bowling Club plays in its community - this was met with rousing applause from the gathered throng. We certainly acknowledge the use of the facilities and the hard work done by the volunteers in preparing morning tea, lunches, and bar hospitality.

Contributed by Gerard Hulst

ABCA Trophy winners: Linda Fenton, Greg Dowdell, Linda Mirabelli & Rod Sadgrove from South East Zone with Simeon Brown (far left) and Leon Chapman, ABCA (far right).

Upcoming events

3-4 Sep – 1-5 Year Fours
10-11 Sep – 1-5 Year Pairs
17-18 Sep – 1-5 Year Triples
24-25 Sep – 1-5 Year Singles

1-5 Year events

1-5 Year Pairs entries close at midnight on Sunday, 28 August - so make sure to get your entries in as soon as you can.

Club events