Peter Wins Novice Bowls Cup

On Wednesday 6 July, Henley entertained Caversham Bowling Club in a five mixed triples Plomer Cup league match. Caversham proved to be the stronger team and Henley went down 61-99 so Caversham took all 12 points on offer. Peter Borsberry with Romy Painter and Simon Hatcher were only 3 shots behind after seven ends but dropped 4 shots at the eleventh and fifteenth end to lose 9-20. David Burdon with Joan Edwards and Steve Sullivan were behind from the start, rallied at the thirteenth end but still went down 12-20.  Barrie Davies with Richard Kingston and Sally Daniells fought hard for every shot but after dropping 4 shots at the sixth end and 5 shots at the fifteenth, they lost 12-23. Dave Wilson with Peter Watkins and Jeanie Davies were only 3 shots behind after eight ends but could not recover the 5 shots lost at the sixth end and went down 13-17. Gill Robins with Brian Duddy and Norman Daniells had a difficult game until the twelfth end when they came back strongly but still went down 15-19.

On Saturday 9 July, Henley visited Burghfield Bowls Club in a five mixed triples Oddfellows League match winning on three rinks and losing on two. Henley lost on overall shots by 71-88 and hence only took 6 OTL points to Burghfield’s 8. Gill Robins with Peter Falle and Norman Daniells were equal after at eleven ends, then edged ahead by gaining 4 shots at the next end and ran out winners 16-11. Colin Ward with Richard Kingston and Sally Daniells were against it from the beginning and could not recover initial losses and went down 10-24. David Wilson with Joan Edwards and Simon Hatcher fought a very close game and ran out winners at 16-15. Peter Borsberry with John Wilkinson and Jeanie Davies had a difficult game and were behind after the first few ends going down 8-21. Barrie Davies with Romy Painter and Kevin Currill were equal after eight ends and then steadily gained points to run out winners at 21-17.

On Sunday 10 July, the first one day version of the Novices Competition took place. A “novice” in our Club means anyone who has never won a singles competition here (or elsewhere). Historically, this competition had been played as a knockout competition but as the draw is held at the start of the season, it normally excluded the true novice; i.e. those who had joined the Club during the first few months of the new season. With the entrants reduced by covid and the Henley Festival (must avoid this next year), eight entrants played a round robin competition in very hot weather.  Bowlers used 4 woods and played seven games of 6 “ends”, with the jack placed by the marker on a short, mid or long length jack. This made sure the winner could compete on all jack lengths. Each game took less than 25mins and although the runner up position was a closely fought competition, the winner was one of this year’s new members Peter Falle. Peter is also a keen golfer and maybe his expertise on the putting green translated well to the lawn bowling green. He won all of his 7 games although in his game against the eventual runner-up, Jim Turner, he only won that by 1 shot, Peter is seen here receiving the Rex Cup from Competitions Secretary Kevin Browne.